
Problems
The Ghazipur landfill in the eastern district of Delhi, India, is a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustainable waste management practices. Established in 1984, this landfill site has grown into one of the largest in Delhi. Covering an area of approximately 70 acres and reaching heights of over 150 feet, it is a towering testament to the city’s waste mismanagement. Every year, as mercury levels soar during New Delhi’s scorching summers, the city’s landfills burst into flames, with rotting waste adding to India’s climate-heating methane gas emissions. Methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide but is a more potent contributor to the climate crisis because it traps more heat. India creates more methane from landfill sites than any other country, according to GHGSat, which monitors emissions via satellites. The trash mountain at Ghazipur is just one of some 3,000 Indian landfills overflowing with decaying waste and emitting hazardous gases, according to a 2023 report from the Center for Science and Environment, a nonprofit research agency in New Delhi. Standing at 65 meters (213 feet), it is nearly as tall as the historic Taj Mahal, and an eyesore that towers over surrounding homes, harming residents’ health. Exposure to methane can aggravate lung diseases, cause asthma, and increase the risk of stroke, according to the non-profit Global Clean Air Initiative. Methane emissions aren’t the only hazard stemming from landfills. Over decades, toxins have seeped into the ground, polluting the water supply for thousands living nearby. But while India wants to reduce its methane output, it hasn’t joined 155 countries that have signed up to the Global Methane Pledge, a pact to collectively cut global emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. Scientists estimate the reduction could cut global temperature rise by 0.2% – and help the world reach its target of keeping global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius. India has said it won’t join because most of its methane emissions come from farming – some 74% from farm animals and paddy fields versus less than 15% from landfills. A Growing problem Despite reaching its maximum capacity in 2002, the Ghazipur landfill continues receiving solid waste from Delhi. It receives 2,000 tons of garbage daily and is expected to grow taller than the Taj Mahal soon. This continuous dumping has led to many environmental, fire, and human health hazards. Fire hazards and health risks The frequent fires at the site are a menace to tens of thousands living near the landfill. The waste that catches fire releases nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide, which cause breathing ailments for people. Even the stench which arises from waste is a big issue. Children suffer the worst. Asthma, shortness of breath, and stunted growth are common ailments in children around the Ghazipur dump site. A major fire broke out at the landfill site on 21 April 2024, rapidly spreading and engulfing several landfill areas. The fire continued to burn for almost 24 hours, spewing toxic fumes into the air of a densely populated area on the outskirts of the capital, Delhi. The thick layer of toxic smoke blanketed the area packed with residential and commercial buildings, causing significant health and breathing problems. Residents complained of irritation in their eyes and difficulty breathing. Experts warn that inhalation of smoke from landfill fires can cause immediate irritation to the respiratory tract, leading to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Groundwater contamination The garbage has also led to groundwater contamination, again causing health issues among the people. The toxic chemical compounds cause the formation of leachate - a substance that further combines with groundwater and pollutes it. This makes the water unfit for drinking and causes serious illnesses like cholera, polio, typhoid, and the like. Stricken by poverty, many people are dependent on this groundwater for sustenance. The Need for Sustainable Solutions The repeated fires at the Ghazipur landfill are a glaring testament to how our development model has gone disastrously wrong. The landfill not only chokes our skies but also emits methane—a potent accelerator of climate change—into our atmosphere. This calls for an urgent need to rethink our waste management strategies. The Delhi government has faced criticism for its failure to clean up the landfill. However, the problem is not limited to one city or landfill. It is a global issue that requires collective action. We must move towards a circular economy, where waste is minimized and resources are reused and recycled. In conclusion, the Ghazipur landfill is a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustainable waste management practices. It is a call to action for policymakers, environmentalists, and citizens to work towards a cleaner and healthier future.
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10Timelines
2024
April 23
The blaze at the capital’s largest landfill had primarily been put out. Still, people living nearby complained of throat and eye irritation due to lingering acrid air, according to local media reports.
April 21
India’s tallest garbage mountain, the Ghazpiur dump site in East Delhi, caught fire. India’s capital choked on toxic fumes, as a thick and pungent haze spread from a fire at a towering trash dump, the latest in a series of landfill blazes that authorities have struggled to control for years. Sections of the Ghazipur landfill in New Delhi burst into flames, causing dangerous heat and methane emissions and adding to India’s growing climate challenges. The cause of the fire remains unknown; combustible gases from disintegrating garbage often trigger landfill blazes.
2022
July
More than 2,300 metric tons of solid waste arrive at the Ghazipur dump daily, according to a July report by a committee tasked with reducing fires there. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi deploys drones every three months to monitor the size of the trash mountain and is experimenting with ways to extract methane from it, the report said. The landfill reached its maximum capacity. However, it continues to receive solid waste from the city of Delhi.
March 28
Three fire incidents were reported at the Ghazipur landfill, including one on March 28 that was extinguished after more than 50 hours. The fire broke out at the Ghazipur landfill east of New Delhi, according to the city's fire service director, Atul Garg. The cause has not been determined, but the fire may be caused by flammable gases from decaying garbage, he added. On the day of the fire, temperatures in Delhi rose to almost 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The fire broke out a week after a report by IQAir, which tracks global air quality, named New Delhi as the world's most polluted capital. For years, the city has at times suffered from throat-burning, acrid haze that can lead to health problems. According to local media reports, some residents living near the Ghazipur landfill are experiencing difficulty breathing, itchy eyes, and sore throats. The air is shrouded in thick black smoke, blocking the sun. Thick smog blanketed busy roads near the landfill, making it difficult to see.
2020
The Delhi Assembly environment meeting was held to discuss the Ghazipur landfill. When the issue was raised by AAP MLA Atishi Marlena, East Delhi BJP MP Gautam Gambhir said that around 3,000 metric tonnes of waste was being processed every day, and by 2024, the entire garbage would be processed.
2019
Solutions to the waste problem were outlined in a 2019 Indian government report, which recommended formalizing the recycling sector and installing more compost plants. However, while some improvements have been made in the country, such as better door-to-door garbage collection and waste processing, India’s landfills continue to grow. As part of his “Clean India” initiative, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said efforts are being made to remove garbage mountains and convert them into green zones. That goal, if achieved, could relieve some of the suffering of those living in the shadows of enormous dump sites – and help the world lower its greenhouse gas emissions.
2017
Garbage dumping was temporarily halted and diverted to Rani Khera, but dumping resumed after locals protested. A portion of the Ghazipur landfill’s slope failed. Waste from the landfill slid 110 meters across an area adjacent to the landfill, including a road, the Hindon Canal, and the Escape Canal. As a result of this incident, two people died, and five were injured. This incident spurred a renewed immediacy to improve operations and management at the Ghazipur landfill, explore alternative waste management options, and identify future landfill sites.
2012
The site received garbage from NDMC, Old Delhi, and East Delhi, which changed after trifurcation.
2002
The landfill reached its maximum capacity. However, it continues to receive solid waste from the city of Delhi.
1984
The Delhi government commissioned the Ghazipur landfill. The landfill covers an area of approximately 70 acres (28 ha) and reaches heights of over 150 feet (46 m). Ghazipur has become one of the largest landfills in Delhi.