Reclaim Your City’s Future from Yesterday’s Waste
India’s cities are burdened by decades of accumulated waste in aging landfills that occupy thousands of acres, pollute groundwater, emit greenhouse gases, and endanger public health. These legacy sites represent both environmental disasters and massive lost opportunities—valuable urban land that could house schools, parks, commercial development, or affordable housing.
Our legacy landfill reclamation services excavate, process, and remediate these toxic mountains, reducing volumes by up to 94% while recovering land for productive reuse. Using advanced gasification technology from KANKYO Group, we handle even partially decomposed waste that’s been buried for 10+ years.
The Legacy Landfill Challenge
Why Old Landfills Are Ticking Time Bombs
Methane Emissions:
- Decomposing organic waste produces methane (25x more potent than CO₂)
- Uncontrolled releases contribute to climate change
- Spontaneous fires from methane combustion
Groundwater Contamination:
- Toxic leachate seeps into aquifers
- Heavy metals, pathogens, organic pollutants
- Drinking water sources threatened
- Cleanup nearly impossible once contaminated
Public Health Hazards:
- Disease vector breeding (mosquitoes, rodents)
- Respiratory diseases from fires and odors
- 40-60% higher disease rates in nearby communities
- Reduced property values and quality of life
Land Waste:
- Thousands of acres occupied by waste
- Urban land scarcity in growing cities
- Lost economic opportunity (₹50-100 crore/acre in major cities)
- Growing height creates structural instability
Regulatory Violations:
- NGT orders to close non-compliant landfills
- CPCB mandates for remediation
- Legal battles and political conflicts
- Fines and penalties for continued operation
Our Reclamation Process
Step 1: Comprehensive Site Assessment
Topographic Surveying:
- Laser scanning and drone mapping
- Accurate volume estimation
- Structural stability analysis
- Subsidence risk evaluation
Waste Characterization:
- Test trenches at multiple depths
- Composition analysis (organics, inerts, recyclables)
- Age determination and decomposition state
- Moisture content and density measurements
Environmental Baseline:
- Soil and groundwater sampling
- Methane and VOC monitoring
- Heavy metal contamination mapping
- Ecological impact assessment
Deliverable: Comprehensive site assessment report with remediation recommendations (8-12 weeks)
Step 2: Excavation & Segregation
Safety Protocols:
- Methane monitoring and ventilation
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Dust suppression with water sprays
- Odor control measures
- Emergency response plans
Mechanical Excavation:
- Hydraulic excavators and loaders
- Systematic layer-by-layer removal
- Segregation during excavation:
- Combustibles (40-60% even in old waste)
- Inerts (soil, stones, construction debris)
- Metals (ferrous and non-ferrous)
- Hazardous materials (batteries, electronics)
Sorting Operations:
- Trommel screens for size separation
- Magnetic separators for metal recovery
- Manual sorting for recyclables
- Quality control inspection
Material Flows:
- Combustibles → Gasification processing
- Recoverable metals → Recycling markets
- Inerts → Construction aggregate or disposal
- Hazardous → Proper disposal per regulations
Step 3: Gasification Processing
Handling Degraded Organics:
Legacy waste differs from fresh MSW:
- Partially decomposed (humic substances)
- Higher moisture (leachate saturation)
- Variable composition from years of dumping
- Lower calorific value
Adapted Process:
- Extended drying times (waste heat utilization)
- Blending with fresh MSW for optimal gasification
- Temperature adjustments for degraded materials
- Enhanced emission controls for variable inputs
Volume Reduction:
- 85-94% reduction even on legacy waste
- Rajasthan pilot achieved 87% on 10+ year old material
- Only inert slag remains for disposal
Energy Recovery:
- Electricity generation from recovered energy
- Offset processing costs with power sales
- Carbon credits from avoided methane emissions
Step 4: Soil Remediation
Contaminated Soil Treatment:
Excavation Depth: Typically 1-3 meters below waste layer to remove leachate-saturated soil
Treatment Methods:
- Bioremediation: Microbial degradation of organic contaminants
- Soil Washing: Physical separation and chemical extraction
- Thermal Treatment: High-temperature decontamination
- Stabilization: Chemical binding of heavy metals
Groundwater Management:
- Leachate collection and treatment
- Monitoring wells for aquifer testing
- Pump-and-treat systems if needed
- Natural attenuation monitoring
Validation Testing:
- Soil samples at multiple depths and locations
- Laboratory analysis for contaminants
- Compliance with CPCB standards
- Third-party verification
Step 5: Site Restoration & Certification
Land Preparation:
- Final grading and contouring
- Erosion control measures
- Drainage system installation
- Vegetation establishment (if green space)
Long-Term Monitoring:
- Groundwater quality monitoring (5-10 years)
- Methane and VOC monitoring
- Settlement observation
- Vegetation health assessment
Regulatory Certification:
- SPCB site closure certificate
- “Fit for use” certification for intended purpose
- Environmental clearance for redevelopment
- Documentation for liability transfer
Redevelopment Options:
- Parks and recreational spaces
- Commercial development
- Residential housing
- Educational institutions
- Solar farms or green energy facilities
Environmental Benefits
Immediate Impacts
Methane Emission Elimination:
- Stop 15,000-25,000 tons CO₂-eq per year per site
- Immediate climate benefit
- Carbon credit generation
Groundwater Protection:
- Halt ongoing leachate generation
- Prevent further aquifer contamination
- Enable natural recovery processes
Air Quality Improvement:
- Eliminate spontaneous fires
- No toxic smoke events
- Reduced odors and VOCs
Disease Vector Control:
- Remove mosquito breeding sites
- Eliminate rodent habitat
- Improve community health
Long-Term Benefits
Land Value Restoration:
- Urban land returned to productive use
- Economic development opportunities
- Tax revenue generation
Urban Planning:
- Strategic site reuse (parks, housing, commercial)
- Green space creation in dense cities
- Smart city integration
Climate Action:
- Reduced GHG emissions
- Renewable energy generation during processing
- Circular economy demonstration
Financial Model
Investment Requirements
Site Assessment Phase:
- Comprehensive surveys: ₹50-80 lakhs
- Environmental testing: ₹30-50 lakhs
- Engineering design: ₹40-60 lakhs
- Subtotal: ₹1.2-1.9 Crore
Excavation & Processing:
- Excavation equipment and labor: ₹800-1,200/ton
- Gasification processing: ₹1,500-2,000/ton
- Soil remediation: ₹400-600/ton
- Per-ton cost: ₹2,700-3,800
For 100,000 ton landfill: ₹270-380 Crore total
Site Restoration:
- Final grading and drainage: ₹2-4 Crore
- Monitoring systems: ₹1-2 Crore
- Certification and documentation: ₹50 lakhs-1 Crore
- Subtotal: ₹3.5-7 Crore
Revenue & Offset Opportunities
Energy Sales:
- Electricity from gasification: ₹500-800/ton processed
- 100,000 tons = ₹5-8 Crore
Materials Recovery:
- Metals and recyclables: ₹200-400/ton
- 100,000 tons = ₹2-4 Crore
Carbon Credits:
- Avoided methane emissions: ₹300-500/ton
- 100,000 tons = ₹3-5 Crore
Total Revenue/Offsets: ₹10-17 Crore
Net Cost: ₹256-370 Crore for 100,000 tons
Land Value Recovery:
- If 50 acres reclaimed at ₹50 crore/acre = ₹2,500 Crore value
- Net benefit: ₹2,130-2,244 Crore
ROI Calculation:
- Even at conservative land values (₹20 crore/acre = ₹1,000 crore)
- Net benefit: ₹630-744 Crore
- Return: 170-285% on remediation investment
Ideal Applications
✅ Municipal Legacy Sites
- Overflowing urban landfills (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai)
- Court-ordered closure sites
- NGT compliance mandates
- Smart city land requirements
✅ Industrial Brownfields
- Closed factory waste dumps
- Chemical industry legacy sites
- Mining waste repositories
- SEZ contaminated land
✅ Real Estate Development
- Land acquisition for large projects
- Township development on reclaimed sites
- Urban renewal initiatives
- Green space creation
✅ Government Initiatives
- Swachh Bharat Mission projects
- AMRUT scheme integration
- Smart Cities Mission land recovery
- Climate action plans
Implementation Timeline
Fast-Track Approach (50,000-100,000 tons)
Months 1-3: Site assessment, approvals, mobilization
Months 4-24: Excavation and processing (4,000-5,000 tons/month)
Months 25-30: Soil remediation and site restoration
Months 31-36: Monitoring and certification
Total: 3 years
Large-Scale Remediation (500,000+ tons)
Months 1-6: Comprehensive planning and phasing
Years 1-8: Phased excavation and processing
Years 8-10: Final remediation and restoration
Years 10-15: Extended monitoring
Total: 10-15 years for mega-landfills
Why Choose Zerosigma Shakti?
Technical Expertise
- KANKYO technology proven on legacy waste
- Rajasthan pilot: 87% reduction on 10+ year old material
- Vaigunth Ener Tek: Indian regulatory navigation
- Zerosigma: 37 years in complex compliance projects
Comprehensive Approach
- Not just excavation—complete transformation
- Energy recovery offsets costs
- Environmental remediation to certification
- Redevelopment planning support
Risk Management
- Detailed site assessment reduces unknowns
- Phased approach limits financial exposure
- Insurance and bonding available
- Performance guarantees
Community Focus
- Employment for local residents
- Transparent operations and monitoring
- Health and safety priority
- Stakeholder engagement throughout
Get Started with Your Reclamation Project
Step 1: Initial Consultation (Free)
Discuss your site challenges, objectives, and constraints with our team.
Step 2: Preliminary Assessment (4-6 weeks)
Desktop study using available data, site visit, rough order-of-magnitude costing.
Step 3: Detailed Feasibility Study (8-12 weeks)
Comprehensive assessment, engineering design, financial model, regulatory pathway.
Step 4: Project Approval & Financing
Support with government approvals, PPP structuring, investor presentations.
Step 5: Implementation
Turnkey execution from excavation through certification.