The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified Solid Waste Management Rules 2026 effective April 1, mandating four-way waste segregation and stricter compliance under Environment Protection Act.

BulletsIn:

• New rules mandate four-way segregation of waste at source including wet, dry, sanitary and special care waste to improve recycling efficiency and reduce landfill burden
• Wet waste such as food and organic material must be processed locally through composting or decentralised systems to minimise transportation and environmental impact
• Dry waste including plastic, paper and metal will be channelled to material recovery facilities for sorting, recycling and reuse under circular economy framework
• Sanitary and hazardous household waste to be handled separately through authorised channels ensuring safe disposal and reduced public health risks
• Bulk waste generators required to process waste on-site where feasible, with Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility increasing accountability and compliance
  Digital tracking system to be launched by Central Pollution Control Board for monitoring waste lifecycle, registrations, reporting and facility audits
• Rules introduce strict penalties based on polluter pays principle, along with tighter landfill restrictions and time-bound legacy waste remediation