Panaji: Goa could be one of the first states in the country for scientific disposal of sanitary waste generated in the state. Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) has proposed a structured and scientific mechanism for the collection, transportation and disposal of over 12 tonnes per day of sanitary waste generated across the state.All urban and rural local bodies will be responsible for door-to-door collection and transportation of sanitary waste from their jurisdictions to the common biomedical waste treatment facility (CBMWTF) at Kundaim, which has been operational since 2020-21.Sanitary waste, which includes used sanitary napkins, diapers, tampons, incontinence sheets and similar materials, has been explicitly recognized under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, as a distinct category requiring separate handling.The rules mandate segregation at source and safe disposal through authorized facilities to protect public health and the environment.“The processing cost of Rs 18 per kg plus applicable GST at the CBMWTF will be borne by the GWMC, thereby reducing the financial burden on local bodies,” a senior govt official said. “Waste generators are required to segregate sanitary waste and hand it over in properly wrapped form to authorized collectors.”The GWMC said local bodies were earlier reluctant to undertake separate collection due to the need to bear both transportation and processing costs. This led to indiscriminate dumping along roadsides and in open areas, raising environmental and health concerns.“Despite an estimated generation of over 12 tonnes per day, only a small fraction is currently being scientifically processed, indicating a gap in collection and disposal systems,” the officer said.With GWMC now bearing processing costs, local bodies have been directed to implement collection systems immediately and ensure all sanitary waste is transported to the Kundaim facility. Citizens have been urged to segregate waste at source, wrap it securely, and hand it over only to authorized collectors.
