Delhi’s Bhalswa landfill waste upcycled into 50,000 eco-friendly bricks

At Delhi’s Bhalswa landfill, more than 100 tonnes of legacy waste have been upcycled into 50,000 eco-friendly bricks through an initiative led by engineer Vipul Singh and architect Gunraagh Talwar. The project, launched under the Tapas Foundation in 2023, blends soil-like residues from the landfill with construction and demolition waste to create durable building materials. The bricks, which meet construction standards, have been used in landscaping and non-structural works such as footpaths and steps. Unlike conventional kiln-fired clay bricks, these eco-bricks are produced locally, emit no kiln-related carbon, and transform landfill waste into a usable resource.

So far, about 6,000 bricks have been applied in private projects, with the rest intended for civil infrastructure and sustainable development initiatives. The model aims to reduce dependence on clay brick kilns, cut transportation emissions, and divert landfill waste toward construction uses. This development is particularly significant for Delhi, where three major landfills, Bhalswa, Okhla, and Ghazipur, hold millions of tonnes of accumulated waste and pose serious environmental hazards. The innovative use of legacy waste to produce eco-bricks provides a scalable model for reducing the environmental impact of urban construction while tackling one of the city’s pressing waste management challenges.