The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has notified the SWM Rules, 2026, superseding the SWM Rules, 2016.
- The rules have been notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and will come into full effect from April 1, 2026.
- The revised rules integrate the principles of Circular Economy and Extended Producer Responsibility.
Key Provisions
- Four-stream Segregation of Solid Waste at Source: Four-stream includes wet waste (kitchen waste, etc.), dry waste (plastic, paper, etc.), sanitary waste (used diapers, etc.) and special care waste (paint cans, etc.).
- Clear definition of Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs): BWGs include entities with a floor area of 20,000 square metres or more, or water consumption of 40,000 litres per day or more, or solid waste generation of 100 kg per day or more. E.g., state government departments, local bodies
- Also, introduced Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility (EBWGR), under which bulk waste generators are made accountable for the solid waste generated by them.
- Centralised Online Portal: It will track all stages of solid waste management, including waste generation, collection, transportation, etc.
- Promoting use of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) by Industries: RDF is produced by shredding and dehydrating municipal solid waste with high calorific value, primarily consisting of non-recyclable plastic, paper and textiles
- Industrial units, including cement plants and waste-to-energy plants have been mandated to use RDF.
- Restrictions on Landfilling: Landfills have been strictly restricted to non-recyclable, non-energy recoverable waste and inert material.
- Solid Waste Management in Hilly Areas and Islands: E.g., Local bodies can levy user fees on tourists and regulate tourist inflow based on available waste management facilities.
- Imposing Environmental Compensation (EC): The rules provide for the levy of EC based on the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle for non-compliance.
