India, June 17 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
Urban cleanliness is no longer limited to garbage collection; true success is also reflected in the conversion of that garbage into a valuable resource. Ghaziabad, which is moving towards achieving the goal of "Garbage Free Cities" (GFCs) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' (MoHUA) Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) 2.0, has set an example. Cow dung from roads, dairies, and especially cow shelters is being recycled in the city. Cow dung, which was previously a major cause of clogged drains and filth, is now being managed scientifically and given a new lease of life by converting it into "natural paint."
Cleanliness Initiatives and a New Waste Management Model: The Municipal Corporation's biggest challenge was the proper disposal of animal dung, as dung left sitting in landfill sites for extended periods of time, combined with other waste, releases harmful gases like methane, posing a significant threat to the environment. To address this problem permanently, the corporation has adopted the "Waste to Wealth" motto and introduced a circular economy model. Under this process, cow dung is collected from the city's dairies and cow shelters, refined through refining machines, and its liquid extract is extracted. After processing at high temperatures, odors and bacteria are completely eliminated, and then, minerals like lime, zinc, and natural gums are combined to create a high-quality "Cooling Rooftop Paint." In this process, about 30 to 40 litres of natural paint is prepared from 100 kg of cow dung, which is directly reducing the burden on the landfill.
Economic Empowerment and Real Natural Benefits: This project has also become a solid source of employment and income. This initiative is run by women's self-help groups (SHGs), providing women with respectable livelihood opportunities in their own area. Raw materials like cow dung, obtained as cow dung waste, are locally available at very low cost, making the finished paint significantly more cost-effective than chemical paints available in the market. Furthermore, using this natural paint can lower indoor temperatures by 3degC to 5degC, saving electricity during extreme heat and eliminating the risk of toxic chemicals (Volatile Organic Compounds - VOCs). This initiative effectively addresses three problems simultaneously-filth, urban heat (heat stress), and lack of employment.
Ghaziabad's pride on the global stage: Ghaziabad's initiative and dedication to cleanliness has received historic international recognition. The city has been selected among the top 24 winning cities out of 630 cities worldwide in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors' Challenge 2025. After successful prototyping between May and October 2025 in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the city will now receive a grant of US$1 million (approximately Rs 8.4 crore) to implement this solution on a larger scale. Ghaziabad becomes the second city in India to receive this global honor. Earlier, Rourkela, Odisha, won this prestigious award in 2021 with its solar-powered cold storage (Mustache Market initiative).
The Municipal Corporation has successfully launched its first organic paint production unit in Nandgram, where women self-help groups are being trained in production and entrepreneurship. Future plans are to expand this model across the city and involve more women's groups. The corporation's focus now is to expand the market reach of this environmentally friendly paint made from cow dung waste, so that both government institutions and ordinary citizens can adopt it. This effort is a major step towards making Ghaziabad a global model of sustainable development.
Disclaimer: The original story of this translated version is available on Press Information Bureau.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
