UP Takes Lead In Urban Cleanliness, Sets New Benchmarks
Lucknow, May 26 (TNA) Over the years, significant strides have been made in urban sanitation, source segregation, and sustainable waste processing. Swacch Bharat Mission’s progress across different aspects, reflecting year-by-year developments and their impact in Uttar Pradesh, has stood out and also caught the attention of global agencies working in this realm.
Waste Generation: Managing the Growing Waste Burden
As population grows, the volume of daily waste generated in Uttar Pradesh has steadily increased. During 2022-2023, urban local bodies were generating 14,710 tons per day (TPD) of waste. By 2023-2024, this had risen significantly to 20,114 TPD, marking the need for better infrastructure and waste handling systems.
The waste generation remained around the same level in 2024-2025, reinforcing the urgency of strengthening segregation at the source to prevent environmental hazards. This growing waste burden highlights the importance of efficient management strategies, preventing uncontrolled dumping and promoting recycling at scale.
Legacy Waste Remediation: Transforming Old Dump Sites
State has long struggled with legacy waste—the accumulated waste at old dump yards, which contributes to land and groundwater pollution. During 2022-2023, efforts led to the remediation of 66.73 lakh metric tons of legacy waste, a figure that increased to 83 lakh metric tons in 2023-2024 and 109.66lakh metric tons by 2024-2025.
Instead of letting this waste remain a liability, the Urban Development department under Swachh Bharat Mission has transformed many sites into functional spaces, such as Waste-to-Wonder Parks, processing units, Miyawaki, commercial complexes, and retail spaces. This approach not only reduces environmental damage but also repurposes valuable urban land.
MRF & Compost Pits: Strengthening Waste Processing Infrastructure
Earlier, limited processing facilities led to large volumes of unsegregated waste, straining municipal management systems. Over the years, the establishment of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and compost pits has significantly improved urban waste processing capacity. During 2022-2023, 682 MRFs and 582 compost pits were operational.
This expanded to 711 MRFs and 868 compost pits in 2023-2024, and further to 765 MRFs and 965 compost pits in 2024-2025, ensuring more effective waste segregation and recycling. These improvements have been vital in reducing landfill dependence and promoting sustainable composting practices in the state.
Urban Development Minister AK Sharma credits the success to the visionary policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the free hand provided by the state chief minister Yogi Adityanath in working for the welfare and interests of the people.