Under the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, any housing society generating more than 100 kg of waste daily or occupying over 5,000 square meters is classified as a Bulk Waste Generator (BWG). In cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi, municipalities refuse to collect unsegregated mixed garbage.
The Mandatory 3-Way Waste Segregation System
Households must segregate waste at the kitchen source into three color-coded bins:
- Green Bin (Wet Biodegradable): Cooked food scraps, fruit peels, vegetable waste, tea leaves, and garden leaves.
- Blue Bin (Dry Recyclable): Paper, cardboard packaging, plastics, metal cans, glass bottles, and milk pouches (rinsed).
- Red Bin (Domestic Hazardous & Sanitary): Diapers, sanitary napkins, expired medicines, broken glass, batteries, and CFL bulbs.
Operating On-Site Organic Waste Composters (OWC)
Bulk waste generators cannot dump raw wet waste on municipal trucks. Societies must process organic waste on-site using Organic Waste Composters (OWC), bio-methanation plants, or vermicomposting beds.
Maintain proper carbon-to-nitrogen ratios using sawdust or cocopeat to prevent foul putrefaction odors and fly breeding. The resulting organic compost can be utilized across society gardens or sold to residents.
Common questions
Can an RWA penalize residents who refuse to segregate garbage?
Yes. General bodies can pass house rules permitting housekeeping staff to reject unsegregated waste and authorizing incremental fines on flat ledgers for repeat offenders.
Related DGate resources for society management
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- Visitor management system for housing societies
- QR gate pass and delivery management app
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- RWA management software for managing committees
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