Lucknow has become Uttar Pradesh's first 'Zero Dump City', a significant environmental achievement marked by the full operation of all three units at the Shivri waste treatment plant. The plant now processes the city's entire daily output of 2100 metric tons of waste, and two-thirds of the accumulated waste mound at the site has been eliminated.
The Shivri plant, initially established in 2012, faced challenges under previous contractors, leading to the formation of a large waste mountain. In 2017, a Chinese company took over but also faltered, resulting in a ₹40 crore penalty.
A renewed effort began in 2023 with a ₹96 crore project initiated by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Pune-based Bhumi Green Energy took charge in January 2024, employing microbial culture to reduce odor and leachate, and air drying waste to facilitate processing. Each of the three units now processes 700 metric tons daily.
Processed waste is separated into four components: fine soil for agriculture, Refused Derived Fuel (RDF) from plastics and paper for cement factories and paper mills, coarse materials for land reclamation, and construction debris for infrastructure projects.
Additionally, products like ropes, mats, and coco-peat are made from coconut husks and plastic. The project, monitored by IIT Roorkee and VJTI Mumbai, is expected to generate electricity in the future.
