The Nagaland government has issued a directive for all villages across the state to strictly implement segregation of household waste at source, in compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules 2026. The state home department released a notification on Tuesday, following Rule 5(b) of the rules established by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change. These rules came into effect on April 1.
Four-stream segregation requirement
As per the notification, every household must separate and store waste into four distinct streams. Wet waste, which includes kitchen waste, food scraps, vegetable peels, flowers, and other biodegradable items, must be placed in a green bin. Dry waste, encompassing plastic, glass, metal, rubber, and other non-biodegradable items, must be kept in a blue bin.
Sanitary waste disposal
Sanitary waste, such as used diapers, sanitary towels or napkins, tampons, condoms, incontinence sheets, and sanitary pads, must be securely wrapped in pouches provided by manufacturers or brand owners, or in suitable wrapping material as instructed by local bodies. This waste should then be placed in a separate sanitary waste bin, distinct from wet and dry waste bins.
Household hazardous waste
Special care or household hazardous waste includes discarded paint drums and cans, pesticide containers, compact fluorescent lamps and bulbs, tube lights, expired medicines, broken mercury thermometers, waste batteries, used or waste needles and syringes, contaminated gauze, cleaning agents, insecticides, electricity bulbs, and any other household waste notified by the Central Pollution Control Board from time to time. This waste must be kept in a red bag.
Implementation and sensitization
The government has directed district administrations to initiate and implement four-stream source segregation in all villages, coordinating with the departments of rural development, PHE, and urban development and municipal affairs in their respective districts. District administrations have also been instructed to conduct adequate sensitization exercises with village authorities to promote sustainable waste management practices.
