Lok Sabha Question No. 1660 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-08
Subject: Non Bio-Degradable Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1660

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2016

## Non Bio-Degradable Waste

## 1660.   SHRI. RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  has  fixed  any  norms/Rules  for  disposing  of  the  nonbiodegradable garbage waste;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefore;

(c) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  pollution,  emanating  from  such garbage wastes; and

(d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  safety  of  the  workers  handling  such wastes in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) &(b) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Municipal Solid  Waste  (Management  and  Handling)  (MSW)  Rules,  2000  under  the  Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.  These Rules provide procedures for management of municipal solid waste  including  for  the  non-  bio-degradable  waste.  Regarding  disposal  of  plastic  waste components  of  non-  biodegradable  wastes,  the  Government  has  separately  notified  Plastic Waste  (Management  and  Handling)  Rules,  2011.  As  per  these  Rules,  inert  and  nonbiodegradable waste, are required to be used for road construction, co-incineration etc. The non- biodegradable waste not found suitable either for recycling or for energy recovery are prescribed to be disposed ofin to sanitary landfills.  Norms and environmental standards for landfills have been prescribed in MSW Rules, 2000.

(c) The MSW Rules 2000 provide the criteria and procedure for environmentally sound management  of  municipal  solid  waste.  As  per  theRules,  municipal  authorities  are  the implementing  agencies  and  responsible  for  development  of  infrastructure  for  collection, segregation,  transportation,  processing  and  disposal  of  the  waste  within  their  jurisdictions. Environmental standards  for  composting,  landfill,  leachate,  ambient  air  and  emission  from incineration  along  withsiting  criteria  for  waste  processing  and  disposal  facility  including landfills have been provided in these Rules to control pollution.  The State Pollution Control Boards  grant  authorization  for  setting  up  waste  processing  and  disposal  facility  including landfills, and monitor the compliances of the standards under these Rules.

To make these Rules more effective, Ministry published draft Solid Waste Management  Rules,  2015.  These  Rules  aim  to  expand  the  jurisdiction  of  applicability; emphasize on gainful utilization of wastes; emphasis zero or minimum  landfilling,  enable local bodies to collect 'User Fee' and levy 'Spot Fine',  separate regime of disposal of diapers and sanitary napkins,  for disposal of Construction & Demolition wastes; promotion of city compost and their marketing; enable policy formulation for Waste to Energy; integration of ragpickers, kabadiwallas and self-help groups etc.in waste collection system. The Rules also delineate  the  role  of  stakeholders  more  explicitly  including  the  role  of  waste  generators, industries, waste recyclers, Central and State regulatory agencies.

(d) The MSW Rules 2000 prohibit manual handling of waste. The protection for health and  hygiene  of  sanitary  workers  employed  in  Municipal  Solid  Waste  Management  is  the responsibility of the local bodies.

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