Kozhikode Corpn. struggles with wayside bin misuse, seeks public cooperation

Kozhikode Corporation tackles household waste dumping issue with twin steel bins, education initiatives, and fines by 'Cheetah' squads.

The careless dumping of household waste in wayside bins by both residents and travellers has become a major headache for the Kozhikode Corporation, which is desperately searching for a solution.

The recently installed twin steel bins—one for organic waste and the other for non-biodegradable waste—were meant for commuters to dispose of small waste items they cannot carry home, such as candy wrappers, fruit peels, or biscuit packets, to help keep the city clean. However, it has been observed that the public is dumping bags full of household waste into these small bins, clogging them quickly and defeating their purpose of beautifying the city.

At a Corporation Council meeting on Monday (February 17), the issue was discussed in detail for half an hour, and it was decided to take immediate steps to educate the public on the proper use of these bins. Several councillors suggested installing signboards next to the bins, while others proposed using CCTV cameras for monitoring.

The Corporation’s health supervisor said that health inspectors and sweepers who clean the roads have been instructed to monitor the bins and identify areas where waste dumping is rampant.

“We need to cultivate a culture of proper bin usage among city residents, which will, in turn, influence visitors. There is no quick fix for this issue. Public intervention and vigilance are necessary,” said Deputy Mayor C.P. Musafar Ahamed. He pointed out that the dumping of household waste also highlights the lack of source-level waste management in many homes, which needs to be addressed.

“Imposing a fine on the people who dump household waste in the bins is not enough. They should be made to attend day-long classes in waste management”, he added.

Meanwhile, the Corporation’s Health Wing has brought the issue under the purview of the ‘Cheetah’ squads. Individuals caught dumping household waste in public are being fined ₹5,000 on the spot.