Chennai, Aug. 27:
The Greater Chennai Corporation has stepped up its campaign to improve waste segregation at source, distributing dedicated bags for non-biodegradable waste to 50,000 households across five zones in South Chennai.
The initiative is part of the 40-day “Segregate Waste – Save Tomorrow” campaign aimed at encouraging residents to separate waste at the household level before handing it over to conservancy workers.
Corporation officials and outreach teams are visiting homes in the five zones, distributing special bags for non-biodegradable waste along with awareness pamphlets. Stickers carrying messages on waste segregation are also being placed at households to reinforce the campaign.
The programme follows the State government’s emphasis on segregation of waste at source into biodegradable, non-biodegradable, sanitary and hazardous categories. Effective segregation is expected to improve collection, transportation, processing and scientific disposal of municipal waste.
The campaign initially covered 1,000 households in each of the five zones, reaching 5,000 homes on the first day. The remaining households are being covered in subsequent phases as part of the larger 50,000-household target.
Civic officials said public participation was crucial to reducing the volume of mixed waste reaching landfills. Proper segregation would also improve recycling and help prevent recyclable materials from being dumped along with food and other biodegradable waste.
The Corporation has appealed to residents to continue the practice beyond the campaign period and hand over segregated waste regularly to sanitation workers.