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Asia is home to some of the world’s biggest landfill sites, reflecting the rapid pace of urbanisation and the growing challenge of managing municipal waste. These sites, spread across India, China, Indonesia, South Korea and the Philippines, not only highlight the scale of waste generation but also raise serious environmental and health concerns. Take a look at the ten largest landfills in Asia, here! (Photo: Reuters)
2 / 1210. Smokey Mountain, Manila, Philippines: Smokey Mountain was a landfill in Manila that operated for over 50 years, accumulating more than 2 million tonnes of rubbish. It became notorious for the hazardous conditions faced by thousands of informal settlers who lived and scavenged there. The site was closed in 1995 and later redeveloped into housing projects, leaving behind a powerful legacy of urban poverty and waste mismanagement. (Photo: EJ Atlas)
3 / 129. Jiangcungou Landfill, Xi’an, China: Once the largest landfill in China, Jiangcungou spanned around 173 acres and had a capacity of 34 million cubic metres. It processed about 2,600 tonnes of waste per day before it closed in 2019. Today, the site is being redeveloped for alternative use, marking a shift in China’s approach to waste management. (Photo: Getty Images)
4 / 128. Brahmapuram Landfill, Kochi, India: Brahmapuram in Kerala covers around 110 acres and has become infamous for frequent fires. In March 2023, one such blaze released large volumes of toxic smoke across Kochi. With over half a million tonnes of waste piled up, the site is seen as one of the most hazardous in southern India. (Photo: The Hindu/Thulasi Kakkat)
5 / 127. Xinfeng Landfill, Guangzhou, China: The Xinfeng Landfill covers about 227 acres and serves Guangzhou, one of China’s largest cities. It is a key site for managing municipal solid waste, equipped with leachate treatment and methane recovery systems to limit environmental damage. (Photo: Solmax)
6 / 126. West New Territories Landfill, Hong Kong: Located in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong’s West New Territories Landfill spans around 272 acres. It is a major site for the city’s municipal waste and faces growing concerns about capacity, with Hong Kong generating thousands of tonnes of waste every day. (Photo: Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong)
7 / 125. Sudokwon Landfill, Incheon, South Korea: The Sudokwon Landfill, spread over 570 acres, serves as South Korea’s largest waste disposal site. It handles millions of tonnes of waste annually and is also used for waste-to-energy initiatives, highlighting South Korea’s efforts to integrate modern technology into waste management. (Photo: K-MDB Green Forum)
8 / 124. Bantar Gebang, Jakarta, Indonesia: Bantar Gebang, located in Bekasi near Jakarta, covers over 100 hectares and takes in about 15,000 tonnes of waste every day. The site is often compared to 200 football fields in size. Thousands of people live and work around the landfill, collecting recyclable material to earn a living, making it both a social and environmental hotspot. (Photo: Reuters)
9 / 123. Deonar Landfill, Mumbai, India: Spread over 326 acres, Deonar is one of India’s oldest and most notorious landfill sites. Located in Mumbai, it has been in operation since 1927 and now faces chronic overflowing, air pollution, and health hazards for nearby residents due to frequent fires and toxic emissions. (Photo: AFP)
10 / 122. Dehi Landfills (Ghazipur, BHALSWA, Okhla), India: Delhi’s three major landfills together span about 500 acres. Ghazipur alone has grown to over 70 acres and towers more than 70 metres high. These dumps are among the world’s worst methane emitters and frequently catch fire, worsening Delhi’s air pollution crisis. Authorities are working on biomining projects to reduce their size by 2026. (Photo: Reuters)
11 / 121. Laogang Landfill, Shanghai, China: The Laogang Landfill is considered Asia’s largest, covering over 830 acres. It receives nearly 10,000 tonnes of waste daily—almost half of Shanghai’s municipal output. Equipped with a methane-to-energy system, the site generates over 100,000 MWh of electricity each year, making it a critical part of the city’s waste-to-energy efforts. (Photo: Global Times)
12 / 12Asia’s largest landfill sites illustrate both the massive scale of urban waste and the urgent need for sustainable solutions. While some sites such as Laogang and Sudokwon are equipped with energy recovery systems, others—like Delhi’s towering dumps—remain critical environmental hazards. With growing populations and urban expansion, the pressure on waste management systems is set to rise, making innovation and stricter regulation essential for the future. (Photo: PTI)
