Apartment Management

What is Apartment Waste Management? Importance and Tips

Published: July 23, 2025

Waste management is one of the biggest problems in India’s urban areas. According to The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the country currently generates 62 million tons of waste annually, of which only 43 tons are collected each year. This makes waste disposal and management a massive headache for not only local governments but also for neighbourhoods, apartment complexes and societies.

To avoid huge dumping of waste and maintain a clean environment, residents and societies must be aware of essential apartment waste management techniques and tips. Here, we have provided a detailed guide on waste management for apartments. Read along.

What is Apartment Waste Management?

Apartment waste management refers to the systematic process of collecting, segregating, treating, and disposing of the waste generated by residents living in smart apartments or gated societies. It includes practices like:

Waste segregation at source (dry, wet, and hazardous waste)
Composting of organic (wet) waste
Recycling of dry waste like plastic, paper, and metal
Safe disposal of non-recyclables and hazardous items

Why Is Apartment Waste Management Necessary?

Although millions of tonnes of waste are generated by Indian cities, there aren’t enough waste disposal and management facilities. As the country’s population grows and more people move into cities from rural areas, the problem is likely to be aggravated. The growing amount of waste generated will be too much for conventional methods like landfills to cope with.

While growing waste generation is a grave concern for local, state and national governments, it is also a concern for individual citizens. Besides supporting improved environmental legislation, individuals and housing societies need to adopt sustainable waste management systems in apartments to keep their neighbourhoods clean, reduce groundwater pollution, and prevent outbreaks of diseases.

Proper waste segregation and cleanliness in apartment common areas are also critical, as these shared spaces can quickly become hotspots for unhygienic conditions if not well maintained.

Benefits of Apartment Waste Management

Here are some benefits of employing proper apartment waste management systems at an individual and societal level:

Contributes to a Greener Environment: Setting up waste management facilities in apartments reduces pollution and contributes to a greener environment. This creates a healthy environment and a cleaner neighbourhood.
Improves Quality of Living: Many Indian cities are experiencing high levels of air and noise pollution, and groundwater contamination, deteriorating the quality of life among residents. Waste management improves the situation greatly for residents.
Increases Property Value: Apartment complexes and housing societies with local waste management facilities are considered more attractive to buyers. As a result, residents have a financial incentive to keep their neighbourhoods clean.

How to Set up a System for Apartment Waste Management?

Follow the steps below to set up a facility for waste management for an apartment:

Step 1: Waste Segregation at Source

The first step is to segregate waste produced by families into biodegradable, non-biodegradable and hazardous categories for easier disposal. In India, regulations like the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, require waste generators to sort their garbage into colour-coded bins. Solid waste management in apartments must install a centralised collection system on each block/floor to collect, segregate and transport waste materials.

Step 2: Composting Organic Waste

Organic waste is easy to dispose of as it can be composted. After segregating waste, the apartment waste management staff will deposit the organic garbage into pits and cover it with soil and biodegradable material like leaves and dried plants. The compositing pit needs to be watered in dry climates. This converts the waste into nutrient-rich compost, excellent for gardens and yards.

Step 3: Treatment and Recycling

Bulk waste generators like large apartment complexes are mandated to dispose of all non-biodegradable and hazardous waste. They are also allowed to treat various forms of garbage on-site using low-cost traditional incinerators, electric or high-temperature incinerators. Anything that cannot be treated, including construction waste, must be handed over to authorised agencies for disposal and recycling.

Step 4: Waste Transportation

Apartment complexes need to train or hire maintenance and staff to safely transport solid and sanitary waste. They need to engage with waste pickers and sorters employed by the local authorities and ensure that safety and hygiene protocols are followed. Many municipalities also require the timely payment of cess and user fees.

A built-in apartment waste management and staff management system like NoBrokerHood makes the whole process much easier.

Step 5: Resident Awareness and Training

For effective waste management in apartment buildings, residents must learn how to properly dispose of their daily waste. They must segregate garbage in correct bins, wrap sanitary waste and materials like broken glass and syringes, and strictly avoid littering. To accomplish these goals, housing societies should hold regular workshops and knowledge-sharing events.

Types of Household Waste for Segregation

These are the different categories of waste materials that must be disposed of separately:

Main Waste Type	Subcategories / Examples
Biodegradable Waste	Wet Waste: Rotten food, vegetable peels, coconut shells, eggshells, tea bags, etc.
Biodegradable Waste	Dry Waste: Newspaper, paper, wood, books, packaging.
Non-biodegradable Waste	Plastic: Bags, pouches, food packets, soda bottles.
	Glass: Bottles, broken glass, mirrors, plates.
	Metals: Foils, pipes, utensils.
	E-waste: Batteries, wires, bulbs, gadgets.
Hazardous Waste	Sanitary Waste: Napkins, tampons, diapers.
	Biomedical Waste: Contaminated cotton, dressings, syringes.
	Toxic/Reactive Chemicals: Bleach, petrol, kerosene, acids.
Inert Waste	Sand, soil, rubble, stone chips (non-reactive and non-degradable)

Each of these categories of waste materials must be segregated into separate bins before disposal.

Apartment Waste Management Rules and Regulations

The Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules were formulated by the Ministry of Environment in 2016 to address the problem of unorganised and poor waste collection in India. These rules set the official waste categorisation and the provisions of waste collection and disposal.

According to the SWM Rules, apartment complexes are mandated to segregate waste into dry, wet and toxic sources while collecting from residents. Furthermore, bulk waste producers, which are entities generating more than 100 kg of daily waste, are mandated to carry out in-site composting for all biodegradable materials. The rules also laid out the disposal process for construction, demolition and large events and established spot fines for violations.

The Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules 2016 apply to the disposal of biomedical waste, such as blood, body fluids, contaminated items, dressings, cotton and bedding. These items must be sterilised before disposal. For wet waste management in apartments, the Liquid Waste Management Rules 2024 set the provisions for treatment, recycling and reuse of wastewater before disposal.

Key Apartment Waste Management Responsibilities

The following are some of the important apartment waste management responsibilities for housing societies, apartment associations and residents:

For Apartment Associations and Housing Societies

Providing gloves and safety equipment to maintenance staff
Paying user fees on behalf of residents
Creating a centralised garbage collection system
Having separate storage for different waste categories
Installing facilities for traditional composting or a composting machine
Creating awareness among maintenance staff and residents

For Individuals and Families

Maintaining separate bins for dry, wet, and hazardous waste
Wrapping sanitary waste in newspaper or regular paper
Avoid throwing, burning or burying solid waste on their own
Putting broken glass, blades and needles in a transparent container
Minimising daily waste generation
Using more eco-friendly products

Bottom Line

Apartment waste management in India needs to happen at the individual, local and national levels to create a greener future. It’s not just the government’s responsibility but also that of residents and associations to keep neighbourhoods clean and pollution-free.

Moreover, the Indian Government has introduced several regulations- violating these will lead to fines and legal repercussions. To avoid the negative consequences, many residences are employing end-to-end apartment management systems, such as those offered by NoBrokerHood.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the 3 Rs of apartment waste management?

The three Rs of apartment waste management are Reduce- lowering the generation of garbage, Reuse- repurposing or repeated use of goods, and Recycle- converting waste into useful products.

2. What fees are charged by local governments for apartment waste disposal?

State and local governments in India have adjusted the applicable property tax to incorporate solid waste management (SWM) cess. Housing societies are also required to pay an additional user fee for availing services like waste collection, transportation, and disposal.

3. How should residents dispose of hazardous materials?

Before disposing of hazardous waste materials, residents must first segregate such waste into a separate, colour-coded bin (usually red). These must be stored in a safe space and provided to authorised garbage collectors from the local government.