Segregation at source is the practice of separating waste into different categories at the place where it is generated: the home, shop, office or factory. In India, the Solid Waste Management Rules require waste to be separated into wet (biodegradable), dry (recyclable) and domestic hazardous waste.
It is the single most effective step for recycling. When dry waste such as plastic, paper and metal is kept apart from food waste, it stays clean, is easier to sort and is worth more to collectors and recyclers. Mixed waste, by contrast, is heavily affected by contamination, and much of it ends up in a landfill. Segregated waste can go directly to a MRF or collection centre. Lucro works with municipalities in Maharashtra and Gujarat, and with local communities, to improve household segregation.
