Partner: People’s Alliance for Waste Accountability
Decision Makers:
Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC)
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
Demands:
To scrap the proposed WTE incineration project in Bawana, Delhi, and move towards sustainable waste management practices.
Stop the further expansion of WTE incineration projects in the Delhi-NCR region.
Conduct a comprehensive study on the impacts of WTE incineration on Delhi’s air quality and human health and make them publicly available.
Focus on systemic transformations in the waste management sector which are less expensive yet more effective than WTE incineration – including restricting the production of non-essential plastics, lower consumption, source segregation, and decentralized waste processing.
Delhi is on the brink of an environmental disaster. This November, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) has repeatedly crossed into 'severe plus' territory, soaring well beyond the 500 mark for consecutive days. Amid this alarming crisis, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is proposing to construct another Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration plant in Bawana, which will burn an additional 3,000 tons of unsegregated waste every day, adding to the already dire situation. Delhi’s existing WTE plants in Okhla, Tehkhand, Ghazipur, and Bawana already burn a total of 7,250 tons of unsegregated waste daily, emitting hazardous pollutants such as dioxins, furans, and particulate matter.
A study led by IIT-Madras also pointed out that burning plastics was the main cause behind reduced visibility in Delhi. A CPCB inspection report also noted that the WTE incineration plants in Delhi also emit highly toxic chemicals called 'dioxins', which can accumulate in the food chain causing severe problems with reproduction and the immune system. The Okhla plant, for example, was found to emit 800-900% more dioxins and furans than acceptable limits, leading to increased cancer cases and respiratory illnesses.
Despite heavy subsidies and financial support, these projects remain economically unviable, often operating at a loss. Worse, they undermine sustainable practices by burning mixed waste instead of encouraging segregation and recycling.
These plants also worsen climate change, emitting more CO2 per unit of energy than coal-fired power plants. The WTE plants in Delhi alone emit carbon equivalent to 30 lakh cars annually - a staggering contribution to the city’s already dire pollution levels.
We are calling for the immediate cancellation of the Bawana WTE project and a halt to further expansions of incineration plants across Delhi-NCR. It is critical to prioritize solutions that respect environmental and public health, starting with mandatory waste segregation, stricter plastic restrictions, and decentralization of waste processing. Additionally, a transparent study of the impacts of WTE plants must be conducted and shared with the public to ensure informed decision-making.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) is seeking suggestions from the public by December 26, with a public hearing scheduled for December 27.
Time is running out for Delhi. We must act now to ensure a future where clean air is not a privilege but a right. Join us in urging policymakers to choose sustainable waste management and protect our city from further harm.
Sources:
Partner: People’s Alliance for Waste Accountability
Decision Makers:
Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC)
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
Demands:
To scrap the proposed WTE incineration project in Bawana, Delhi, and move towards sustainable waste management practices.
Stop the further expansion of WTE incineration projects in the Delhi-NCR region.
Conduct a comprehensive study on the impacts of WTE incineration on Delhi’s air quality and human health and make them publicly available.
Focus on systemic transformations in the waste management sector which are less expensive yet more effective than WTE incineration – including restricting the production of non-essential plastics, lower consumption, source segregation, and decentralized waste processing.
Delhi is on the brink of an environmental disaster. This November, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) has repeatedly crossed into 'severe plus' territory, soaring well beyond the 500 mark for consecutive days. Amid this alarming crisis, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is proposing to construct another Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration plant in Bawana, which will burn an additional 3,000 tons of unsegregated waste every day, adding to the already dire situation. Delhi’s existing WTE plants in Okhla, Tehkhand, Ghazipur, and Bawana already burn a total of 7,250 tons of unsegregated waste daily, emitting hazardous pollutants such as dioxins, furans, and particulate matter.
A study led by IIT-Madras also pointed out that burning plastics was the main cause behind reduced visibility in Delhi. A CPCB inspection report also noted that the WTE incineration plants in Delhi also emit highly toxic chemicals called 'dioxins', which can accumulate in the food chain causing severe problems with reproduction and the immune system. The Okhla plant, for example, was found to emit 800-900% more dioxins and furans than acceptable limits, leading to increased cancer cases and respiratory illnesses.
Despite heavy subsidies and financial support, these projects remain economically unviable, often operating at a loss. Worse, they undermine sustainable practices by burning mixed waste instead of encouraging segregation and recycling.
These plants also worsen climate change, emitting more CO2 per unit of energy than coal-fired power plants. The WTE plants in Delhi alone emit carbon equivalent to 30 lakh cars annually - a staggering contribution to the city’s already dire pollution levels.
We are calling for the immediate cancellation of the Bawana WTE project and a halt to further expansions of incineration plants across Delhi-NCR. It is critical to prioritize solutions that respect environmental and public health, starting with mandatory waste segregation, stricter plastic restrictions, and decentralization of waste processing. Additionally, a transparent study of the impacts of WTE plants must be conducted and shared with the public to ensure informed decision-making.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) is seeking suggestions from the public by December 26, with a public hearing scheduled for December 27.
Time is running out for Delhi. We must act now to ensure a future where clean air is not a privilege but a right. Join us in urging policymakers to choose sustainable waste management and protect our city from further harm.
Sources: