Delhi’s overflowing landfills have long posed a serious threat to environmental and public health. The Upcycling The Legacy Waste campaign by Tapas Foundation, in collaboration with Ramboll India under their CSR initiative, presents a scalable, sustainable solution to this issue by converting landfill waste—specifically construction and demolition (C&D) waste—into valuable, eco-friendly construction materials. 

What Is This Campaign About? 

Launched at the Bhalswa landfill site in New Delhi, this campaign aims to reduce legacy waste by using innovative material recovery and production processes. Instead of allowing inert debris to accumulate and pollute the city further, the campaign transforms this waste into bricks, pavers, and dumpcrete blocks, all of which are used in construction applications. In doing so, it reduces pressure on virgin resources like river sand and stone, supports climate-resilient infrastructure, and contributes directly to the circular economy. 

This initiative not only addresses environmental degradation but also creates employment and builds green skills among local communities, making it a model that balances sustainability with inclusivity. 

How It Works 

The process follows a structured, step-by-step flow that ensures both efficiency and environmental integrity: 

– Collection & Segregation: Legacy waste is carefully sourced and separated from the Bhalswa site. 

– Processing: Materials are cleaned, sieved, and refined into reusable aggregates and sand. – Mixing: A concrete blend is created using: 

– 10% Cement 

– 50% Recycled Aggregates 

– 40% Recycled Sand & Ash 

– Molding & Vibration: The mix is molded and vibrated to eliminate air gaps. – Demolding & Curing: The bricks are water-cured for up to 28 days to achieve strength and durability.

Extensive testing and quality control is built into the process—including strength testing, sieve analysis, and cube testing—to ensure that all construction materials meet structural standards. 

Impact So Far 

– 60 tons of legacy waste diverted from Bhalswa landfill 

– 30,000 eco-friendly bricks manufactured 

– 6 local jobs created, including employment for 2 women 

– Promoted the use of low-carbon, resource-efficient construction materials – Built capacity for future waste-to-resource training initiatives 

Larger Vision 

This is more than a one-time effort. The campaign envisions: 

– Expanding to other landfill sites like Ghazipur and Okhla 

– Promoting policy change to support recycled construction materials 

– Creating a training hub to teach eco-construction techniques and build green livelihoods – Integrating solar-powered curing and water recycling systems for greater sustainability 

Aligned with key SDGs, including Sustainable Cities (SDG 11), Climate Action (SDG 13), Responsible Consumption (SDG 12), and Decent Work (SDG 8), this campaign reflects Tapas Foundation’s commitment to building a socially reformed, environmentally resilient world.