The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has identified 431 secondary waste collection points across its 12 zones to shift a major part of the garbage movement to night hours. Officials said the move aims to cut daytime congestion, reduce public inconveniences, and streamline the flow of solid waste from neighbourhoods to processing sites.
The corporation said primary waste collection is done during the day. Workers gather waste from households, markets, and bulk generators. This waste is then dropped at secondary points. From there, trucks lift it at night when traffic is thin.
Senior officials said the new list will help standardise the system. “Night movement of waste reduces delays. It also prevents traffic build-up caused by slow-moving garbage trucks,” an MCD official said.
Data shared by the MCD shows that the Central Zone has the highest number of secondary collection points at 101. This is followed by South Shahdara with 54 points and South Zone with 50. Narela has 44 points, Rohini has 32, and City SP has 35. Civil Lines and Keshav Puram have 24 each, while Najafgarh has 23, Karol Bagh has 17, West Zone has 21, and North Shahdara has the lowest with just 6.
Officials said the spread reflects both population density and lane patterns. Areas with heavy commercial activity, old city layouts, and mixed land use tend to need more secondary points.
The MCD said the shift to night movement is also aimed at improving hygiene. During the day, secondary points often attract stray animals and create foul odours. Night clearing solves the issue of waste spreading by stray animals. The corporation said it expects visible improvement in cleanliness around these locations. Officials said ward-level teams will monitor whether waste is being dropped and lifted on schedule.
Many sanitation workers said the system will work only if primary collection remains consistent. They said the late movement of waste from households results in pile-ups. Market areas also generate large volumes late in the evening. MCD officials said they are planning to adjust timings in such areas.
Residents welcomed the move but said enforcement is key. Some RWAs said secondary points near residential lanes often overflow because of irregular lifting. They said night collection should be strict and time-bound.
With 431 points now mapped zone-wise, officials said the aim is to reduce human contact with waste, improve route planning, and ensure smoother transport to waste-to-energy plants and dumping sites. The corporation plans to add more mechanical sweepers and compactors.
Data shared by the MCD shows that the Central Zone has the highest number of secondary collection points at 101
