Madurai has waste management issues to address, and a robust mechanism is needed to deal with the problem. With the Solid Waste Management Rules 2026 in place superseding the 2016 Rules, Madurai Corporation has now planned a strategic overhaul as per the rules to mitigate the situation.Activists, trade bodies and the public have been raising concerns over waste management in the city. The Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 survey turned out to be an eyeopener. As per the survey, Madurai was ranked 40th among the 40 cities in the country having a population of more than 10 lakh.In recent times, public interest litigation petitions were filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court complaining about the poor upkeep of Smart Fruit Market, Central Vegetable Market and surrounding areas in Mattuthavani. Open dumping in K.K. Nagar, Anna Nagar, Vaigai river bed and other places have been reported.Corporation authorities pointed out that there were certain discrepancies in the parameters followed in the ranking system. They said there were improvements made and it would get reflected in the next rankings. The authorities are now tasked with erasing the city’s ‘dirty city’ tag.Madurai Corporation said it will intensify door-to-door collection. As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, it has instructed households, commercial establishments and institutions to mandatorily segregate solid waste at source into four categories: wet waste, dry waste, sanitary waste and special care waste (domestic hazardous waste) before handing it over to the designated Corporation workers.The Corporation has instructed the waste should be stored and handed over in the prescribed colour-coded bins or bags to facilitate separate collection, transportation and processing in accordance with the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026.The prescribed colour code for wet waste is green and it includes kitchen waste, cooked and uncooked food waste, fruit and vegetable waste, flowers, tea leaves, coffee grounds, eggshells and other biodegradable waste. The prescribed colour code for dry waste is blue and it includes paper, cardboard, newspapers, books, plastic, metal, glass, cartons, textiles, packaging materials and other recyclable waste.The prescribed colour code for sanitary waste is red and it includes used sanitary napkins, diapers, incontinence pads, tampons, condoms and other hygiene waste. The prescribed colour code for special care waste (domestic hazardous waste) is black and it includes expired medicines, paint containers, pesticide containers, CFL bulbs, tube lights, batteries, mercury-containing items, household e-waste and other domestic hazardous waste notified under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026.Wet, dry and sanitary waste would be collected on a daily basis while special care waste would be collected once a week on every Wednesday.The Bulk Waste Generators have been directed to procure the required colour-coded bins at their own cost and ensure segregation of waste at source. All Bulk Waste Generators should mandatorily register through the official website of Central Pollution Control Board portal.Madurai Corporation Commissioner Gaurav Kumar said Madurai city generates approximately 900 tonnes of waste everyday. The Corporation would intensify the door to door collection of waste. As per the 2026 rules, four stream waste segregation at source is mandatory. He urged the public to segregate waste at source. This will help and reduce the burden on sanitary workers. The aim was to make Madurai a bin free city and encourage door to door collection. However in garbage vulnerable points and based on requests made dumpsters bins were placed, he said.He pointed out that two garbage transfer stations at Thathaneri and Kochadai have been inaugurated to speed up disposal of solid waste in an effective and hygienic manner. From door to door collection, the garbage will be brought to the transfer stations and compressed, and then taken to the main garbage yard at Vellaikal.This saves time and paves way for clearing garbage at a faster pace. Earlier, each garbage collection vehicle had to travel all the way to Vellaikal, he said.He said cleanliness drives were being undertaken by the authorities on a regular basis. It included mass cleaning and cleaning parks, school premises and toilets. Beautification projects would also be taken up. Everybody should get involved to turn Madurai into a cleaner city, he said.Last year, a few corporate groups and banks came forward in donating resources to the civic body. Madurai Corporation received a mini-excavator and a mini-vehicle to lift garbage from Raj Exim, a private export house from Madurai. Exporter K. Thirupathi Rajan of Raj Exim said, Madurai, the heritage city also known as ‘thoonga nagaram’ (city which never sleeps) should be on the top in cleanliness as well.