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In a city already gasping under layers of smog, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has drawn criticism for its decision to send post-Diwali firecracker waste to Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants — a move that experts warn could release even more toxic metals into Delhi’s air. Environmental and health specialists have urged the authorities to segregate the waste, assess its toxicity, and dispose of it through authorised hazardous waste facilities.

Surge in toxic waste

According to a senior MCD official, Delhi generated nearly 20% more waste during Diwali, amounting to around 14,000 metric tonnes per day. Unlike regular garbage, this waste contains remnants of firecrackers laced with heavy metals such as barium, strontium, and copper — substances that can become

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