# Delhi waste management and cleanliness initiatives

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/delhi-waste-management-and-cleanliness-initiatives
> Updated: 2026-10-21T22:12:05.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 3.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has initiated several measures to address waste management and urban cleanliness in the capital. In early October, Gupta inspected the Okhla landfill to review land reclamation and waste disposal progress. She reported that 100 acres of land across three major landfill sites have been cleared over the previous 1.5 years, with much of the waste accumulated before January 2025 largely processed. To manage the 3,000 to 4,000 metric tons of fresh daily waste, the government laid foundation stones for new processing plants at Okhla, Ghazipur, and Singhola, alongside a biogas facility at Ghazipur. Gupta described the effort to eliminate remaining garbage mounds as being conducted in ‘mission mode’. By mid-October, the focus expanded to a cleanliness drive in preparation for the festive season. Gupta directed departments to prioritize the removal of garbage, construction debris, and waste from public spaces, markets, and roads. As part of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan campaign, the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) launched new waste collection and transportation vehicles, including compactors designed to compress waste to one-tenth of its original size before transport. In mid-October 2026, the initiative expanded to address a significant processing gap, as Delhi generates approximately 15,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, while only 6,000 to 7,000 tonnes were previously processed. The government introduced over 500 door-to-door collection vehicles, including auto-tippers, e-rickshaws, and refuse compactors, and appointed 35 women drivers for these roles. Additionally, 1,000 battery-operated mechanical litter-picking machines will be deployed across all 250 MCD wards. Long-term plans include establishing new waste-to-energy plants, e-waste centres, and biogas plants. By late October 2026, Chief Minister Gupta intensified these operations in preparation for Diwali.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-21: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta orders intensified cleanliness drive

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered intensified cleanliness drives, including night-time cleaning in markets and colonies, to prepare the city for the Diwali festival.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/delhi-cm-rekha-gupta-orders-intensified-cleanliness-drive

### 2026-10-17: Delhi CM launches sanitation and waste management initiative

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched a sanitation initiative featuring 500+ waste collection vehicles and 1,000 mechanical litter pickers to manage the city's 15,000 tonnes of daily waste.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/delhi-cm-orders-cleanliness-and-waste-management-drive-for-festive-season

### 2026-10-03: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta inspects Okhla landfill to review waste clearance

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inspected the Okhla landfill, announcing that 100 acres have been cleared across city landfills and vowing to eliminate remaining garbage mountains by year-end.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/delhi-cm-rekha-gupta-inspects-okhla-landfill-waste-clearance

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Cite as: Delhi waste management and cleanliness initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/delhi-waste-management-and-cleanliness-initiatives