The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has launched Phase 2 of a bio-mining project at the Bhuasuni dumping yard in Bhubaneswar to process 0.9 million (mn) metric tonnes (t) of legacy waste in a phased manner. The initiative builds on earlier work that removed nearly 1.2 mn t from the site over the past three years. Officials said the total volume processed will reach about 2.1 mn t once the phase is complete.

The second phase will be executed in three stages and is intended to expand remediation capacity at the former dumping ground. The site served as a major disposal location from 2008 to 2022 and remediation began after the civic authority moved to scientific methods. Work during the initial phase demonstrated technical gains in segregation and material recovery, the civic body indicated.

Bio-mining applies systematic segregation and treatment of mixed waste to enable recovery, recycling and safe disposal of different components. The shift to this approach followed directives from the National Green Tribunal in 2023 that required urban local bodies to end open dumping and adopt scientific processing. Officials also reported that no fresh waste is currently being diverted to alternative sites such as Daruthenga.

The project received cabinet approval in November 2021 but its implementation was delayed after residents protested over continued dumping. Local community members had sought a halt to fresh waste inputs before bio-mining began, and the civic body proceeded only after addressing those concerns and confirming mitigation measures. Engagement with stakeholders was described as a prerequisite for restarting large-scale remediation.

The launch is expected to strengthen Bhubaneswar’s compliance with environmental norms while improving public health outcomes and urban sanitation. Scaling bio-mining across legacy sites is seen as a key element of long-term waste management and circularity efforts in the city. Continued monitoring and adherence to regulatory directives will determine the pace at which the remaining legacy stock is processed.