Bandipora, Aug 9: Households in Bandipora with adequate space will have to process their biodegradable wet waste within their own premises from September 1, with the district administration directing the Municipal Council to discontinue routine door-to-door collection of wet waste from such households.
The decision has been taken to promote decentralised solid waste management and reduce the volume of biodegradable waste transported to municipal processing facilities.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Indu Kanwal Chib issued the notification under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, making household-level composting mandatory for biodegradable waste wherever adequate space is available.
“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 states.
From September 1, the Municipal Council Bandipora will primarily collect dry or recyclable waste and residual domestic waste from eligible households, while routine collection of wet waste will be discontinued.
The administration said transporting biodegradable waste to municipal facilities is resource-intensive and environmentally undesirable, and that processing it at source can substantially reduce the burden on the municipal waste management system.
However, households facing genuine space constraints will not be required to undertake home composting. Such households can submit a self-declaration to the Municipal Council Bandipora, which will assess the cases and make suitable arrangements wherever feasible.
The notification also reiterates mandatory segregation of waste at source into wet, dry, sanitary and hazardous categories for households, institutions, commercial establishments and other waste generators.
“No untreated biodegradable waste shall be handed over to the Municipal Council,” the notification said.
Bulk Waste Generators have separately been directed to establish and operate in-situ facilities for processing biodegradable waste in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026.
The Municipal Council has been tasked with supporting the transition through awareness programmes, demonstrations, technical guidance and dissemination of information on home-composting methods.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Municipal Council Bandipora has also been directed to prepare a phased implementation plan, identify households exempted on account of genuine constraints, conduct extensive information, education and communication activities and submit monthly compliance reports to the Deputy Commissioner.
The administration has warned that mixing segregated waste, handing over biodegradable waste in violation of the order or otherwise contravening the waste-management rules could invite action, including environmental compensation and other penalties under the J&K Non-Biodegradable Material Act, applicable rules and municipal by-laws.
The notification has come into force with immediate effect, while the provision ending routine wet-waste collection from eligible households will take effect from September 1, 2026.
The administration has appealed to residents to cooperate with the new system, saying decentralised processing of biodegradable waste would help reduce transportation requirements and promote cleaner and more sustainable waste management in Bandipora.
