Sikkim Mandates Four-Way Waste Sorting Under New Federal Rules

Gangtok: Sikkim is overhauling its trash disposal systems. The State Pollution Control Board now demands that everyone sort their garbage into four specific categories. This follows the federal Solid Waste Management Rules of 2026, which the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change pushed into effect on April 1.

Waste must go into wet, dry, sanitary, or special care bins. Wet waste covers food and kitchen scraps. Dry waste includes recyclables. Sanitary waste captures pads and diapers, while special care waste covers hazardous items like paint containers, expired drugs, batteries, CFL bulbs, and needles. It is a big lift. The Board expects households, schools, government offices, and local businesses to work together to make this happen.

N W Tamang, Member Secretary of the board, spoke at a press conference in Gangtok held with the Press Information Bureau. He demanded that people stop burying, burning, or dumping trash in public drains and open spaces. Proper handling requires a team effort. "Proper segregation at source is essential for efficient collection, processing and scientific disposal," Tamang said. He warned that simply picking up the trash is not the end of the line. The state wants the entire process, from collection to final disposal, to hit a high scientific standard.