Authors: Milan Suryadipta Das, Kohana Singh, Lohitha Hamu Banothu, Arvind Kumar Mahto, and Varadharajulu Gayathri

ABSTRACT

Urban solid waste management in India operates under a formal regulatory framework mandating segregation at source and its preservation through collection. Yet segregation outcomes remain inconsistent despite widespread door-to-door collection coverage. This study examines why such implementation gaps persist at the ward level. Existing literature largely focuses on financial and governance constraints at national or city scales, with limited attention to operational dynamics during primary collection.

Using a multi-city exploratory approach based on primary survey responses collected through a structured questionnaire (Google Form), the study analyses the segregation–collection interface where household practices intersect with municipal systems. Findings indicate that while segregation at source exists, it remains fragile and is frequently undermined during collection due to infrastructural gaps, limited supervision, and coordination challenges among actors. Mixing during collection further generates behavioural feedback that weakens sustained compliance.

The study demonstrates that implementation failure is reproduced through routine interactions between institutional capacity constraints and coordination gaps at the frontline of service delivery. Strengthening segregation preservation at the ward level is therefore critical to translating regulatory intent into sustained practice.