Delhi L-G directs MCD to expand zero-waste model to low-income colonies

Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Tuesday instructed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to replicate the 'zero-waste model' developed in south Delhi's Navjeevan Vihar across the city, with a particular focus on low-income and unauthorised colonies.

Mr. Sandhu issued the direction during a visit to Navjeevan Vihar, one of Delhi's certified zero-waste colonies. Residents there have been managing waste through 100% source segregation, on-site composting and recycling for nearly eight years. The L-G also asked the MCD to explore dedicated funding mechanisms and tap corporate social responsibility resources to help establish similar decentralised waste-management infrastructure in less affluent neighbourhoods.

According to officials, Navjeevan Vihar has diverted more than 10 lakh kg of waste from landfills over the past eight years through its community-led system. The push to expand the model comes as the MCD seeks to revive and scale up the zero-waste colony programme under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, an official said.

Delhi currently has over 670 certified zero-waste areas, including over 590 colonies and group housing societies, along with 40 institutions. Together, these process and compost around 100 tonnes of waste every day. The new directive aims to extend these practices to areas that currently lack such infrastructure, potentially improving waste management and reducing landfill burden across the city.