UltraTech Cement, India’s largest cement and ready-mix concrete company, has partnered with Prayagraj Nagar Nigam to launch a sustainable waste management initiative at Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The initiative, “Mahakumbh ka Mahasankalp,” aims to tackle the challenge of plastic waste during the world’s largest spiritual gathering.
The project, which began on January 22, 2025, and will run until February 28, 2025, focuses on collecting plastic waste and processing it into alternative fuel for cement production at UltraTech’s Dalla Cement Works in Sonbhadra district. UltraTech has placed waste collection bins in high-traffic areas around Prayagraj, such as Triveni Sangam, and in designated sectors of the Kumbh.
Sanitation workers are gathering plastic litter, which is then transported to a segregation facility by a dedicated cleaning van. The initiative also encourages community involvement, with an LED van touring the city to raise awareness about plastic segregation and motivate residents to participate.
By adopting a multi-faceted waste management strategy, the initiative focuses on the collection, sorting, and safe processing of plastic waste. This helps reduce reliance on conventional fossil fuels in cement production, alleviates the burden on landfills, and prevents plastic waste from contaminating soil and water sources. UltraTech will process plastic waste collected not only through this initiative but also waste independently collected by Prayagraj Nagar Nigam from the event. So far, 400 metric tons of plastic waste has been processed at Dalla Cement Works.
UltraTech also assists the municipal corporations of Prayagraj and Lucknow in co-processing segregated municipal plastic waste. In addition to supporting these municipalities, UltraTech has helped over 80 others across India manage non-biodegradable waste sustainably. In FY24, UltraTech co-processed 543,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) into alternative fuel for its cement plants and power generation units.
As a part of the Aditya Birla Group, UltraTech Cement is a global leader with a presence in over 80 countries. With a commitment to sustainability, UltraTech supports the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and the Net Zero Concrete Roadmap, working towards environmentally responsible cement production.
