The Andhra Pradesh government has launched an ambitious plan to clear 86 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste from old dumpsites by October 2, 2025, with an additional 30 lakh metric tonnes targeted for removal by December 2025. The announcement was made by Municipal Administration and Urban Development Principal Secretary S Suresh Kumar during a collectors’ conference in Amaravati on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

Legacy waste, consisting of untreated municipal solid waste accumulated over years in open dumpsites and landfills, has long been a pressing issue. The initiative aims to not only clear these sites but also repurpose the reclaimed land for productive use. Recovered soil will be processed into compost, while Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) will be supplied to cement factories, promoting sustainable resource management.

Kumar highlighted ongoing waste-to-energy projects in Visakhapatnam and Guntur, which are already converting hundreds of tonnes of municipal waste into power daily. The state is expanding this effort, with new waste-to-energy plants planned for Nellore, Rajahmundry, Kurnool, Kadapa, Vijayawada, and Tirupati, expected to be fully operational by 2027. Additionally, the government is addressing wastewater management by acquiring 199 acres for 142 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to ensure environmentally safe water reuse.

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Embracing a circular economy model, the initiative prioritizes environmental protection, efficient land use, water recycling, and resource conservation, while also creating job opportunities. As part of its sustainability efforts, the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat was declared Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Free on August 15, 2025. Kumar directed all district collectorates and government offices to achieve SUP-Free status by December 2025, setting a benchmark for eco-friendly governance.

This massive cleanup drive underscores Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to a cleaner, greener future, with far-reaching benefits for both the environment and its communities.

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