Toxic Air and Sickness: The Deadly Impact of Delhi’s Landfills

For years, Delhi’s landfills have symbolized an environmental disaster—massive, toxic mountains of waste, towering over neighborhoods and poisoning the air and water. Among them, the Bhalswa and Ghazipur dumps stand as colossal reminders of poor waste management, emitting methane, polluting groundwater, and threatening thousands of residents. With the Bhalswa site alone holding over 4 million tons of waste, the city’s new government has now vowed to eliminate the landfill by March 2026, bringing hope for a cleaner future.

Beyond their staggering height—some reaching 200 feet—Delhi’s landfills pose severe health risks. Methane emissions from the decomposing waste contribute to extreme pollution and self-igniting fires that burn for days. In nearby communities, doctors report an increase in respiratory diseases, skin disorders, and even cancer. The situation is dire—many residents describe living near these waste mountains as a slow poisoning, where toxic air weakens immunity and shortens lifespans.

The newly elected government has launched a landfill reclamation drive, starting with planting bamboo saplings on cleared portions. Officials promise that by 2025, Bhalswa will no longer be visible from afar. However, challenges remain—Delhi still generates over 11,000 tons of waste daily, and only a fraction is properly processed. Clearing the landfills requires urgent investment in waste-to-energy plants and sustainable disposal systems, ensuring that history does not repeat itself.

Check out the following video for more information regarding the efforts applied for the landfill reclamation.