Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban began on 2 October 2014 with two aims: making cities open defecation free and processing municipal solid waste scientifically. On 20 January 2018 MoHUA launched the Star Rating Protocol for Garbage Free Cities, which rates cities up to 7 stars on collection, segregation, processing, landfilling and dumpsite remediation. According to MoHUA, waste processing rose from 18% in 2014 to 70% by October 2021. SBM-U 2.0 was launched on 1 October 2021 for five years, with the remediation of all legacy dumpsites among its goals.
Urban Waste Management
Urban Waste Management
Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, launched on 2 October 2014, set out to make cities open defecation free and to process municipal solid waste scientifically. Its second phase, SBM-U 2.0, began on 1 October 2021 for five years, aiming at Garbage Free status for all cities through source segregation, door-to-door collection, scientific processing and the remediation of all legacy dumpsites. As reported by States/UTs, cities generate 1,62,162 tonnes of municipal solid waste a day, of which 1,31,837 tonnes, or 81.30%, is processed (January 2026). By then 1,138 dumpsites had been fully remediated, clearing 877 lakh tonnes of legacy waste. The counter shows the share of urban municipal solid waste that is processed.
1,138
Dumpsites fully remediated (January 2026)
97.15%
Wards with 100% door-to-door collection (April 2022)
17
Waste-to-electricity plants operating (January 2026)
Urban solid waste processed
| Year | Urban solid waste processed |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 18.0 % |
| 2020 | 65.0 % |
| 2021 | 70.0 % |
| 2022 | 72.0 % |
| 2023 | 76.0 % |
| 2026 | 81.3 % |
| Dashed bars are years the source does not publish; the shape between published years is drawn, not measured. | |
2014
0.0%
Urban solid waste processed
20142026
Since 2014
Added
+63.3 %
2014
18.0 %
2026
81.3 %
Dashed bars are years the source does not publish; the shape between published years is drawn, not measured.
Why it matters Waste left in open dumps contaminates groundwater and soil, catches fire and releases methane. Regular door-to-door collection and processing keep streets and drains clean, and cleared dumpsites free up city land for green cover or waste facilities.
- Waste processed: 18% (2014, as stated by MoHUA in 2021) → 81.30% (January 2026)
- 100% door-to-door collection in 87,095 of 89,650 wards, or 97.15% (April 2022)
- 1,138 dumpsites fully remediated across 1,048 cities; 877 lakh tonnes of legacy waste cleared (January 2026)
- About 2,479 dumpsites identified, holding an estimated 25 crore tonnes of waste on nearly 15,000 acres (January 2026)
- 17 waste-to-electricity plants operating, with 20,100 TPD processing capacity (January 2026)
- Indore certified as India's first 7-star Garbage Free city (October 2022)
History
Notable milestone
In the star-rating results announced in October 2022, 3,600 cities applied and 412 were rated: 11 five-star, 182 three-star and 218 one-star, with Indore certified as the first 7-star Garbage Free city. By July 2023, 234 cities held 1-star, 199 held 3-star and 11 held 5-star ratings. In 2025, 459 dumpsites across 438 cities in 26 States were fully remediated, clearing 183 lakh tonnes of legacy waste.
How it works
Cities collect waste door to door, segregated at source, and send it to material recovery facilities, compost plants, bio-methanation plants and, in cities above 10 lakh population, higher-order facilities such as waste-to-electricity plants. As of January 2026, 2,800 compost plants with 1.14 lakh TPD capacity and 131 bio-methanation plants with 4,253 TPD capacity were operational. Old dumps are cleared by biomining: waste is excavated, stabilised with microbes, dried and sorted into soil-like fines, recyclables, construction material and refuse-derived fuel for cement and power plants. Under the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme, central assistance is calculated at ₹550 per tonne of legacy waste.
Outlook
SBM-U 2.0 runs until 1 October 2026. The Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme, launched in November 2025, aims for Lakshya: Zero Dumpsites by October 2026 and prioritises 214 high-impact dumpsites in 200 urban local bodies that hold about 8.6 crore tonnes, nearly 80% of the remaining legacy waste. Projects worth ₹6,700 crore had been approved for these sites, and remediation was under way at 1,428 dumpsites as of January 2026. Reclaimed land is to be used first for waste-management facilities or green cover.
By the numbers
81.30% of urban solid waste processed (1,31,837 of 1,62,162 TPD, January 2026). 1,138 dumpsites fully remediated; 877 lakh tonnes of legacy waste cleared (January 2026). 97.15% of wards with 100% door-to-door collection (April 2022). 17 waste-to-electricity plants with 20,100 TPD capacity (January 2026). 412 star-rated Garbage Free cities (October 2022). Sources: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (Lok Sabha replies and releases), via PIB.
Data current to: as of January 2026
Source: MoHUA via PIB — share of urban municipal solid waste processed, as stated in releases and Parliament replies: 18% (2014), 65% (May 2020), 70% (October 2021), more than 72% (April 2022), 76% (July 2023) and 81.30% (January 2026). Points are keyed to the year of each statement; the January 2026 Lok Sabha reply (linked) gives the 2014 level as 16%. · link