Bhandewadi India’s 1st Integrated Solid Waste Processing Facility: CM

Nagpur: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said Nagpur was poised to become a national model for scientific waste management with the commissioning of India's first integrated municipal solid waste processing facility, a Rs300-crore private-sector project designed to convert the city's garbage into biogas, compost and industrial fuel. After inspecting the project at Bhandewadi, Fadnavis said the facility would transform the concept of a ‘garbage-free city' into reality by ensuring that nearly all municipal waste generated in Nagpur is scientifically processed rather than dumped in landfills. "This is the first integrated urban solid waste processing project of its kind in the country. It will help realise the vision of a garbage-free city while creating valuable resources from waste," Fadnavis said. Developed by international waste-management company — SusBDe — under a public-private partnership model, the facility is being established on 30 acres of land provided by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. Once fully operational, it will process 1,200 metric tonnes of wet and dry waste generated daily across the city. The project is being implemented in three phases and is expected to become fully operational by August. According to officials, the waste will be converted into biogas, compost fertiliser and fuel pellets produced from dry waste through advanced processing technologies. A key component of the project is the production of 28 tonnes of biogas per day, which will be used to supply green energy in the form of CNG for 198 city buses. Officials said the initiative would significantly reduce dependence on conventional fuels while strengthening the city's sustainable transport ecosystem. Fadnavis said the project would also generate annual royalty revenue of Rs15 lakh for the municipal corporation through gas sales. Importantly, he noted, the facility is being developed entirely through private investment, sparing the civic body from capital expenditure while reducing recurring costs associated with waste disposal and management. "The project will save the expenditure incurred on handling nearly 1,300 metric tonnes of waste generated every day and will ensure scientific disposal without causing environmental damage," he said. The CM added that the facility would produce high-quality compost for agricultural use and fuel pellets that can be utilised for energy generation, including industrial applications. Calling it an environmentally sustainable initiative, Fadnavis expressed confidence that the Bhandewadi facility would emerge as a benchmark for urban waste management across India and reinforce Nagpur's reputation as a leader in municipal innovation and green infrastructure. Revenue minister and Nagpur guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLAs Krishna Khopde and Pravin Datke, mayor Neeta Thakre, deputy mayor Leena Hatibed, standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani Wakhre, minority commission chairman Pyare Khan, municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar and company officials were present during the visit. Earlier, SusBDe executive director Runda Thakur briefed the CM on the project's technology and operational framework, while mayor Thakre and commissioner Itankar assured full civic support for its implementation.