Gandhinagar: Surat city, once known primarily for its diamond and textile industries, is now emerging as a national leader in environmental conservation and scientific waste management. The city is steadily moving towards becoming a ‘Zero Waste City,’ with a strong focus on recycling and sustainable disposal systems, an official statement said.

The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has set a target of achieving 100 percent recycling of Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste generated in the city within the next two years. A comprehensive system is being developed to ensure that construction waste does not end up at dumping sites but is instead recycled either on-site or through dedicated recycling plants and reused in various forms.

The Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Plant established by SMC has become a model for cities across India. The project not only supports cleanliness efforts but also plays a key role in protecting the environment, conserving natural resources, and reducing pollution. According to SMC estimates, the recycling process reduces around 500 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually equivalent to saving nearly 2.5 lakh kilograms of coal while also easing pressure on mining resources such as stone and sand.

A 300-metric-ton-per-day C&D waste recycling plant at Kosad, operating under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, currently processes about 80 metric tonnes of demolition waste daily. The recycled waste is converted into high-quality products such as paver blocks, aggregates, recycled sand, concrete bricks, and other construction materials.

Since the Kosad plant became operational in 2018, Surat has steadily expanded its collection and recycling network. The city collected 65,746 metric tonnes of C&D waste in 2018–19, followed by consistent annual increases, reaching 58,106 metric tonnes in 2024–25. Waste that once went to dumping grounds is now scientifically processed and transformed into reusable construction resources.

SMC has also introduced Clean Construction Guidelines, allowing citizens to register through e-governance platforms for doorstep collection of construction waste. In a major step towards promoting the circular economy, the corporation has made it mandatory to use up to 20 percent recycled material in government tenders, boosting demand for recycled products.

The guidelines have also contributed significantly to reducing air pollution in the city. Measures such as mandatory tarpaulins, green nets, sprinklers, and dust-control systems at construction sites have helped make Surat cleaner, safer, and more livable. DeshGujarat