Solid Waste Management Rules extended to urban and industrial Areas

New Delhi, Apr 6 (KNN) The Solid Waste Management Rules, which has been revised after 16 years, will be applicable to notified industrial townships, port and harbour, special economic zones along with other places. 

Addressing a press conference to announce the revised Rules, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar said that the Rules are now applicable beyond municipal areas and will extend to urban agglomerations, census towns, notified industrial townships, areas under the control of Indian Railways, airports, airbase, port and harbour, defence establishments, special economic zones, State and Central government organizations, places of pilgrims, religious & historical importance.   

Around 62 million tonnes of waste is generated annually in the country at present, out of which 5.6 million tonnes is plastic waste, 0.17 million tonnes is biomedical waste, hazardous waste generation is 7.90 million tonnes per annum and 15 lakh tonne is e-waste.  

Javadekar underlined the fact that 43 million TPA is collected, 11.9 million is treated and 31 million is dumped in landfill sites, which means that only about 75-80% of the municipal waste gets collected and only 22-28 % of this waste is processed and treated.  

Javadekar emphasized that the government is keen on the integration of ragpickers from the informal sector to the formal sector. 

The Environment Minister also highlighted that in case of hilly areas, land for construction of sanitary landfills in the hilly areas will be identified in the plain areas, within 25 kilometers. 

Some of the salient features of SWM Rules, 2016 include- The developers of Special Economic Zone, industrial estate, industrial park to  earmark at least 5% of the total area of the plot or minimum 5 plots/ sheds for recovery and recycling facility.

All manufacturers of disposable products such as tin, glass, plastics packaging etc. or brand owners who introduce such products in the market shall provide necessary financial assistance to local authorities for the establishment of waste management system.

All industrial units using fuel and located within 100 km from a solid waste based RDF plant shall make arrangements within six months from the date of notification of these rules to replace at least 5 % of their fuel requirement by RDF so produced.

Construction and demolition waste should be stored, separately disposed off, as per the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016. (KNN Bureau)