Udupi District Collector Calls for Special‑Care Waste Collection Centres Across All Local Bodies

In a move that underscores the district’s growing focus on sustainable waste management, Udupi District Collector Sanjay Mishra has asked every local governing body to set up dedicated special‑care waste collection centres. During a meeting with municipal officials, panchayat heads and representatives of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the collector stressed that traditional bins simply cannot handle the surge in hazardous, electronic and medical waste that’s been piling up in recent years.

“We need to think beyond the usual dry‑and‑wet segregation,” Mishra said, pausing for a moment as officials nodded. “If a hospital throws away a single syringe or a household discards a broken laptop, those items belong in a separate stream. Otherwise they end up contaminating the rest of our waste and pose health risks.”

He laid out a clear roadmap: each municipal corporation, town panchayat and village council must identify at least one site—preferably near existing waste‑processing facilities—to serve as a collection point for special‑care waste. These centres should be equipped with colour‑coded containers, clear signage, and basic protective gear for workers handling the material.

The directive also calls for regular training sessions for sanitation staff, awareness campaigns aimed at residents, and a reporting mechanism that feeds data to the KSPCB. “We’re not just setting up bins; we’re building a system that tracks the flow of hazardous waste from door‑step to final disposal,” the collector added.

Local bodies have been given a six‑week window to submit detailed proposals, including location maps, budget estimates and staffing plans. The district administration will review these submissions and, where necessary, provide technical and financial assistance to ensure the centres are up and running before the end of the quarter.

Environmental NGOs welcomed the move, noting that earlier attempts at waste segregation often fell short due to lack of infrastructure and public apathy. “Having a dedicated hub makes it easier for citizens to do the right thing,” said Priya Nair of the GreenMangalore initiative. “When you see a separate bin for e‑waste on your street, you’re more likely to use it.”

While the immediate focus is on hazardous, e‑waste and medical refuse, officials hinted that the model could later be expanded to include other special‑care categories such as batteries, fluorescent tubes and even certain types of construction debris. For now, the message is clear: proper segregation at the source is the first step toward a cleaner, safer Udupi.