It was reported that India’s first Integrated Waste Management City-cum-Learning Centre was set to come up in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, by September 2025. The initiative aimed to make the city garbage-free and foster sustainable waste management through a circular economy model.

According to Gorakhpur Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Sogarwal, the project would be spread across 40 acres in Suthni village, Sahjanwa, and would process various types of waste while producing charcoal and Bio-CNG. He mentioned that the project was expected to generate employment, enhance revenue, and serve as a learning hub for technical expertise.

Sogarwal shared that the model had already been presented in Visakhapatnam and Delhi, and would be showcased by the Ministry of Environment during the National Chief Secretaries' Conference in Delhi from 13 to 15 December. He also noted that inputs from the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, were being incorporated to enhance the project's innovative aspects.

The centre was set to process a wide range of waste types, including biomedical waste, e-waste, batteries, tyres, terracotta, vehicle scrap, plastic, domestic hazardous materials, industrial waste, and organic waste. In addition, it would operate as a learning centre, providing technical expertise.

Sogarwal revealed that three dedicated plants were planned for the project. The Dry Waste Plant, with a capacity of 500 tons per day, would produce charcoal. An MoU had been signed with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), with an investment of Rs 300 crore, ensuring revenue generation and employment opportunities.

The Wet Waste Plant, another component of the project, would be a 200-ton-per-day facility generating Bio-CNG under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. It was expected that the plant could save the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation an estimated Rs 12-15 crore monthly on vehicle fuel expenses.

The third facility, a Hazardous Waste Plant, would focus on processing domestic hazardous waste using environmentally-friendly methods, Sogarwal said. He further explained that, in addition to managing Gorakhpur's waste, the project would cater to the needs of eight nearby urban local bodies (ULBs), marking a significant step toward regional sustainability.