Surat recycles 1,800 tonnes of firecracker waste generated during Diwali celebrations

Despite the high volume, the city's sanitation workers swiftly cleaned up roads and localities, maintaining Surat's reputation as India's cleanest city. (Image credit: @Try2StopME/X)

Gujarat's diamond city, Surat, has set an example in waste management by recycling the waste generated after Diwali celebrations and putting it to productive use.

According to officials, around 600 tonnes of waste were generated daily in Surat during the three days of Diwali festivities, amounting to nearly 1,800 tonnes of firecracker waste. Despite the high volume, the city's sanitation workers swiftly cleaned up roads and localities, maintaining Surat's reputation as India's cleanest city.

"Surat Municipal Corporation is the cleanest city in the country, a perfect example of which was evident this Diwali. Sanitation workers cleaned the entire city as quickly as people burst firecrackers," an official said.

"This Diwali, due to firecrackers, around 1,800 tonnes of extra waste were generated in three days, meaning people burst firecrackers in large numbers and cleaned their entire houses," the official added.

The waste, which earlier amounted to around 3,000 tonnes per day, increased significantly during the festival period. However, the Surat Municipal Corporation ensured that the additional waste was recycled and converted into useful products.

"The most unique thing is that different things are made from these firecracker wastes by recycling them, and they are used again," said Dr Kalpesh, Deputy Health Officer, Surat Municipal Corporation.

He further said that sanitation workers in the city work tirelessly every day, irrespective of festivals or holidays.

"Surat is the cleanest city in the country because here the sanitation workers are busy at work every day without looking at any festival. When the whole city was celebrating festivals, the sanitation workers used to clean the roads and localities as well," he added.