Madanapalle Municipality in Andhra Pradesh is implementing comprehensive waste management strategies under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 with the objective of becoming a Zero Waste City. The municipality processes approximately 62 tonnes per day (TPD) of municipal solid waste, consisting of 25.50 TPD dry waste, 36 TPD wet waste, and 0.50 TPD domestic hazardous waste.
A systematic source segregation mechanism categorizes waste into biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and upcycling waste streams. For wet waste management, 15.50 tonnes is processed daily through windrow composting at the municipal compost yard, generating 4.65 tonnes of compost used for parks and plantations. An additional 3 tonnes of wet waste undergoes vermicomposting daily, producing 1.20 tonnes of nutrient-rich compost.
Dry waste is segregated into recyclable and non-recyclable categories at doorstep level. Recyclable materials are sent to Material Recovery Facilities and onward to authorized recycling units, while non-recyclable waste is transported to cement factories for co-processing, generating additional revenue for the municipality. The operational Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Centre collects e-waste, old clothes, toys, books, and footwear for repair, reuse, or redistribution to slum communities, homeless individuals, and old age homes.
The municipality has successfully remediated 36,512 metric tonnes of legacy waste through bio-mining and bio-remediation, reclaiming 9.40 acres of land. Of this, 5 acres have been developed through plantation activities, transforming former dumpsites into green spaces. Recovered Refuse Derived Fuel is sent to cement plants for co-processing, while soil and inert materials are reused for filling low-lying areas.
Creative initiatives include waste-to-art projects using discarded tires for beautifying public spaces and parks, and wall paintings promoting cleanliness and waste segregation. The Waste-to-Art Park at NVR Layout showcases creative repurposing of discarded materials into functional public installations.