The New Delhi Municipal Council will launch a signature campaign in at least 10 colonies next week to encourage residents to adopt waste segregation norms and pledge to build a cleaner, zero-waste New Delhi, officials said. The initiative, organised in collaboration with resident welfare associations, will focus on compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 and seeks to embed responsible disposal practices in daily routines rather than limit them to periodic awareness drives.

Campaign material states that residents will be urged to segregate wet, dry, sanitary and domestic hazardous waste at source and to contribute to composting of wet waste. The civic body said the signature drive will ask households to commit publicly to separation of waste streams and to reduce waste sent to disposal facilities. NDMC Chairman Manoj Kumar Dwivedi communicated on social media that the drive will seek pledges for Swachh Bharat and a zero-waste culture.

The council is also running a market outreach titled Roko Toko, Swachhata Ko Badhao under which Palika Sahayaks interact with residents and visitors, encourage the use of dustbins and discourage littering. Officials said the campaign highlights the role of citizens in keeping markets clean and complements on-ground enforcement and cleanliness drives. In addition, the civic body acknowledged that many public and community toilets in its area require considerable improvement and that remedial work will take time.

Work has begun to establish a proper system to improve upkeep and functioning of sanitation facilities, officials said, and the council plans to combine infrastructure enhancements with greater public participation. The signature campaign is designed to produce visible commitments from residents to segregate waste and maintain litter-free neighbourhoods. The national capital is scheduled to host the BRICS summit on September 12-13, a context officials said increases focus on cleanliness and civic preparedness.