Lucknow Turns Waste to Wealth: Fueling Cement Plants

Since November 2024, Lucknow has supplied more than 2.56 lakh metric tonnes of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), generated from municipal waste, to 31 cement plants and paper mills across Uttar Pradesh. This initiative significantly reduces landfill burden by converting non-recyclable waste into an industrial energy source.

Authorities transported 2,56,670.47 metric tonnes of RDF between November 26, 2024, and May 31, 2026, utilizing 7,060 trips. The fuel, produced at the Shivri municipal solid waste processing plant, primarily consists of multi-layer plastic, packaging waste, and textiles. It is scientifically processed and supplied to authorized industrial units for co-processing.

This practice offers an environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional waste disposal. Co-processing RDF in industrial furnaces reduces the reliance on coal and other fossil fuels, thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts are also underway to reclaim old dumpsites through bio-mining, aiming to mitigate their environmental impact. The municipal corporation emphasizes the importance of waste segregation at source to further support sustainable waste management and contribute to a cleaner city.