The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) plans to reduce conventional community garbage bins across the capital to 20 per cent of their existing level. A pilot project will be implemented in three zones within 90 days, following a meeting chaired by MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar to review the city’s solid waste management system.

The civic body will prepare ward-wise action plans and identify land or facilities for decentralised treatment of wet waste. Proposed methods include composting, biogas production, compressed biogas and other technologies. The plans will also provide separate waste collection arrangements for residential colonies, congested streets, slum clusters, markets, hospitals and institutional areas.

The MCD intends to deploy smaller or specially designed vehicles in narrow lanes where conventional collection vehicles cannot operate. The measure is aimed at preventing roadside dumping and improving door-to-door collection. Officials will also progressively make markets bin-free through designated waste collection and transportation systems, while strengthening night sweeping and mechanised wet-cleaning in high-footfall and commercial areas.

The civic body is seeking to expand its Zero Waste Colonies model, which is currently implemented in 823 colonies and involves managing waste locally rather than sending it to landfill. The measures will be taken up ahead of the month-long Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign, scheduled from 17 September to 17 October.

During the campaign, the MCD will focus on difficult and dirty spots, public places and Cleanliness Target Units. It will conduct awareness drives on waste segregation, composting and other waste-management practices, alongside activities involving school students and young people. Planned initiatives include waste-to-art and waste-to-wealth programmes, donation drives, plastic recycling events and welfare and recognition activities for sanitation workers. Zonal officials and department heads have been directed to ensure time-bound implementation and regular monitoring across the city.