Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 Legacy Waste Remediation Achievements
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 launched in October 2021, cities across India have undertaken massive transformation of legacy dumpsites into productive and environmentally sustainable spaces. Between January and December 2025, the mission achieved remediation of 3.66 crore metric tonnes of legacy waste across 459 Urban Local Bodies in 29 States. The Lakshya Zero Dumpsite initiative drives structured, time-bound scientific remediation of sites across States and Urban Local Bodies.
City-Specific Transformations
In Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, a 40-acre dumpsite that served as the city's primary waste disposal site for seven years was scientifically remediated through biomining processing approximately 400 tonnes of waste daily. The process separated waste into refuse-derived fuel (sent to cement industries for co-processing), black soil (used for filling low-lying areas), recyclables, and inert material. The entire site was developed into the Kachre Se Kanchan Rapti Eco Park featuring green lawns, walking/jogging tracks, children's play area, open gym, yoga zone, solar lighting, water conservation structures, food courts, and parking facilities. The park now attracts approximately 500 visitors daily and hosts women-led self-help group Shakti Ki Rasoi operating a restaurant.
In Delhi's Bhalswa dumpsite (spread over 70 acres), biomining has been conducted continuously in mission mode since July 2022. Following the launch of the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) in November 2025, accelerated remediation achieved processing of 99.07 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste by 31 July 2026, with more than half the site reclaimed by May 2026. The site incorporates fire-prevention measures, leachate management, and environmental safeguards, with new work awarded to process fresh waste to prevent future accumulation.
Nagpur's Bhandewadi dumping yard, serving a city of over 30 lakh people, has treated more than 10 lakh metric tonnes of accumulated waste, reclaiming acres of valuable land. The site now operates as an Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility featuring material recovery, waste composting, waste-derived fuel production, modern processing machines, real-time monitoring, CCTV surveillance, dust control, and leachate treatment. The transformation has reduced landfill dependence, improved air/water/soil quality, and enhanced public health in surrounding areas.
In Raichur, Karnataka, 35 acres of Yakalaspura dumpsite underwent scientific remediation processing 62,252 metric tonnes of waste and reclaiming nearly 22 acres of urban land. Part of the restored site now features a Miyawaki forest spread across approximately 5-7 acres with 60,000 bamboo and native saplings planted beginning 5 June 2026 (World Environment Day). The initiative follows the "Toxic Waste to Ecological Wealth" concept, demonstrating ecological restoration and sustainable urban development.
Program Framework and Sustainability
The transformation movement extends beyond cleanup through City Solid Waste Action Plans, progress tracking on the SBM-U portal, and annual Swachh Survekshan rankings that ensure long-term sustainability. Infrastructure and institutional systems convert one-time cleanup into lasting waste management solutions, reshaping how cities reclaim land, restore ecology, and build public spaces where people live, work, and gather.