Residents have raised concerns over the segregation of municipal solid waste in the open along the Perumpallam Canal at Kasipalayam, alleging that the practice is causing pollution and inconvenience to people living in the locality.

The Corporation collects household waste separately as biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste from all four zones through door-to-door collection by conservancy workers. The waste is transported to segregation centres in the respective zones, where biodegradable waste is processed at composting facilities and non-biodegradable waste is sent to landfill sites for disposal.

However, residents said that in Kasipalayam, the waste is being segregated in the open along the Perumpallam Canal instead of at a designated segregation centre. According to them, heaps of mixed waste remain exposed for long hours before being sorted.

They alleged that plastic covers and other lightweight waste are often blown into the canal during strong winds, while rainwater washes waste into the watercourse, resulting in pollution. The waste also emits a foul odour, causing hardship to residents and motorists passing through the area. They fear the practice could affect the canal’s ecosystem and pose health risks, particularly during the monsoon season.

The residents have urged the Erode Corporation to establish a dedicated waste segregation centre in Kasipalayam, similar to those functioning in other parts of the city, and relocate the activity away from the canal to prevent further environmental degradation and ensure scientific handling of municipal solid waste.