India Overhauls Solid Waste Management Rules

On January 28, 2026, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) published the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, completely replacing the 2016 rules. While the previous rules focused primarily on requirements for waste collectors and processing facilities (landfills, incineration facilities etc.), the new rules introduce a novel concept: Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility (EBWGR). Similar to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems for product waste, this regime obligates bulk waste generators to procure processing certificates (EBWGR certificates hereinafter) equivalent to the volume of solid waste generated each financial year. The effective date for these rules is set for April 1, 2026.