Udupi Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa has directed local bodies to make necessary arrangements for the collection of special care waste in their jurisdictions. At least one collection centre should be established for every five square k.m. area for this purpose and the day and time of collection should be officially announced, she said.

Special care wasteincludes paint cans, bulbs, mercury thermometers and medicines.

Speaking at a meeting of the district-level special cell for implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules - 2026, in Udupi, the Deputy Commissioner said local bodies should constitute special cells within their jurisdictions to monitor implementation. She added that disciplinary action should be taken against individuals and institutions that flout the rules.

She noted that, as per the rules, large waste generators within the jurisdiction of local bodies should be identified and registered. The waste generated there should be processed on-site. If waste processing facilities are not available, local bodies should accept the segregated waste from the producers, collect the fee prescribed as per the bye-laws and issue receipts to the waste generators.

The Deputy Commissioner said that roads within the limits of urban local bodies should be cleaned regularly, and black spots should be identified, cleared, and necessary precautionary measures should be taken to prevent their recurrence. If people throw garbage anywhere, a penalty should be imposed on them. CCTV cameras should also be installed wherever necessary in this regard, she said.

Local bodies should encourage people to segregate waste as wet (kitchen waste), dry, sanitary and special care, Ms. Swaroopa said.

Set up RRR units

Ms. Swaroopa asked the local bodies to set up Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (RRR) units to enable citizens to donate used items, clothes, electronic products, books, and other items.

She said dry waste collected separately by local bodies should be re-sorted into recyclable materials, non-recyclable materials, combustible waste, and hazardous waste in material recovery facility (MRF) units and disposed of as per the rules.

Tourist places

She said a special system should be implemented for the management of solid waste generated at tourist destinations, religious places, and beaches, and special arrangements should be made for the collection of plastic bottles.

Ms. Swaroopa said a nodal officer should be appointed for each ward for the proper implementation of solid waste management, and that arrangements should be made to use fully enclosed vehicles for waste transportation.

She said steps should be taken to promote waste segregation at source and create awareness among all waste producers. Local bodies should leverage elected representatives as key guides and conduct awareness campaigns in partnership with volunteers and associations.

The Deputy Commissioner asked the Udupi City Municipal Council to take all steps to prevent pollution of water bodies, including the Indrani rivulet in the city. Apartments, houses and other buildings should be directed not to discharge wastewater into water bodies, she said.