Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the introduction of color-coded waste bins across the province as part of a new “Smart Waste Management Process,” aiming to promote eco-friendly habits and reduce waste generation.
In the first phase, the initiative will be implemented in all public and private educational institutions. The provincial government has issued formal orders, instructing schools to place five different color-coded bins on their premises for waste segregation.
Senior Minister for Environment and Climate Change Maryam Aurangzeb has been tasked with supervising the project, while Education Minister Rana Sikandar and Local Government Minister Zeeshan Malik have been assigned specific targets. The government has set a September 30 deadline for installing the bins in all schools, with inspections scheduled to begin on October 1. Institutions that fail to comply will face fines.
According to the official notification issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the bins will be used in different colors, as Yellow bins for Paper and cardboard waste,
Green bins for Bottles, glass items, and laboratory disposables, Grey bins for Organic waste such as fruit peels, leftover food, and rotten vegetables, Red bins for Scrap metal and other metallic waste and
Orange bins for Plastic waste
The initiative is designed to encourage recycling and reuse by separating different types of waste at the source. Schools will also have access to the Punjab Waste Management Helpline (1139) to arrange timely waste collection.
The Local Government and Community Development Department will coordinate logistics, while EPA teams will conduct inspections to ensure compliance. Institutions meeting the required standards will receive official certification from the EPA as recognition of their efforts toward environmental protection.
Officials say the project aims not only to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills but also to build awareness among students about sustainable and environmentally responsible practices.
