Chennai, October 1 (Daily Kiran) : The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is set to relaunch its 40-day domestic waste segregation awareness campaign starting Thursday in the southern regions of the city. Officials noted that households receiving collection bags have shown increased participation in the initiative.
The campaign, titled “Separate Waste – Save Tomorrow,” originally began on August 22 but was paused to complete the distribution of dry waste bags and monitoring stickers to targeted homes.
As of September 28, materials have reached 45,000 of the 50,000 identified households. Officials confirmed that the remaining distribution will be completed shortly, allowing the formal start of the challenge. At the conclusion of the campaign, families excelling in waste segregation will receive awards. A senior official reported that the waste segregation rate in homes with bags has increased from 35% to 64%.
The aim of this initiative is to educate residents on how to separate biodegradable, non-biodegradable, sanitary, and hazardous waste before handing it over to waste collection staff. Authorities emphasized that the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2026 require separate disposal for all four categories of waste, making household participation crucial. Residents of Adambakkam mentioned that daily visits and reminders from sanitation workers have encouraged them to sort waste into the four categories.
Some households have been separating wet and dry waste for over two years. However, residents in certain wards reported a lack of separate red bins for sanitary waste on some collection vehicles. Currently, staff collect such items in plastic covers or black bins, recording compliance on monitoring sheets placed outside homes.
Municipal officials have instructed private waste collection contractors to provide battery-operated vehicles with bins for sanitary waste. A spokesperson for the contractor stated that orders for the red bins have been placed, and they will be supplied to drivers upon delivery.
Meanwhile, waste collection staff expressed that inconsistent compliance is extending their working hours. A driver covering 23 streets in the Alandur zone noted that some residents insist that workers separate mixed waste themselves, causing delays in collection and reducing lunch break time.
A council member acknowledged improvements in waste segregation in residential areas but highlighted ongoing challenges in ensuring consistent participation in slum areas. Officials indicated that additional funding will be necessary to expand the campaign throughout Chennai.
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