Lucknow’s Municipal Corporation operates a construction and demolition (C&D) waste recycling plant in Harikansh Garhi, Mohanlalganj, which processes up to 150 tonnes of waste daily, despite the city generating 250-300 tonnes each day.
The plant, managed by Rise Eleven, can handle up to 300 tonnes per day using wet processing technology and produces marketable and reusable items like pavers and concrete blocks. However, according to sources, the majority of bulk C&D waste, especially from large construction sites, remains uncollected due to lax enforcement of the Ministry of Environment’s waste disposal regulations.
Unauthorized dumping remains prevalent, particularly in Lucknow’s rapidly developing outskirts. Environmentalists and officials agree that while the plant represents a positive step, its impact is limited without stronger enforcement, broader waste collection networks, and faster response times.
Furthermore, government directives mandate the use of 20-25% recycled materials in public projects, but compliance data is missing, raising concerns about adherence.
