Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016

The MoEFCC revised the rules for management of solid waste in the municipal areas after 16 years. The drawback with the earlier solid waste disposal rules was similar to plastic waste disposal rules i.e. applicable only in municipal areas.

• The new rules are now applicable beyond municipal areas and extend to urban agglomerations, census towns, notified industrial townships, areas under the control of Indian Railways, airports, airbase, port and harbours, defence establishments, special economic zones, state and central government organizations, places of pilgrimage, religious and historical importance.
• The segregation of waste at source has been mandated. Responsibilities of generators have been fixed for segregation of waste in to three streams, wet (biodegradable), dry (plastic, paper, metal, wood, etc.) and domestic hazardous wastes (diapers, napkins, empty containers of cleaning agents, mosquito repellents, etc.)
• The Rules provide ways for integration of waste pickers/rag pickers. The Rules mandate local bodies to frame their bye-laws to impose ‘User Fee’, to be paid by the generator to waste collector and for ‘Spot Fine’ for littering and non-segregation.
• The concept of partnership as envisaged under Swachh Bharat has been introduced viz., bulk and institutional generators, market associations, event organizers and hotels and restaurants have been directly made responsible for waste segregation and management in partnership with local bodies.
• All resident welfare and market associations, gated communities and institution with an area >5,000 sq. meter new townships and group housing societies have been made responsible to develop in-house waste handling, and processing arrangements for bio-degradable waste.

Conclusion

Basel Convention on transboundary movement of hazardous waste, Rotterdam Convection on prior approval on hazardous chemicals and Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants are few but important international collaborations highlighting the need to tackle waste properly. Abiding to the rules of these conventions along with more collaborations of this nature to invent scientific methods of waste disposal is the way forward.