Madurai: Madurai corporation is all set to implement Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 from Tuesday which will ensure that only waste that has been properly segregated in colour-coded bins or bags is collected by sanitation workers conducting daily door-to-door collection.
The workers have been instructed to refuse mixed waste from Sept 1. Fines have also been announced for any unauthorised dumping of waste either in water channels, rivers, empty plots of land or by the road side.
A senior corporation official said, “Waste transfer stations will move from prioritising separation of waste to moving biodegradable waste to micro-composting yards and non-biodegradable and other waste to the corporation’s landfill. Biodegradable, wet waste is to be stored in green bins, non-biodegradable waste in blue bins, and sanitary waste in red bins, according to the new collection schedule. These will be collected daily, while “domestic hazardous waste or special care waste,” is to be stored in black bins to be collected on Wednesdays. Balamurugan Palani, president of Madurai Infra and Development (MID) said source segregation, if implemented properly, will greatly improve the current condition of waste dumping. “It will also reduce the amount of waste going to the dumpyard,” he said. Corporation commissioner Gaurav Kumar said people’s participation is most important for effective source segregation and waste control. “Regular inspections will be conducted to ensure that both residents and sanitation workers are practising proper segregation practices,” he said.
Repeat offenders refusing to segregate waste will be issued spot fines. The onus of proper implementation is on both residents as well as the corporation, he added. Waste collection vehicles have been equipped with different bins to prevent mixing of waste that is collected.