The Government of Himachal Pradesh on February 10, 2026, issued the Door-to-Door Garbage Collection and Disposal bye - laws 2018 of Nagar Panchayat Gagret for municipal solid waste management & disposal.
The Nagar Panchayat shall establish an integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management (SWM) system aimed at reducing waste disposal and maximizing resource recovery. The system prioritizes waste reduction and reuse at source, followed by recycling, composting of organic waste, and waste-to-energy solutions such as bio-methanation, RDF production, and incineration. Residual inert waste shall be scientifically disposed of in sanitary landfills as per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The overall approach must remain environmentally friendly, focusing on minimizing greenhouse gas emissions through recycling, energy recovery, and landfill gas capture.
Segregation at source is mandatory for all waste generators, who must separate waste into three categories: biodegradable (green bin), non-biodegradable (blue bin), and domestic hazardous waste (red bin). Citizens must hand over segregated waste to authorized collectors and pay a fixed monthly user fee for door-to-door collection. Bulk waste generators, large institutions, event organizers, street vendors, and horticulture waste generators have specific responsibilities for segregation, on-site processing (as far as possible), and proper disposal. Mixing of biomedical, e-waste, hazardous, or industrial waste with municipal waste is strictly prohibited, and burning, burying, or littering of waste is punishable with fines.
The Nagar Panchayat is responsible for ensuring daily door-to-door collection of segregated waste from households, slums, commercial establishments, and institutions. Collection must be carried out using suitable vehicles, with prescribed timings (generally 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM for households and 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM for commercial areas). Separate collection of street sweeping waste, horticulture waste, and other specific waste streams must be ensured. Vehicles used for collection must follow prescribed operational standards, including alarm systems.
Additionally, the Nagar Panchayat must integrate authorized waste pickers and informal collectors into the formal waste management system by recognizing their organizations, issuing identity cards, and promoting Self Help Groups. Ward-level offices or centres should be established for effective waste management and grievance redressal. Regular awareness campaigns involving RWAs, NGOs, and public representatives should be conducted to promote citizen participation and compliance.
