Remaining legacy waste at Dadumajra to vanish soon

In a landmark move under the ambit of the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh is on the brink of transforming the city into a zero landfill model as it nears the completion of bioremediation of the third and final legacy waste dump at the Dadumajra dumpsite. As per a report, only 59,000 MT legacy waste is remaining to be processed as on July 21.

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Commencing on January 25, 2025, the ongoing bioremediation project of the third legacy waste dump has already achieved an impressive 70-75 per cent waste processing despite facing weather disruptions, with over 45 rainy days in the last six months, each halting operations for more than two days. However, undeterred by these challenges, the project has been accelerated with a 15 to 20-fold increase in deployed machinery and manpower, setting new benchmarks in waste management efficiency.

The final waste mound, comprising approximately 2.40 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of legacy waste, is being cleared with support of two major public sector undertakings (PSUs) and the existing agency, operating in two dedicated shifts to ensure rapid progress. The completion of this bioremediation effort marks the end of landfill dependency for Chandigarh.

In its determined journey, the MC has successfully navigated multiple complex challenges such as radiological characterisation, leachate management, fire control, and safety protocols, adhering strictly to environment norms and the star rating protocol of garbage-free cities as prescribed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.

With this final push, Chandigarh is set to become one of India’s first fully landfill-free city, emerging as a model of circular waste economy and environmental stewardship.