Known for its architectural wonders, such as the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, Agra is facing increasing difficulties in controlling its expanding plastic garbage issue. Despite being an internationally recognized heritage city, Agra faces unsegregated garbage collection, unauthorized dumping in open sewers, and uncontrolled disposal on unoccupied plots. Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs), where garbage builds up and eventually seeps into the Yamuna River, are the outcomes of these activities. The India Norway Aquatic Pollution Partnership has been actively addressing these challenges and promoting sustainable solutions for managing waste in the region.

This poor management primarily affects the Yamuna, which passes through Agra. The river’s pollution load is exacerbated by a complicated system of primary and minor drains that send sewage and rainfall straight into it.

India–Norway Aquatic Pollution Partnership: Framework and Objectives

To address this, the India–Norway Marine Pollution Initiative (INMPI) was launched as a joint effort between the two nations to combat marine litter and microplastic pollution from land-based sources. Five organizations were engaged under the initiative, each contributing uniquely, with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) leading efforts to mainstream circular economy practices in India’s waste sector. Agra was chosen as a partner city, and since 2020, CSE has provided technical support to the Agra Municipal Corporation (AMC).

Circular Solutions in Action: Petha Waste Management

Three critical studies were conducted as part of the partnership. Two of them addressed the management of footwear trash and Petha. Government representatives and other stakeholders met behind closed doors to discuss the results and tactics from these studies with AMC. AMC responded by implementing specific actions.

The AMC launched a specialized fleet in July 2022 to pick up garbage from Petha industrial facilities. Today, gaushalas in Tedi Baghiya receive over nine tonnes of petha garbage every day. Rich in minerals and vitamins, petha excrement is fed to cattle as a nutritious supplement. India Agro Pvt Ltd turns the cow manure produced in these facilities into compost. After being treated at the Kuberpur dumpsite, this compost is supplied to Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO) as organic manure for ₹3 per kg, which includes transportation. This effort aligns with the broader objectives of the India–Norway Aquatic Pollution Partnership (INMPI) to address waste management issues, contributing to a circular economy and better environmental practices in Agra.

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Tackling Footwear Waste Through Industrial Engagement

Another significant waste stream that was addressed was footwear trash. In Agra, more than 6,000 unofficial, household-based enterprises manufacture footwear. The AMC transports around seven tons of pre-consumer footwear trash to the Kuberpur plant daily. This high-calorific-value garbage is being planned for use in a waste-to-energy facility that is expected to be functional by 2026. AMC has partnered with private organizations and self-help groups to provide recycling and reuse options for this waste category.

Mapping Macro-Plastic Leakage into the Yamuna

The main goal of the third significant investigation was to understand how macroplastics seep into the Yamuna. CSE conducted an extensive assessment to find the main drains and GVPs causing this issue. Plastic leaks from drains were recorded and measured over predetermined periods using a net entrapment technique. PP, LDPE, PS, MLPs, PET, PVC, and HDPE were the polymer classes used to classify the collected debris, providing information on the pollutants’ makeup.

Brand audits were conducted concurrently to differentiate between branded and non-branded garbage. The quantity that might be carried away during rains was estimated at GVPs using a thorough investigation of plastic garbage’s weight, volume, and density. According to this research, drains function as conduits that convey garbage into the river during the monsoon season, whereas GVPs operate as hotspots and sinks for plastic debris.

Extra sinks were found to be significant drain obstructions where plastic debris frequently lodges. The field research, which lasted for a month and ended in July 2024, involved around 20 local workers. CSE’s data analysis results will be made public in June 2025. This work is part of the ongoing efforts under the India–Norway Aquatic Pollution Partnership (INMPI), which seeks to reduce plastic pollution in river systems and promote sustainable practices in waste management.

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Assessing Microplastic Presence: Water and Sediment Studies

CSE and the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) worked to investigate microplastic contamination. Field teams used surface trawling, coning, and quartering techniques to gather sediment and water samples across the Yamuna. The samples were stored in glass and aluminum containers for in-depth laboratory examination. These findings will significantly influence future initiatives to lessen microplastic contamination in Agra.

Final Words

With India’s 7,500 kilometers of shoreline and the extent of interior garbage mishandling, low-cost approaches like those used in Agra provide other cities with a workable model. The India–Norway Aquatic Pollution Partnership (INMPI) in Agra shows how riverine towns may establish standards for plastic leakage and implement effective mitigation policies with the support of structured, data-driven methods and circular practices.

Through this collaboration, Agra is advancing toward a future in which trash is recycled back into valuable applications rather than thrown away. The city is rethinking sustainability in a historic, river-bound urban context by integrating stakeholder cooperation, local capacity building, and scientific research.

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