Mumbai’s C&D Waste Crisis: A $1 Billion Opportunity in the Making?

Mumbai is on track to generate 5 million tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste by 2030 — a significant increase from 3 million tonnes in 2023.

Yet as of today, only 20% of that waste is recycled. With the right infrastructure, this figure could rise to 50% by 2030 — but that requires rapid scaling of facilities, technologies, and partnerships.

Projected C&D Waste and Recycling Rates

Year	Waste Generated	Recycled	Recycling Rate
2023	3 million tonnes	600,000 tonnes	20%
2025	3.5 million tonnes	1.05 million tonnes	30%
2030	5 million tonnes	2.5 million tonnes	50%

What This Means for Plant Operators and Investors

The rising volume of C&D waste signals a clear market shift. Here is what stakeholders need to prepare for:

• Massive demand for new and upgraded recycling capacity

• Competitive advantage for plants with advanced processing technologies, including shredders, air classifiers, crushers, and screening units

• Growing opportunities through public-private partnership (PPP) models, policy-backed mandates, and green building incentives

  
  

Why Act Now?

The opportunity to shape this sector is time-sensitive. Investing in C&D recycling infrastructure today offers multiple strategic benefits:

• First-mover advantage in a high-growth, under-served market

• Alignment with India’s national goals on sustainable urbanization and circular economy

• Contributions to reduced landfilling, lower raw material dependence, and job creation

  
  

The Bigger Picture

India’s construction sector is one of the largest contributors to GDP—and one of the largest producers of waste. The transition to a resource-efficient urban model depends on how we handle C&D waste over the next 5–10 years.

If done right, Mumbai alone could unlock a $1 billion market opportunity in waste recovery, recycled materials, and green construction services.