Mangaluru to enforce strict waste segregation rules, fines to be imposed from April 22

MANGALURU: In a bid to tackle growing sanitation challenges, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) will now mandate the separate disposal of sanitary waste, in addition to wet and dry waste segregation.
MCC Commissioner Ravichandra Naik warned that penalties will be imposed on households and establishments that fail to comply with the new guidelines from April 22.
Addressing civic workers during a training session at the Town Hall on Tuesday, Naik said sanitary pads, baby napkins, and adult diapers must now be handed over in a separate bin. “Under no circumstances should sanitary waste be mixed with wet waste.
Improper segregation is a major concern, especially with 5 to 10 tonnes of sanitary waste generated daily within MCC limits,” he noted.
The Commissioner said that some residents continue to mix plastic items such as tubs and bottles with wet waste, which will also attract penalties. “An initial fine of Rs 500 will be levied for violations, and the amount will increase for repeat offenders,” he warned.
To raise awareness, MCC will distribute pamphlets and issue notices outlining the revised segregation norms and penalty clauses this week.
Meanwhile, the MCC is also reviving its QR code-based waste collection monitoring system. Though QR codes were previously installed at several households, technical glitches rendered the system ineffective. With a new mobile app now in place, civic workers will scan QR codes using their smartphones, enabling real-time data transmission to the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC).
“There are 2.37 lakh properties under MCC limits, of which 90,000 already have QR codes across 60 wards. The system will help us track both waste collection and staff attendance more effectively,” Naik said.
The training session was attended by paurakarmikas, loaders, and drivers. Dakshina Kannada district secretary Tulasi Maddineni and Mangaluru Smart City Project MD Raju were also present.