Lok Sabha Question No. 6322 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-02
Subject: Waste Management Policies
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ms. S Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6322 TO BE ANSWERED ON APRIL 02, 2026

## WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICIES

NO. 6322.  MS. S JOTHIMANI:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the current national waste management policies including any recent updates made to improve urban waste management;
- (b) the steps being taken to integrate advanced  waste  management technologies such  as waste-to-energy, AI-driven waste  sorting and recycling innovations;
- (c) the manner in which the Government is ensuring the financial sustainability of waste management programmes along with the budgetary  allocations  made  for  urban  waste  management  during  the current financial year;
- (d) the measures in place to encourage Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in waste  management  along  with  the  details  of  incentives,  if  any,  being provided for private sector investment;
- (e) the  projects  being  planned  to  reduce  landfill  dependency  and  promote circular economy principles; and
- (f) whether  any  international  collaborations  are  being  pursued  to  adopt global best practices and if so, the details thereof along with the manner in which the Government is planning to leverage these partnerships?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

(a)  :  National  waste  management  policies  are  governed  by  Solid  Waste Management Rules, 2016 notified by Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

To support States/UTs with adequate sanitation and solid waste management systems, Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban (SBM-U) is under implementation in all the urban areas of the country since 2014. To carry forward the progress made under first phase, SBM-U 2.0 was launched on October, 2021 for a period of five years with a vision of achieving Garbage Free  Status  for  all  cities  through  source  segregation,  door  to  door collection and scientific management of all fractions of waste.

MoEFCC has notified the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 on 27th January, 2026 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which shall come into effect from 1 April 2026.

The Rules introduce a strengthened framework for scientific solid waste management,  incorporating  principles  of  circular  economy,  Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility (EBWGR), four-stream segregation at source,  restriction  on  landfilling,  and  utilisation  of  Refuse-Derived  Fuel (RDF).

- (b): The Swachh Bharat Mission Urban advocates leveraging of technology to enhance sanitation and waste management across urban India.  The  selection  of  treatment  technologies  is  open  to  ULBs/State Governments, allowing them to choose any proven technology as outlined in  the  Central  Public  Health  &  Environmental  Engineering  Organization (CPHEEO)  Manual  and  advisories  issued  from  time  to  time.  ULBs  may adopt suitable technologies including following technologies for scientific processing of municipal solid waste:
- (i) Bio-methanation, microbial composting, vermi-composting, anaerobic digestion  or  any  other  appropriate  processing  for  bio-stabilization  of biodegradable wastes;
- (ii) Waste to energy processes including refused derived fuel for combustible fraction  of  waste  or  supply  as  feedstock  to  solid  waste-based  power plants or cement kilns

Further, to provide an enabling environment in the waste management sector,  in  collaboration  with  Department  for  Promotion  of Industry  and  Internal  Trade  (DPIIT),  start-ups  and  entrepreneurs  are identified through a challenge mode. Also, an incubation center has been set up at Startup Incubation and Innovation Center (SIIC), IIT Kanpur for providing one year of incubation support to the shortlisted organizations. (c) & (d): Under SBM-U 2.0, central share of funds is available for claiming VGF  as  per  prescribed  funding  pattern.  Under  SBM  -  U  2.0,  the  total financial  outlay  of  the  States  and  UTs  for  the  entire  Mission  Period  is ₹1,41,600  crore,  including  committed  Central  Assistance  of  ₹36,465 crore.

Under SBM-U 2.0, projects under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode are encouraged to invite private capital in urban infrastructure as well as to  bring  in  private  sector  efficiency  in  delivery  of  urban  services  and Operation & Maintenance (O&M).

(e):  Under  SBM-U  Central  assistance  of  fund  is  provided  for  setting  up various  type  of  waste  processing  facilities  such  as  Material  Recovery Facilities  (MRFs),  composting  plants,  bio-methanation  plants,  Refused Derived  Fuel  (RDF)  processing  facilities,  Construction  and  Demolition (C&D)  waste  plants  including  Waste  to  Energy  Plants/  CBG  plant.  The scheme supports the promotion of a circular economy through a 'Whole of  Government'  approach,  ensuring  coordinated  efforts  across  various sectors.

To  ensure  large-scale  awareness  generation  and  citizen  outreach  to intensify last-mile participation towards achieving the vision of Garbage Free Cities, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are encouraged to undertake Zero Waste Events and promote Zero Waste Colonies across festivals, public gatherings, markets and institutional events, wherein mandatory source segregation, on-site composting and material recovery are demonstrated to  ensure  litter-free  public  spaces.  Further,  Information,  Education  and Communication  (IEC)  campaigns  such  as  Hara  Geela,  Sooka  Neela  are being  intensified  through  ward-level  drives,  door-to-door  advocacy  by sanitation  workers,  Swachhata  Doots,  Self-Help  Groups,  and  RWAs, particularly in low-compliance areas.

(f):  The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has entered into Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with international organizations in the area of solid waste management. Under these collaborations, support is provided for dissemination of model documents to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and for preparation and implementation of solid waste management projects. Projects have also been undertaken for eradication of plastic waste and integrated plastic waste management. In addition, the supports are also provided to prevent plastic from entering the  marine  environment,  particularly  in  coastal  cities,  by  improving systems for collection, segregation, and recycling of plastic waste.

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