Overview

• The Punjab EPA issued a provincewide directive under the Smart Waste Management initiative, invoking Section 6(1)(t) of the Environmental Protection Act and aligning the move with the Climate Resilient Action Plan 2024.
• Schools face a September 30 compliance deadline, with inspections beginning October 1 and penalties for institutions that fail to meet the requirements.
• The mandate requires five labeled bins by category: yellow for paper and cardboard, green for bottles, glass and lab waste, grey for organic waste, red for metal and orange for plastic.
• Institutions can request segregated waste pickup through helpline 1139, with the Local Government & Community Development Department assisting operational management.
• Oversight rests with Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, targets are assigned to Education Minister Rana Sikandar and Local Government Minister Zeeshan Malik, and compliant schools will receive EPA certificates for display at their main gates.