MCD to Introduce Alternate-Day Waste Collection System Across Delhi
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is poised to implement an alternate-day waste collection system in all wards to enhance waste segregation at the source among residents. This initiative aims to streamline municipal waste management and promote community-led efforts.
Proposed Collection Schedule and New Regulations
Under the proposed plan, wet waste will be collected on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, while dry waste will be picked up on the remaining days of the week. This decision aligns with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, which replace the 2016 regulations and take effect from April 1. The new rules mandate strict four-stream segregation at the source, covering wet, dry, sanitary, and special care wastes, and apply to all urban and rural areas in Delhi.
Officials stated that while bylaws are yet to be notified, a decision has been made to adopt key points from the new rules. The issues were extensively discussed in a meeting chaired by Corporation Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar on February 7, involving zonal deputy commissioners and other stakeholders.
Ward-Wise Implementation and Phasing Strategy
It was decided that all zones will prepare and enforce a ward-wise, zone-specific blueprint to maximize community-led waste management. Deputy commissioners may adopt a phased plan, starting with pilot projects and scaling up based on assessments, as per a circular issued by Khirwar. This ward-wise approach allows for targeted improvements, such as 100% door-to-door collection or segregated waste collection in selected wards, before expanding to other areas.
Infrastructure and Compliance Measures
The circular emphasizes diverting segregated waste to centralized and decentralized processing facilities to reduce the burden on existing dumpsites and calls for identifying additional sites for such facilities. Each ward will have a designated nodal officer responsible for enforcing segregation, monitoring door-to-door collection, ensuring compliance by bulk-waste generators, and maintaining zero-waste colonies and decentralized processing units.
Officers are directed to engage with the informal sector and provide incentives. All generators must be identified and registered on the MCD's '311' app, with a focus on banquet halls, resorts, farmhouses, educational institutions, hotels, and motels. Penalty notices will be issued to non-compliant generators, while incentives like property tax rebates will encourage adherence to norms.
Revival of Zero-Waste Colonies and Composting Units
For reviving zero-waste colonies, zones are tasked with revisiting all notified colonies, identifying non-compliant ones, and restoring them through infrastructure support and community engagement. Aero bins and intermediate storage facilities for wet and dry waste may be funded through CSR initiatives, Swachh Bharat Mission, or sanitation budgets. Zones have a target of identifying two to five new zero-waste colonies monthly.
The circular also stresses reviving and restarting existing ward-level composting units for processing wet waste at the source. Nodal officers and sanitation inspectors must ensure daily availability of safai karamcharis at composting sites to ensure smooth operations.
