Lok Sabha Question No. 5893 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Com. Selvaraj V, Shri Subbarayan K

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5893

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026

## 5893. SHRI SUBBARAYAN K: COM. SELVARAJ V:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact  that the  Government  has unveiled  the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rule, 2026 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 bringing them into force with effect from April 1; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps proposed to be taken to ensure that these Rules are implemented effectively?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)  & (b):  The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India notified the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 on 27 th  January 2026 in the Official Gazette, superseding the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The rules shall come into effect from April  1,  2026.  The  revised rules  integrate the  principles  of  circular  economy  and extended producer responsibility, with a specific focus on efficient waste segregation and management.

The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, mandate four-stream segregation of solid waste at source into wet waste, dry waste, sanitary waste and special care waste and prescribe clear definition  of  bulk  waste  generators  who  have  a  mandate  to  fulfil  Extended  Bulk  Waste Generator Responsibility, in order to ensure that the waste generated is collected, transported and processed in an environmentally sound manner. The rules also operationalize the online tracking and monitoring of all stages of solid waste management through Centralised Online Portal including collection, transportation, processing and disposal.

The rules prescribe specific role and responsibilities for urban and rural local bodies, State/ UT Governments and concerned Ministries at Government of India. The rules prescribe increase in the fuel substitution rate from current 5 % to 15 % over a six year period for industrial units, including cement plants and waste-to-energy plants for use of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF). In order to facilitate faster allocation of land for solid waste processing and disposal facilities, graded  criteria  for  development  has  been  prescribed  in  the  rules.  Further,  the  solid  waste processing and disposal facilities have been mandated for online submission of reports. Waste processing facilities have also been subjected to audit under the rules.

The  rules  also  mandate  development  and  implementation  of  time  bound  action  plan  for remediation of legacy waste and further strengthening of restrictions on landfilling of solid waste. Special provisions for solid waste management in hilly areas and islands have also been included.  Provision  for  levy  of  environmental  compensation  based  on  the  'Polluter  Pays' principle  has  been  provided.  The  rules  prescribe  constitution  of  Central  and  State-level Committees  for  their  effective  implementation.  The  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  has constituted the Central Implementation Committee for effective implementation of the rules.

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