The Erode District Local Bodies Employees’ Union, affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), has urged the Erode Corporation to withdraw its alleged oral directive requiring conservancy workers to segregate solid waste into 26 categories.In a representation submitted to Collector S. Kandasamy on Monday (August 24, 2026), union president S. Chinnasamy said Corporation health officials and supervisors were compelling conservancy workers to segregate the waste collected in the city into 26 categories.The categories include plastic milk and oil covers, plastic flower garlands, medicine blister packs and bottles, glucose bags and tubes, syringes, water bottles, door mats, brushes, mattresses, pillows, tyres and tubes, cardboard, thermocol, empty liquor bottles, glass, electric bulbs, old helmets, automobile spare parts, broken telephones, e-waste, wires, footwear, bags, various types of sacks and old clothes.The union said the requirement to segregate waste into 26 categories was contrary to the Solid Waste Management Rules, and was “practically unfeasible”. It claimed that the directive had caused tension and resentment among workers.The union urged the Collector to intervene and direct the Corporation administration to withdraw the oral instruction. It also sought continuation of the existing practice of having residents segregate waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories before handing it over to conservancy workers. A copy of the representation was submitted to Corporation Commissioner Arpit Jain. Published - August 24, 2026 05:54 pm IST