HYDERABAD: Four-bin waste segregation to begin April 1
HYDERABAD: The waste segregation system will undergo major changes from next month, with authorities mandating four categories of waste from April 1.
Under the updated rules, waste will be segregated into wet, dry, sanitary and special care waste, instead of the current two-category system.
The changes are part of updates to the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, which are being revised for implementation in 2026. The state Pollution Control Board has issued instructions to all local bodies from gram panchayats to municipal corporations, and also to railway stations and airports to implement the four-stream segregation system.
Local bodies told to ensure proper waste processing
Households and establishments must separate waste into four types before disposal.
Wet waste: kitchen waste, vegetable peels, flowers and leftover food.
Dry waste: plastic, paper, glass, wood and metals.
Sanitary waste: diapers and sanitary napkins used by children and adults.
Special-care waste: medical waste, paint cans, bulbs and other hazardous items.
Authorities warned that improper waste management, including open burning of garbage, will be treated as a violation and may attract environmental compensation.
Online monitoring and landfill audit powers
Local and urban bodies that generate 100kg or more waste daily or cover an area exceeding 20,000 square metres must establish their own waste management systems.
The Pollution Control Board will also have powers to conduct online, real-time monitoring of waste processing and carry out annual landfill audits, officials said.
Only inert waste that cannot be recycled or used for energy recovery should be sent to landfills, the board clarified.
The new rules will apply to both Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) areas and rural local bodies.
