Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges of urban governance in India. This problem is particularly severe in regions that are rapidly urbanizing and ecologically fragile. Srinagar city, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, is struggling with municipal waste management. The problems include poor infrastructure, irregular collection services, and heavy reliance on the already overburdened Achan landfill. This study examines the household waste generation

and management practices across 384 households in the 64 municipal wards of Srinagar city. The findings reveal that the food waste dominates household streams (73%), while storage relies primarily on old buckets (44%) and plastic bags (37%). Although 55% of households practice segregation, 73% report the absence of separate bins from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC). Disposal is largely dependent on the Ghanta Gadi (pick up truck) vehicles (51%), yet 40% of households face irregular clearance, and 51% lack nearby public containers. The study shows a paradox. While 91% of citizens know the waste management rules and 93% support recycling, weak municipal systems prevent these practices from being effective. The paper argues that Srinagar needs to bridge its governance gap in waste management. This can be achieved by improving infrastructure, ensuring regular services, promoting decentralized composting, and running targeted awareness campaigns. Such measures are essential for moving the

city towards a sustainable waste management system, in line with the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, the G-25 Action Plan, and Sustainable Development Goal 11.