In a move to revamp the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India (MoEFCC) has published a draft Solid Waste Management Rules, 2024, and is seeking comments. Similar to extended producer responsibility (EPR), the rules have introduced the Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility (EBWGR) which proposes new obligations for entities who generate large quantities of solid waste. In addition, provisions such as segregation at source, conditions in establishing waste landfills and its emission standards, obligations of many involved ministries and agencies were stipulated. The rules are expected to enter into force on October 1, 2025, where the finalized rules may be promulgated by then.
Bulk Waste Generator
“Bulk Waste Generator” covers the following entities, if they satisfy at least one of the following criterion (i) buildings with floor area of 20,000 m2. or above (ii) water consumption of 5000 litres per day (iii) solid waste generation of 100 kg per day
- Institutional users including buildings occupied by:
- central government departments or undertakings, State government departments or undertakings
- local bodies
- public sector undertakings or private companies
- schools, colleges, universities, other educational institutions
- Commercial users including:
- commercial establishments including railways, bus stations/depots, airports, ports
- malls, multiplexes
- hotels
- hospitals, nursing homes
- hostels
- wholesale markets, including “Mandis”, for agricultural and horticultural produce, fish and meat
- stadia, sports complexes
- Residential societies
Main Obligations of Bulk Waste Generator
- Registration: Register on the online portal (to be developed)
- Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility: Fulfill responsibility of processing of solid waste generated by purchasing certificates from local bodies or waste processing facilities. Calculation methodology will be published by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in due course.
- Annual returns: Submit information such as solid waste generated in the financial year, certificates procured on every June 30.
- Utilization of solid waste based fuel: Industrial units utilizing solid fuel shall use solid waste based fuel as per table below. Fuel utilization percentage starts at 6%, but will be increased to 10% after 3 years from the date rules come into effect, and to 15% after 6 years from the date of effect.
Intended Use | Combustible Fraction of solid waste | Calorific value | Specified distance |
---|---|---|---|
Waste to energy plants or industries with boilers of heating requirements | Segregated combustible fraction (SCF) or agri-residue | >1500 Kcal/kg net | 100 km |
For direct coprocessing in cement kilns | Refused derived fuel (RDF) Grade I | >4500 Kcal/kg net | 400 km |
For direct coprocessing in cement kilns | RDF Grade II | >3750 Kcal/kg net | 400 km |
For co-processing directly or after processing with other waste materials in cement kilns | RDF Grade III | >3000 Kcal/kg net | 400 km |
Generator of Industrial Solid Waste
Generator of industrial solid waste including factories bear the following duties:
- Registration: Register on the online portal
- Wet waste processing facility: Set up and operate decentralized wet waste (organic waste such as food waste) processing facilities of adequate capacity to ensure processing of complete wet waste generated. In case where this is difficult, procure certificates equivalent to complete wet waste generated.
- Record keeping: keep record of information about the types, quantity, storage, collection, transportation and processing of solid waste generated in industrial areas
- Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility: Procure certificate against the quantity of solid waste handed over to local body or authorized third party
- Annual returns: File information such as quantity of waste generated including hazardous waste and non-hazardous industrial waste, EBWGR obligations, details of local body or authorized third party where certificates were procured from etc.
General obligations
Other than above, every person bears the following duties:
- Segregate waste into four separate streams: wet waste, sanitary waste (diapers, sanitary towels, napkins etc.), special care waste (paint drums, pesticide cans, CFL bulbs, waste batteries etc.) and dry waste (other than mentioned previously), then handover them to authorized waste pickers or collectors
- Dispose biomedical waste and construction & demolition waste separately from solid waste
- Pay such user fee for solid waste management as specified in the bye-laws of the local bodies
- Not organize an event or gathering of more than 100 persons at any unlicensed place without intimating the local body
Download the draft rules from link below:
(DRAFT) Solid Waste Management Rules, 2024
https://egazette.gov.in/writeReadData/2024/259407.pdf
References
Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016
https://cpcb.nic.in/uploads/MSW/SWM_2016.pdf