Lucknow Becomes Uttar Pradesh’s First City to Scientifically Process 100% Fresh Waste

Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, is growing very fast. With around 40 lakh people and nearly 7.5 lakh shops, offices, and establishments, managing daily waste is a big challenge. To handle this responsibly, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has adopted a modern and scientific waste management system that focuses on cleanliness, recycling, and environmental safety.

Third Waste Processing Plant Inaugurated at Shivari

Lucknow has recently started its third fresh waste processing plant at the Shivari site. With this achievement, Lucknow has become the first city in Uttar Pradesh to process 100% of its fresh municipal waste scientifically. This has earned the city the special status of a ‘zero fresh waste dump’ city, meaning no new waste is dumped openly.

High Waste Processing Capacity of the City

The newly opened Shivari plant can process 700 metric tonnes of waste every day. Along with the two existing plants, Lucknow now has a total waste processing capacity of 2,100 metric tonnes per day. This matches the city’s daily waste generation, ensuring that all waste is treated safely without harming the environment.

How Lucknow Manages Its Daily Waste?

Lucknow produces nearly 2,000 metric tonnes of waste daily. To manage this, LMC has partnered with Bhumi Green Energy to operate three modern waste processing plants. Waste is first segregated into two parts—organic waste (55%) and inorganic waste (45%).

Organic waste is converted into compost and biogas, while inorganic waste is sorted for recycling or converted into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), which is used in cement and paper industries. Door-to-door waste collection has reached 96.53% efficiency, and more than 70% waste is now segregated at source.

Scientific Treatment of Legacy Waste

Lucknow earlier had around 18.5 lakh metric tonnes of old or legacy waste. Out of this, 12.86 lakh metric tonnes has already been scientifically processed. The processed materials have been reused in an eco-friendly manner instead of being dumped.

Useful Products Generated from Waste

The waste processing system has helped generate several useful materials. About 2.27 lakh metric tonnes of RDF has been sent to industries across India for safe co-processing. Other materials like coarse waste (4.38 lakh MT), bio-soil (0.59 lakh MT), and construction and demolition waste (2.35 lakh MT) are being used for filling low-lying areas and infrastructure development.

Reclaiming Land Through Waste Management

Due to continuous processing of legacy waste, over 25 acres of land has been recovered. This reclaimed land has now been developed into a fully equipped waste treatment complex. The site includes windrow pads, internal roads, sheds, weighbridges, and all necessary facilities for efficient waste processing.

Upcoming Waste-to-Energy Plant at Shivari

To further improve waste utilization, LMC is planning to set up a 15 MW Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plant at Shivari. This plant will use 1,000 to 1,200 metric tonnes of RDF daily to generate electricity. It will also reduce the cost and long-distance transport of RDF to cement plants located around 500 km away.

A Model for Sustainable Urban Development

Lucknow’s waste management system is based on circular economy principles, where waste is treated as a resource. By reducing dumping, increasing recycling, and generating energy, the city is protecting the environment and improving public health.

The efforts of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation have set an example for other cities in India and abroad, proving that scientific planning and strong implementation can transform urban waste management successfully.