Segregation of wastes means separating them according to its kind for the purpose of handling, processing, and disposal in a proper way.

We generate wastes of different kinds - plastics, paper, food wastes, yard wastes, hazardous electronic and chemical wastes like paints, used batteries, etc. which needs to be segregated systematically.

Household waste should be separated daily into different bags for the different categories of waste such as wet and dry waste, which should be disposed of separately. One should also keep a bin for toxic wastes such as medicines, batteries, dried paint, old bulbs, and dried shoe polish.

Wet waste, which consists of leftover foodstuff, vegetable peels, etc., should be put in a compost pit and the compost could be used as manure in the garden. Dry waste consisting of cans, aluminum foils, plastics, metal, glass, and paper could be recycled.

In general, the waste can be segregated as Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable.

1. Biodegradable waste includes organic waste, e.g. kitchen waste, vegetables, fruits, flowers, leaves from the garden, and paper.

2. Nonbiodegradable waste can be further segregated into:

• a) Recyclable waste - plastics, paper, glass, metal, etc.
• b) Toxic waste - old medicines, paints, chemicals, bulbs, spray cans, fertilizer and pesticide containers, batteries, shoe polish.
• c) Soiled - hospital waste such as cloth soiled with blood and other body fluids. Toxic and soiled waste must be disposed of with the utmost care.