Cities across India are increasingly turning waste management into an opportunity for sustainability and economic growth.

In Sambalpur, this transition is steadily reshaping urban living while generating employment and revenue.

The Sambalpur Municipal Corporation now earns nearly ₹20 lakh every month through scientific waste processing and recycling initiatives.

Every day, the city produces over 170 metric tonnes of garbage from homes, markets and commercial areas.

Instead of dumping this waste, the civic body processes it at nine dedicated Wealth Centres.

Workers first separate collected waste into wet and dry categories through door-to-door collection drives.

Subsequently, wet waste is converted into organic compost branded as ‘Mo Khata’. Meanwhile, recyclable dry waste, including plastic, cardboard, iron and glass, is sorted and supplied to authorised recyclers.

Plastic waste has also found industrial use. Cement factories now use it as an alternative fuel source, reducing landfill pressure and supporting cleaner production practices.

As a result, recyclable materials generate around ₹18 lakh to ₹19 lakh every month for the corporation.

Additionally, ‘Mo Khata’ sales contribute another ₹45,000 to ₹50,000 through retail and bulk orders.

Currently, nearly 12 per cent of the city’s wet waste is utilised for compost production.

Therefore, the municipal corporation has opened dedicated sales counters across locations such as Burla, Chaunrpur, Rasanpur and Khanduapali. Demand for compost also rises significantly during bulk purchases.

Officials believe household-level segregation remains the key to improving recycling efficiency. Better waste separation would increase compost production and recover more reusable materials daily.

Consequently, the civic body has strengthened separate collection systems for commercial areas and markets. It also handles e-waste and hazardous waste through specialised disposal methods.

Beyond environmental benefits, the initiative has emerged as a strong livelihood platform for women.

Nearly 139 women from self-help groups manage segregation, recycling and composting activities across the Wealth Centres.

Their involvement has not only improved waste management operations but also created financial independence and stronger community participation.

Through this model, Sambalpur is proving that organised waste management can support cleaner cities, sustainable practices and inclusive economic growth simultaneously.

Image Credit: Jnanaranjan sahu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Huma,_Sambalpur.jpg