SRINAGAR: The Bandipora district administration has made it mandatory for households with adequate space to process their biodegradable wet waste through home composting, in a move aimed at reducing the burden on municipal waste collection and promoting decentralised solid waste management.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora Indu Kanwal Chib issued a notification under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, directing households to compost biodegradable waste at source through home composting or any other approved mechanical composting method.
As per the notification, the Municipal Council Bandipora will discontinue routine door-to-door collection of wet waste from households with adequate space for composting from September 1.
Municipal collection will thereafter primarily focus on dry or recyclable waste and residual domestic waste, the notification said.
The administration said transporting biodegradable waste to municipal processing facilities is resource-intensive and environmentally undesirable, and that the burden can be substantially reduced through household-level composting.
“Every household having adequate space shall process its biodegradable (wet) waste within its own premises through home composting or any other approved mechanical composting method,” the notification said.
However, households unable to undertake composting because of genuine space constraints can submit a self-declaration to the Municipal Council Bandipora, which will assess such cases and make suitable arrangements wherever feasible.
The administration has also retained mandatory source segregation of waste into wet, dry, sanitary and hazardous categories for all households, institutions, commercial establishments and other waste generators.
Bulk Waste Generators have been directed to establish and operate in-situ facilities for processing biodegradable waste in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026.
“No untreated biodegradable waste shall be handed over to the Municipal Council,” the notification said.
The district administration has asked the Municipal Council Bandipora to support the implementation of the new system by running awareness programmes, demonstrations, providing technical guidance, and sharing information on home composting techniques.
It has also asked the Chief Executive Officer of the Municipal Council Bandipora to prepare a phased implementation plan, identify households exempted due to genuine constraints, undertake extensive information, education and communication activities and submit monthly compliance reports to the Deputy Commissioner.
The notification warned that any person found mixing segregated waste, handing over biodegradable waste in violation of the order or otherwise contravening the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, would be liable for action.
Such action may include environmental compensation and other penalties under the JK Non-Biodegradable Material Act and applicable rules, regulations and municipal by-laws.
The move comes as Bandipora, like several other areas of Kashmir, faces growing challenges in managing increasing volumes of municipal solid waste.
By shifting the treatment of kitchen and other biodegradable waste to individual households, the administration aims to reduce the quantity of wet waste transported to municipal facilities, lower transportation requirements and promote cleaner and more sustainable waste management.
The administration has appealed to residents to cooperate with the notification and promote a cleaner, greener and sustainable Bandipora through decentralised management of biodegradable waste.
The notification will come into force with immediate effect, with the specific provision relating to discontinuation of routine wet-waste collection from eligible households taking effect from September 1, 2026. (KNO)
