Mumbai generates a staggering 7,000 to 7,500 metric tonnes of waste every single day.
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, June 10, 2025: In a bold step towards redefining urban sanitation and ensuring the safety of its frontline
workers, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) rolled out a special initiative for the separate collection and disposal of domestic sanitary and special care waste. The campaign, spearheaded by the Solid Waste Management Department, officially commenced on April 21, 2025.
Mumbai, a city that never sleeps, generates a staggering 7,000 to 7,500 metric tonnes of waste every single day. Tucked away within this overwhelming volume was an often overlooked but critically dangerous fraction: sanitary waste. From used diapers and sanitary pads to expired medicines, bandages, and beauty parlour discards, these materials are typically tossed in with regular garbage. However, their improper disposal poses significant health hazards, especially for the sanitation workers who sort and manage this waste manually.
The need for careful handling of such waste had never been more urgent. To tackle this challenge head-on, BMC introduced a dedicated waste collection service that emphasized the importance of proper segregation. All sanitary and bio-contaminated waste, ranging from personal hygiene products to sharps like needles and razors, must be disposed of in a distinct yellow bag. The initiative aimed not only at ensuring safer handling but also at reducing the stigma around such waste and educating citizens about its risks.
It went beyond just collection and included an awareness drive that highlighted why responsible disposal mattered, not just for environmental health but also for human dignity. By isolating sanitary waste from general household garbage, the city took a giant leap toward safer, cleaner, and more humane waste management practices.
BMC encouraged active citizen participation through a simple QR code-based self-registration system. Housing societies, hostels, beauty parlours, and educational institutions could easily sign up for this service by scanning the QR code and filling out a short form. Once registered, these entities benefited from regular sanitary waste collection, alongside their routine garbage pickup. More importantly, they became part of a larger movement committed to transforming Mumbai’s waste management landscape.
This pioneering drive was more than just a municipal service—it was a call for collective responsibility. It reflected BMC's unwavering dedication to improving public health, ensuring the dignity of sanitation workers, and nurturing a cleaner, more conscious Mumbai. By embracing this initiative, citizens had a chance to be part of something impactful—something that didn’t just manage waste, but redefined how a city cared for its people.
It wasn’t just about what we threw away, it was about how we chose to do it. Let’s make the yellow bag a symbol of care, awareness, and change.
