New Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has introduced the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, effective from April 1, to enhance waste management practices across India.
Key Features of the New Rules
- Expanded Responsibilities: Urban and rural local bodies, and 'bulk generators' such as residential societies, universities, and government buildings must adhere to stricter waste management protocols.
- Segregation Requirements: Mandatory segregation into four streams: wet waste, dry waste, sanitary waste, and special care waste.
- Bulk Generators Criteria: Buildings with a floor area of 20,000 square metres or more, water consumption of 40,000 litres per day or more, or waste generation of 100 kg/day or more.
- On-site Processing: Bulk generators are required to process wet waste on-site or obtain an extended responsibility certificate if on-site processing is not feasible.
Goals and Monitoring
- Reduce Burden: The aim is to reduce the burden on urban local bodies by promoting waste management at the source.
- Centralised Monitoring: Implementation includes a new centralised online portal for real-time tracking.
Waste Hierarchy and Management
- Waste Hierarchy Focus: Prioritizes prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery, and disposal.
- Landfill Restrictions: Only non-recyclable and non-energy recoverable waste and inert material to be sent to landfills.
- Penalties for Non-compliance: Higher landfill fees for unsegregated waste than the cost of segregation and processing.
Data and Statistics
- According to the Central Pollution Control Board, India generates about 1.85 lakh tonnes of solid waste daily, with 1.79 lakh tonnes collected, 1.14 lakh tonnes processed, and 39,629 tonnes landfilled.
Impact
- Local Authorities Empowerment: Local authorities in hilly and island areas can levy fees from visitors for waste management.
- Expected Improvements: Significant improvements in waste management are anticipated if the rules are properly implemented.
