Tirupati: A CNG-powered refuse compactor vehicle and 20 electric autos were launched in Kuppam, making it the first municipality in the State to adopt a Net Zero-fuel waste collection system. The initiative, steered by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and implemented by the Kuppam Area Development Authority (KADA), forms part of the ‘Swarna Kuppam – Swachha Kuppam’ vision to turn the constituency into a model of circular economy by 2029. Until now, the municipality relied on 14 diesel tractors, each carrying about 1 to 1.5 tonnes of waste per trip. Work is underway to set up a waste-to-CBG production facility, which will convert organic waste into biogas and organic fertilisers. With its Net Zero-fuel fleet, Kuppam has set a benchmark for other municipalities in the State, officials added, aligning itself with India’s larger climate commitments and reinforcing the Swarna Kuppam Vision 2029.