New Delhi, June 5: Sending a strong message that Delhi’s garbage crisis can only be solved through waste segregation at the source, Mayor Pravesh Wahi on Friday urged elected representatives and citizens to adopt scientific waste management practices, saying the eventual closure of the city’s landfill mountains depends on public participation.
Chairing a high-level meeting on World Environment Day, the Mayor briefed councillors and senior Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials on the new Solid Waste Management Rules framed in line with directions issued by the Supreme Court.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Mayor Dr. Monika Pant, Standing Committee Chairperson Satya Sharma, Leader of the House Jai Bhagwan Yadav, MLAs Shyam Sharma, Ravinder Negi and Anil Sharma, MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar, Additional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and senior civic officials.
Four-Level Waste Segregation the New Focus
Highlighting the need for behavioral change, Mayor Wahi said waste must be segregated at the point of generation itself rather than after collection.
He emphasized that wet waste should be processed locally and converted into compost, while dry waste such as paper, plastic, glass and recyclable materials should be channelled into recycling streams.
According to the Mayor, Delhi’s new waste management framework focuses on four-level segregation of waste, a step aimed at reducing the burden on landfill sites and improving recycling efficiency.
“Waste should not reach landfill sites in mixed form. Segregation at source is the most effective solution for sustainable waste management,” he said.
Landfill-Free Delhi Vision
Mayor Wahi said the meeting was organized to advance Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Swachh Bharat and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s vision of a Clean and Beautiful Delhi.
He reiterated that the civic body’s long-term objective is to eliminate the massive garbage dumps at Okhla, Bhalswa and Ghazipur through scientific waste processing and improved segregation practices.
According to civic officials, reducing mixed waste entering the municipal system remains critical to achieving the goal of a landfill-free Delhi.
Councillors Asked to Lead Awareness Campaign
The Mayor directed councillors to actively educate residents about the new waste management regulations and encourage households, markets, institutions and residential colonies to adopt source segregation practices.
He said councillors must ensure that waste management initiatives in their wards align with the updated rules and environmental standards.
Field Visits to Waste Facilities
To strengthen understanding of scientific waste disposal systems, MCD has scheduled a series of field visits from June 7 to June 12 for councillors.
The visits will include landfill sites and waste-to-energy plants, allowing elected representatives to gain first-hand knowledge of Delhi’s waste processing ecosystem and future waste management requirements.
Malviya Nagar Fire Also Discussed
Mayor Wahi also informed participants that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has convened a multi-departmental meeting regarding the recent Malviya Nagar hotel fire tragedy. He directed the MCD Commissioner and all Deputy Commissioners to participate in the review meeting.
The event concluded with Leader of the House Jai Bhagwan Yadav thanking councillors, officials and experts for participating in the discussions on making Delhi’s waste management system more efficient, sustainable and citizen-centric.
