GCC Launches 40-Day Waste Segregation Drive Across Five South Chennai Zones

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on Saturday launched a 40-day door-to-door campaign across five zones in south Chennai—covering locations in Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Thiruvanmiyur, Perungudi, and Sholinganallur—to encourage residents to segregate household waste at source.

The civic body has targeted 50,000 households during the initial phase of the drive, titled 'Segregate Waste - Save Tomorrow'. On the launch day, teams covered 5,000 households, reaching 1,000 homes in each of the five zones, with the remaining 45,000 households scheduled to be reached over the coming days.

GCC officials and workers from waste management concessionaire Urbaser Sumeet are distributing dedicated bags for non-biodegradable waste and guiding residents on handing over segregated garbage daily. The campaign promotes segregation into biodegradable, non-biodegradable, sanitary, and hazardous categories in line with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, with an immediate priority on biodegradable and non-biodegradable items.

GCC Commissioner GS Sameeran said the initiative focuses on long-term behavioural change to make segregation a daily household routine. He stated that households would be monitored throughout the 40-day period to help sustain the habit, after which compliance will be evaluated and penal measures enforced if necessary.

Sameeran added that the household campaign was rolled out as a pilot project in south Chennai following measures to improve segregation among bulk waste generators through nodal officers. The initiative will be expanded to the city's other two regions based on the outcome and feedback.

Regional Deputy Commissioner (South) Aftab Rasool said the civic body plans to recognise households that consistently segregate waste with awards at the conclusion of the 40-day drive. Participating households will also be incentivised with books for children to raise environmental awareness among younger generations.

According to Rasool, 615 of the 1,065 bulk waste generators in south Chennai have started segregating waste, and no penalties have been levied against households or bulk generators so far. However, starting September 1, bulk waste generators are mandated to segregate waste before handing it over, with failures attracting fines and enforcement actions.