**Executive Summary**
The document summarizes the government's response to questions regarding the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016, including details on implementation, waste categories allowed in landfills, recycling and biomining promotion, and measures for implementing Waste-to-Energy initiatives. The reply references the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The date to be answered was February 12, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scope and Application:**
* Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 apply to all urban local bodies, outgrowths in urban agglomerations, and census towns.
* Local authorities should only allow specific waste categories such as non-usable, non-recyclable, non-biodegradable, non-combustible, and non-reactive inert waste to go to sanitary landfills.
* **Dumpsite Management:**
* Local authorities must investigate and analyze old open dumpsites for biomining and bioremediation potential, aiming for zero waste to landfills.
* Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued guidelines and directions for legacy waste disposal and the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 enforcement.
* **State and Central Government Roles:**
* Sanitation is primarily a state subject, requiring State/ULBs to plan, design, execute, and operate sanitation projects.
* The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) supports States/UTs through policy direction, technical assistance, and financial support, including sharing Manuals/Standard of Procedures (SoPs) for solid waste management.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* Under the Solid Waste Management (SWM) component of SBM-U 2.0, States/UTs receive central share assistance for establishing MSW management plants like Waste-to-Compost, Waste-to-Energy, Bio-methanation, and Material Recovery Facilities.
* Under SBM-U 2.0, Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants of 5128.74 TPD, with a total project cost worth ₹911.14 crores and a central share of ₹216.76 crores, have been approved.
* **Technology Selection:**
* The selection of treatment technologies for solid waste management is open to ULBs/State Governments.
* State/UTs can opt for different approaches, such as cluster-based or decentralized systems, based on resources, technology, topography, waste type, and climate.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)**
**Impact:** ULBs are primarily responsible for implementing the SWM Rules and managing solid waste within their jurisdictions.
**Action Required:** ULBs must comply with the SWM Rules, manage dumpsites, and explore waste treatment technologies.
**Stakeholder: State Governments**
**Impact:** State Governments have the primary responsibility for sanitation projects and coordinating with ULBs.
**Action Required:** State Governments should assess sanitation shortfalls, plan projects, and coordinate with ULBs for implementation.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)**
**Impact:** MoHUA supports State/UTs through policy direction, financial and technical support.
**Action Required:** MoHUA needs to continue providing the necessary support to State/UTs to manage Solid Waste.
Key Entities Referenced
Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016: Rules governing solid waste management in urban areas, playing a central role in the question and answer.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA): The primary ministry responsible for addressing the question and for supplementing the efforts of States/UTs regarding solid waste management.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): An organization that issues guidelines and directions for solid waste management, particularly regarding legacy waste disposal.
SBM-U 2.0: Solid Waste Management component of SBM-U 2.0 provides financial assistance to States/UTs for establishing MSW management plants.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs): Entities directly responsible for implementing the Solid Waste Management Rules, particularly sanitation projects.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2173
TO BE ANSWERED ON FEBRUARY 12, 2026
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2016
NO. 2173. DR. D. PURANDESWARI:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has laid down specific rules for solid waste
management in urban areas under the Solid Waste Management Rules,
2016;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the categories of waste permitted to
be sent to sanitary landfill sites under the said Rules;
(c) whether the Rules promote recycling, reuse and minimisation of landfill
waste through biomining and bio-remediation of dumpsites and if so, the
details thereof;
(d) the measures being taken by local authorities to implement Waste to
Energy initiatives in line with these Rules; and
(e) whether the Government is providing any technical or financial
assistance to support such projects across Urban Local Bodies and if so,
the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a) to (c): Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 notified by Ministry of
Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) shall apply to every
urban local body, outgrowths in urban agglomerations, census towns as
declared by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. As
per rules local authorities shall allow only the non-usable, non-recyclable,
non-biodegradable, non-combustible and non-reactive inert waste and
pre-processing rejects and residues from waste processing facilities to
go to sanitary landfill.
Under the rules the local authorities shall investigate and analyze
all old open dumpsites and existing operational dumpsites for their
potential of biomining and bio-remediation and wheresoever feasible,
take necessary actions to bio-mine or bio-remediate the sites and every
effort shall be made to recycle or reuse the rejects to achieve the
desired objective of zero waste going to landfill.
…2/--2-
Further, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued
guidelines for Disposal of Legacy Waste and also issued directions to all
State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees for
enforcement of provisions of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016,
regarding bio-mining of legacy waste.
(d) & (e): As per the 7th schedule of the constitution, sanitation is a state
subject. It is the responsibility of State/ULBs to assess the shortfall, plan,
design, execute and operate sanitation projects in the urban areas.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) supplements the efforts of
States/UTs by providing policy directions, financial and technical support
by sharing Manuals/Standard of Procedures (SoPs) on Solid Waste
Management and issue various Advisories & Guidelines time to time for
choosing appropriate technologies to manage solid waste.
Under Solid Waste Management (SWM) component of SBM-U 2.0, Central
Share (CS) assistance is given to States/ UTs for establishing of various
types of MSW management plants like, Waste-to-Compost (WtC), Waste-
to-Energy (WtE), Bio-methanation, Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) and
legacy waste dumpsites remediation, etc.
The selection of treatment technologies, is open to ULBs/State
Governments. Also, State/UTs opt for different approaches i.e. cluster
based or decentralised based on their resources, technology, topography,
type of waste involved, climatic conditions etc.
Under SBM-U 2.0, WtE plants of 5128.74 TPD having project cost worth
₹911.14 crores and central share of ₹216.76 crores have been approved.
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