Surat Hotfix Row: Mayor Asks Officials Not to Seal Units, Make Arrangements for Disposal

The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has witnessed a lack of coordination between the elected leadership and the municipal administration over the disposal of hotfix waste and action against its production. Surat Mayor Mayaben Mawani has instructed officials not to carry out sealing action against hotfix units and asked the administration to make arrangements for the disposal of the waste.

At the same time, the municipal administration has issued a public notice across all zones ordering an immediate ban on the production, storage, sale, distribution and use of prohibited single-use plastic, including hotfix.

Mayor’s directive clashes with civic body’s public notice

The SMC notice has also warned that legal action will be taken if production or other activities continue despite the order. The contrasting instructions have raised questions over coordination between the civic body’s elected representatives and its administrative machinery, as both have issued directions on the same issue.

The controversy over hotfix waste has been ongoing in Surat for the past few days. While residents have demanded action against those dumping the waste, concerns have also been raised over the livelihoods of people associated with the hotfix trade. The issue came into sharper focus after a group of hotfix operators met the Mayor on Wednesday.

Following the meeting, Mawani reiterated that sealing action should not be carried out against hotfix units and directed officials to focus on arrangements for disposing of the waste. The civic administration, however, has maintained its position through the public notice banning prohibited single-use plastic, including hotfix, creating a clear contradiction between the Mayor’s instructions and the administration’s enforcement order.

What Is Hotfix And Why Is Surat Facing A Waste Disposal Row?

Hotfix is a textile decoration process in which small decorative stones, crystals or studs are attached to garments using heat. Small units, including household-based businesses, use hotfix machines to apply these embellishments to clothes. The process generates leftover single-use plastic material, known as hotfix waste, which has become a growing disposal concern in Surat.

The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has raised concerns that improperly discarded hotfix waste can enter drains, sewer lines and storm-water channels, obstructing the flow of water and potentially contributing to waterlogging and mosquito breeding. The civic body has therefore moved to restrict the production and use of hotfix material, while those involved in the trade have sought a practical system for collecting and disposing of the waste. The debate now centres on how to stop indiscriminate dumping and regulate the manufacturing of hotfix waste without disrupting the small businesses and workers dependent on the industry.