Waste segregation only works as a service when separated material has a reliable destination. Asking households or businesses in Kashmir to sort waste is a first step; collection arrangements must preserve that separation afterwards.
Check the whole route
Identify the streams accepted by the local collector and where each is taken. Record collection frequency, storage arrangements and what happens when a collection is missed. UN-Habitat’s Waste Wise Cities Tool assesses waste generation, collection and management, including the recovery chain. [1]
Use clear instructions that match the actual service. Labels should state what belongs in each stream and how to handle materials the collector cannot accept. Avoid a colour-coded system that promises separation the collection vehicle cannot maintain.
Test the arrangement at a manageable scale
Start with a defined group of premises and agree responsibilities with the collector. Check contamination and overflow, then revise instructions using the problems observed. Provide a way for residents and workers to report missed collections.
Record what is collected and its destination, rather than reporting only the number of bins distributed. Recognise the work of existing waste workers and involve them in changes to handling and collection.
Sources and further reading
- UN-HabitatWaste Wise Cities Tool