The city’s civic body has unveiled an ambitious plan to modernise its dry waste management system, beginning with the overhaul of 10 existing centres. This initiative aims to introduce mechanised segregation, reduce landfill dependency, and ensure greater recycling efficiency across Mumbai.
Out of the 91 locations earmarked in the city’s Development Plan for dry waste centres, 41 are operational today. In the first phase of the modernisation drive, centres at Wadala, Marol-Andheri, Dahisar East, and Borivali West will undergo upgrades, while the second phase is expected to cover facilities at Colaba, Agripada, and Andheri West. Officials said that preference is being given to sites with larger land parcels, above 2,000 square feet, to accommodate advanced segregation infrastructure. The move reflects a growing alignment between local initiatives and national-level sustainability programmes. Officials confirmed that partial funding support is being extended by the central government, in line with efforts to strengthen urban waste management frameworks. Tenders for the first and second phases are expected to be floated within the next month.
Currently, segregation at most dry waste centres is carried out manually, often by informal worker groups. This results in limited efficiency and restricted utilisation of recyclable material. By introducing conveyor belts and mechanised units, the civic body intends to streamline the process, improve productivity, and enhance safety and working conditions for waste handlers. Experts noted that mechanisation will also allow the centres to manage growing volumes of dry waste more effectively, as Mumbai continues to generate thousands of tonnes of solid waste daily. Reducing the strain on the city’s two overburdened dumping grounds—at Kanjurmarg and Deonar—has emerged as a central objective of this project. Civic officials emphasised that the new facilities will divert significant quantities of recyclable dry waste away from landfills, extending their operational lifespan and lessening the environmental burden.
In a parallel initiative, the civic body has also started collecting waste directly from bulk residential generators, with plans to extend this to commercial bulk generators such as malls, hotels, and office complexes. Any establishment producing more than 100 kilograms of waste daily is categorised as a bulk waste generator. This move effectively cuts out private contractors and gives the civic body direct oversight of the waste collection chain, enabling stricter monitoring and accountability. Experts believe that the twin approach of mechanised segregation and direct collection from bulk generators could prove transformative for Mumbai’s waste management system. By addressing inefficiencies at both collection and processing levels, the city could significantly reduce its landfill dependency while improving recycling outputs.
While challenges such as consistent funding and capacity-building remain, environmental specialists see the modernisation programme as a crucial step towards building a cleaner, more sustainable Mumbai. For a city grappling with rising waste volumes and limited landfill space, mechanisation and decentralised responsibility may pave the way for a greener urban future.
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