Ghazipur Landfill Crisis: Legacy Waste Haunts Delhi

The Ghazipur landfill in Delhi is grappling with significant issues related to legacy waste clearance, according to a commissioner appointed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Poor fly ash disposal from the waste-to-energy (WtE) plant, its subpar performance, and inadequate leachate management are identified as primary hindrances. These deficiencies were flagged following an inspection in April.

The Ghazipur landfill, established in 1984, currently holds more legacy waste than the Bhalswa and Okhla landfills combined. Despite a biomining project initiated in 2019, approximately 6.9 million tonnes of garbage persist at the site, which performs worst across all measured parameters.

The WtE plant at Ghazipur, with a capacity of 1,300 tonnes per day (TPD), generates 12MW of electricity but is frequently hampered by breakdowns. The commissioner's report highlighted that the plant operates below capacity and with deficiencies, questioning its effectiveness in mitigating waste accumulation.

In response, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has outlined an action plan, including a tender for biomining services, with bids opening on July 24, 2026. Plans also include enhancing the existing WtE plant's capacity to 1,700 TPD and planning a new 2,000 TPD WtE facility.

To manage incoming fresh waste, an 800 TPD plant is being set up, with operations expected to commence within 120 days of July 1, 2026. Additionally, two biogas plants are planned: a 300 TPD compressed biogas (CBG) plant and another 300 TPD biogas facility. The MCD has also indicated that future actions for soil and groundwater remediation will be taken in consultation with expert agencies once the land is fully reclaimed.