The primary objective of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 is to establish a framework for the proper management of solid waste in the country. “Solid waste” as per the rules means and includes solid or semi-solid domestic waste, sanitary waste, commercial waste, institutional waste, catering and market waste and other non-residential wastes, street sweepings, silt removed or collected from the surface drains, horticulture waste, agriculture and dairy waste, treated bio-medical waste excluding industrial waste, bio-medical waste and e-waste, battery waste, radio-active waste generated in the area under the local authorities and other entities mentioned in rule 2.

1. Applicability: The rules apply to every urban local body, outgrowths, and areas specified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

2. Responsibilities of Waste Generators:

• • • The Rules places responsibility on waste generators to segregate and store the waste generated by them in three separate streams namely bio-degradable, non-bio-degradable and domestic hazardous wastes in suitable bins and handover segregated wastes to authorised waste pickers or waste collectors as per the direction or notification by the local authorities from time to time;
    • wrap securely the used sanitary waste like diapers, sanitary pads etc., in the pouches provided by the manufacturers or brand owners of these products or in a suitable wrapping material as instructed by the local authorities and shall place the same in the bin meant for dry waste or non- bio-degradable waste;
    • store separately construction and demolition waste, as and when generated, in his own premises and shall dispose off as per the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016; and
    • store horticulture waste and garden waste generated from his premises separately in his own premises and dispose of as per the directions of the local body from time to time.

3. Door-to-Door Collection: Local bodies are required to ensure door-to-door collection of segregated waste.

4. Waste Processing and Disposal: The rules emphasize the promotion of waste processing facilities such as composting, biomethanation, and waste-to-energy plants.

5. Setting up of Waste Processing Facilities: Local bodies are encouraged to set up suitable waste processing and disposal facilities to manage different types of waste.

6. Sanitary Landfills: Rules prescribe the development of sanitary landfills for the disposal of non-biodegradable waste.

7. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): The concept of EPR is introduced, making producers responsible for the environmentally sound management of their products’ life cycle.

8. Integration of the Informal Sector: The rules recognize the role of the informal sector in waste management and aim to integrate them into the formal system.

9. Public Awareness and Capacity Building: The rules emphasize the need for public awareness programs and capacity building at the local level.

10. Compliance and Monitoring: Mechanisms for monitoring and compliance are outlined, and penalties are specified for non-compliance.

11. Annual Report: A person or entity, who owns or operates a facility for handling solid waste which includes the local body and any other entity or agency appointed by the local body, hereinafter called as the operator of a facility. The e operator of facility shall submit the annual report to the local body in Form-III on or before the 30th day of April every year.

12. Accident Reporting: In case of an accident at any solid waste processing or treatment or disposal facility or landfill site, the Officer- in- charge of the facility shall report to the local body in Form-VI and the local body shall review and issue instructions if any, to the in- charge of the facility.