Most of the collection systems followed in India are:

Door to door collection
This system is used in narrow streets where a collection truck cannot reach individual houses. The house places the filled containers outside their doors when the waste collectors arrive. Some cities such as Chennai (Madras) and Chandigarh have implemented this in posh localities where influential people reside. On similar lines, Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) recently introduced door to door collection in some wards and management seems to be satisfactory.

Curbside collection
This method is used in wider streets, where the collection trucks can pass through conveniently. The house owners leave the waste containers at the edge of the pavement. The waste collectors collect the waste from the curbside or empty the containers into the vehicle as it passes through the street at a set time and day and return the containers as practiced in Kanpur (UNCHS, 1994).

Block collection
The collection vehicles arrive at a particular place or a set day and time to collect waste from the households. Households bring their waste containers and empty directly into the vehicle (UNCHS, 1994).

Community bins
Community storage bins are placed at convenient locations, where the community members carry their waste and throw it. (These bins are also called Delhi bins, since it was introduced first time in Delhi)