Ludhiana: Although Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, came into effect from April 1, the Ludhiana municipal corporation (MC) is yet to launch an awareness programme to inform city residents about the new requirements before enforcing them on the ground. The absence of prior communication has raised concerns among residents and stakeholders, especially as the new rules place significantly stricter obligations on waste generators.The situation is compounded by the fact that the MC has not been able to fully implement even basic source segregation of waste into wet and dry categories so far. Under the new rules, residents are now required to segregate waste into four distinct streams, putting further pressure on an already strained system. Civic officials and residents alike have pointed out that poor infrastructure and gaps in execution could make compliance difficult.As per the rules, waste generators are required to segregate and store waste at source into four categories: wet waste, dry waste, sanitary waste and special care waste. Segregated waste must then be handed over to authorised waste pickers or collection agencies. Used sanitary waste such as diapers and sanitary pads must be securely wrapped, either in pouches provided by manufacturers or brand owners or in suitable wrapping material, before being placed in the sanitary waste bin. These items are to be stored separately from dry, wet and special care waste.The rules further state that construction and demolition waste should be stored separately within the premises of the waste generator and disposed of in accordance with the Environment (Construction and Demolition) Waste Management Rules, 2025. Similarly, horticulture waste generated from premises or land is to be stored separately and disposed of as directed by officials. Burning of waste or dumping it in open public spaces is prohibited under the new framework.Despite these detailed provisions, the MC faces serious logistical challenges in implementation. Garbage collection in Ludhiana is primarily handled by private contractors, whose rehris are not designed to collect segregated waste. Currently, waste is often collected in a mixed form, undermining previous efforts to promote segregation at source. MC Officials admitted that the civic body does not yet have rehris with four separate compartments to transport segregated waste efficiently.An MC official said the civic body was first working on preparing an awareness programme, acknowledging that strict enforcement would not be practical at this stage. He added that the corporation also needs to improve its own infrastructure before expecting residents to fully comply with the new rules.City residents said they were largely unaware of the new regulations. Rahul Verma, a businessman from Sarabha Nagar, said there had been no communication from the civic body. He questioned how residents were expected to comply when no information had been shared in advance. Verma said that if the rules were to be implemented from April 1, awareness should have been created at least a month earlier. He suggested that the MC involve city schools as part of an outreach campaign, allowing students to take the message home to families. Verma also stressed that the MC should first streamline its own garbage collection mechanisms before enforcing compliance among residents.Similar concerns were raised by Neeraj Gaur, a banker from BRS Nagar, who said he had no knowledge of the new four-bin segregation requirement. Gaur recalled that when the MC had previously asked residents to keep waste in two separate bins, he complied, but it was discouraging to see garbage collectors mixing the waste again into a single rehri. He suggested that authorities launch comprehensive awareness campaigns through social media as well as door-to-door outreach so residents could clearly understand what was required of them.Tribhuvan Thapar, a businessman and resident of the old city, was more critical, saying the MC should lead by example. He said four dustbins should first be placed in the homes of the mayor, commissioner, councillors and even MLAs to demonstrate seriousness in implementation. Thapar pointed out that garbage was visible at city entrances and along roadsides, blaming poor planning and execution for the city’s failure to improve its waste management standards.Under the new rules, responsibilities are not limited to household waste segregation. The regulations specify that no event or gathering of more than 100 people should be organised at any unlicensed place without informing the local body at least three working days in advance. Organisers of such events are required to ensure segregation of waste at source and proper disposal as prescribed under the rules.The rules also place specific responsibilities on larger residential and commercial entities. Gated communities and institutions spread over more than 5,000 square metres, along with resident welfare associations, market associations, hotels and restaurants, are required to ensure segregation of waste at source within one year of notification of rules. In partnership with the local body, these entities must facilitate collection of segregated waste in separate streams and hand over recyclable material to authorised waste pickers or recyclers. Biodegradable waste is to be processed and disposed of through composting or biomethanation within the premises as far as possible, while residual waste must be handed over to authorised collectors.Responding to the concerns, MC commissioner Neeru Katyal Gupta said meetings had already been organised on the subject and that staff would be trained in the new rules. She said awareness campaigns would be rolled out for residents and that they would be given time to adapt. Gupta added that action would be taken against errant residents only after a reasonable period had been provided for compliance.As the rules formally come into force, Ludhiana faces a familiar challenge — bridging the gap between policy and practice. With limited awareness, inadequate infrastructure and scepticism among residents, the success of the new solid waste management framework may depend on how quickly and effectively the MC addresses these issues in the coming months.MSID:: 129979970 413 |
