Pune, 26th August 2026: City's wet-waste problem is becoming a major challenge for the civic administration, with the city generating around 2,800 metric tonnes of waste every day, including nearly 1,100 metric tonnes of wet waste. Although existing facilities have a combined capacity of around 600 metric tonnes per day, only about 395 tonnes is currently being processed.
Wet waste is therefore accumulating at collection centres and other locations, causing foul odour and inconvenience to residents.
The city’s waste generation has increased significantly following the inclusion of 32 villages during the 2017 and 2021 boundary expansions. The population also increased by an estimated 7–8 lakh, adding to the daily waste burden.
Pune currently has 14 wet-waste processing facilities with a combined capacity of 600 metric tonnes per day. However, their actual operational capacity remains considerably lower.
Together, these facilities process around 395 tonnes of wet waste daily. Another nearly 600 tonnes is supplied directly to farmers for composting and manure production.
The major facilities include:
Hadapsar Ramp: 200-tonne capacity; 160 tonnes currently processed
Sus: 200-tonne capacity; 40 tonnes currently processed
Katraj Ramp: 100-tonne capacity; 100 tonnes currently processed
Railway Museum, Katraj: 50-tonne capacity; 50 tonnes currently processed
10 biogas plants: 50-tonne capacity; 45 tonnes currently processed
The Pune Municipal Corporation had invited bids for processing 500 tonnes of waste per day, initially planned as 300 tonnes of wet waste and 200 tonnes of dry waste. After disputes over tender conditions, political intervention and the quoted rates, the project was eventually approved at ₹772 per tonne.
The PMC estimates that the revised agreement will save around ₹149 crore. The project is expected to start by the end of December. Given the current shortage of wet-waste processing capacity, the entire 500-tonne capacity is likely to be used for wet waste.
The PMC has also proposed a compressed biogas (CBG) project to process wet waste. The proposed facility will be located around 73 km from Pune, with transportation and tipping charges to be borne by the civic body.
The contractor initially quoted ₹2,090 per tonne, but the PMC considered the rate too high. After negotiations, it was reduced to ₹1,705 per tonne, below the administration’s benchmark of ₹1,710 per tonne.
The PMC estimates that the revised rate could save around ₹173 crore. The proposal is currently under discussion. If approved, the project will take around 18 months to become operational, including the time required for machinery installation and clearances.
State-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has also submitted a proposal to process around 300 tonnes of wet waste per day into gas.
Another proposal has come from state-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) to convert around 300 tonnes of wet waste per day into gas. The PMC is considering providing land at the Uruli Devachi waste depot for the project.
Unlike the CBG proposal, the civic body would not have to pay processing or tipping charges after providing the land. The proposal is expected to be placed before the civic standing committee for approval.
The PMC is considering providing land at the Uruli Devachi waste depot for the project. Once the facility becomes operational, the civic body would not have to pay processing or tipping charges.
The proposal is expected to be placed before the standing committee for approval.
The PMC is also planning to reduce the quantity of wet waste sent from large housing societies, malls and other establishments to its processing facilities. Such establishments generate around 400 tonnes of waste daily, of which approximately 300 tonnes is currently sent to processing plants. The administration plans to reduce this dependence.
Around 120 tonnes of wet waste, equivalent to 20 per cent of the Waste-to-Energy facility’s capacity, is also proposed to be diverted to the plant.
PMC Additional Commissioner Prajit Nair said the civic administration is working to ensure that the city has sufficient capacity to handle its wet waste.
“The administration is working to ensure proper disposal of wet waste. The Bhoomigreen project will be operated at its full 500-tonne capacity. The proposed BPCL and CBG projects, each with a capacity of 300 tonnes, will take around 18 months to become operational after receiving the necessary approvals.”
Nair added, “Around 400 tonnes of waste is generated daily by housing societies and malls, of which nearly 300 tonnes is currently sent to processing plants. We plan to reduce this quantity. Around 120 tonnes of wet waste will also be sent to the Waste-to-Energy facility.”
He said the civic administration aims to create enough capacity to handle the city’s growing waste generation. “Our goal is to ensure that within the next two years, the city’s wet-waste processing capacity is higher than the amount of wet waste generated every day.”
