Published Paper Details:

India's population expansion and urbanization have created a huge solid waste management problem, with legacy dumpsites continuing to be a major cause of pollution and environmental damage. This study focuses on the thorough remediation of the Ekla Bandha legacy site in Gorakhpur, where biomining was used to methodically treat 1,96,000 MT of legacy waste. The study demonstrates how a hazardous dumpsite has been converted into a green urban asset through resource recovery and sustainable approaches, such as turning excavated materials into useable resources. The study examines the remediation operations' effects on the environment, society, and economy, noting major reductions in methane emissions, enhanced soil and water quality, and the establishment of an urban forest with 50,000 planted trees. It also presents a conceptual framework for coordinating waste rehabilitation efforts with India's Green Credit Program, a ground-breaking program that was introduced in 2023 to encourage environmental sustainability. Gorakhpur exemplifies how cities may combine economic incentives and climate action by utilizing green credits for initiatives like solid waste management and afforestation. By reintegrating waste stream outputs into value chains, Gorakhpur is positioned as a leader in the shift to a circular economy, which lessens reliance on new resources. The study emphasizes the value of community involvement, public-private partnerships, and scalable approaches for other cities dealing with legacy waste issues. This study provides a reproducible methodology for attaining sustainable urban development, increasing India's net-zero promises, and building resilience in urban ecosystems by coordinating remediation with the Green Credit Program.