Shillong, August 24 : The Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) has issued a public notice asking all citizens to segregate waste at source and deposit it in separate bins. The notice also states that the SMB will stop collecting mixed waste from October 1, 2023.
The notice further states that anyone found not segregating waste at source will be penalized on the spot as per the provisions of the Meghalaya SWM Bye Laws 2020. The penalty will be compounded for any subsequent violation.
The SMB has taken this step in order to improve the city’s waste management system and achieve 100% collection, processing, and scientific disposal of waste.
In continuation of the previous notices and appeals, the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) has requested all the citizens to invariably comply with the provisions of Rule 4 of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 through the following:
To segregate and store waste generated by them in three separate streams namely bio-degradable, non bio-degradable and domestic hazardous wastes in suitable bins and handover segregated wastes to the appropriate waste collection vehicle;
To wrap securely the used sanitary waste like diapers, sanitary pads etc. in the pouches provided by the manufacturers or brand owners of these products or in a suitable wrapping material and place the same in the bin meant for dry waste or non bio-degradable waste;
To store separately the construction and demolition waste, as and when generated, in their own premises and to be disposed off as per the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016; and
No waste generator shall throw, burn or bury the solid waste generated by him on the streets, open public spaces, outside his premises or in the drain or water bodies.
Street vendors shall keep suitable containers for storage of waste generated during the course of their activity such as food waste, disposable plates, cups, cans, wrappers, coconut shells, leftover food, vegetables, fruits etc. and shall deposit such waste at the appropriate waste collection vehicle.
All hotels and restaurants shall ensure segregation of waste at source and facilitate collection of segregated waste in separate streams, and process the bio-degradable waste through composting or bio-methanation within the premises as far as possible. The residual waste shall be given to the waste collection vehicle.
