Delhi's 'Freedom from Garbage' Campaign Collects 12,000 Tons of Waste

In the weeks leading up to India's Independence Day on August 15, 2025, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) launched an extensive cleanliness campaign called 'Freedom from Garbage.' The two-week initiative, which ran from August 1 to August 14, 2025, saw widespread participation from a diverse range of stakeholders, including school children, resident welfare associations, market traders, and youth.

During this period, the MCD reported a significant increase in daily waste collection, rising from 11,000 tons per day last month to 12,373 tons per day. The corporation also conducted 917 drives in government and office premises, removing 10,692 kg of waste. Additionally, the campaign focused on enhancing the visual landscape of the capital, with the removal of more than 35,000 posters and banners from public spaces, as well as the completion of 160 wall beautification projects featuring murals and thematic messages about cleanliness.

To further engage the community, the MCD organized 138 plog runs, which combined jogging with litter picking. These events attracted the participation of 16,691 youth and 126,881 students, demonstrating the widespread enthusiasm for the cleanliness drive.

Alongside the garbage cleaning efforts, the MCD also held community awareness campaigns to discourage the use of single-use plastics and promote compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016. Additionally, 29,737 plantation drives were carried out from August 6 to 8, 2025, further contributing to the city's environmental well-being.