**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 2043 in Lok Sabha, addressed to the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. It reports on the progress and measures under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) 2.0, launched on October 1, 2021, with a vision of achieving Garbage Free Status for all cities. The document outlines details regarding waste collection, legacy waste remediation, waste-to-energy plants, formalizing the waste picker ecosystem, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for various waste streams. The question was set to be answered on December 11, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) 2.0:**
* Launched on October 1, 2021, for five years, aiming for Garbage Free Status for all cities.
* Focuses on 100% source segregation, door-to-door collection, scientific waste management, safe disposal, and legacy dumpsite remediation.
* Includes Used Water Management (UWM) for faecal sludge and septage in cities with less than 1 lakh population.
* As of reporting, 96.64% of wards have 100% door-to-door collection, and 88.08% of wards practice source segregation.
* **Legacy Waste Remediation:**
* 2478 dumpsites identified (over 1000 tonnes of waste each), totaling 25.04 Cr. MT of waste.
* 1096 dumpsites remediated completely, with 986 sites in progress.
* 15.20 Cr. MT (61%) of waste remediated and 7903.47 Acres (52%) of land reclaimed.
* State-wise details on remediation and reclaimed land are available on the SBM-U website.
* **Waste-to-Energy and Bio-Methanation Plants:**
* Central assistance provided for setting up waste management projects.
* Action plans approved for Waste to Electricity plants (4462 TPD) and Bio-methanation plants (8701.50 TPD), with a total project cost of ₹2318 Cr (central share ₹698.29 Cr).
* 16 Waste to Electricity plants (18,900 TPD) are functional, and 6 plants (5,550 TPD) are under construction.
* 500 new "Waste to Wealth" plants to be established under the Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) scheme.
* 145 Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plants being set up with a cumulative capacity of 20,155 TPD under GOBARdhan.
* Currently, 17 Bio-methanation plants are operational with a designed capacity of 1,910 TPD.
* **Formalizing the Waste Picker Ecosystem:**
* SBM-U encourages entrepreneurship in sanitation and waste management.
* Empowers women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) through convergence with other government programs.
* SHGs, informal sector waste pickers, and sanitation workers can become waste managers and entrepreneurs.
* National Safai Karamchari Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC) provides loans to Safai-Mitras and Sanitation workers for procuring equipment and vehicles.
* **Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR):**
* The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified regulations for EPR for five waste streams: plastic packaging, E-waste, battery waste, waste tire, and used oil.
* Aims for environmentally sound waste management and circular economy.
* Regulations prescribe mandatory recycling targets and focus on reuse, promoting refurbishment and reducing pollution.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) / State Governments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing SBM-U 2.0 guidelines, monitoring progress, and achieving the goals of the mission, like ensuring 100% door-to-door collection and source segregation. Also, responsible for legacy waste remediation.
* **Action Required:** To develop and execute action plans for setting up waste management projects, including Waste to Energy and bio-methanation plants.
**Stakeholder: Safai Mitras (Sanitation Workers) & Self-Help Groups (SHGs)**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to become waste managers and waste entrepreneurs through SBM-U initiatives.
* **Action Required:** To associate with SBM-U, procure equipment and vehicles with loans from NSKFDC, and take advantage of government programs.
**Stakeholder: Producers of Plastic, Electronics, Batteries, Tires, and Oil**
* **Impact:** Subject to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations for the waste generated from their products.
* **Action Required:** Implement measures for the recycling and reuse of their waste products, meeting mandatory recycling targets as specified in the EPR guidelines.
**Stakeholder: Citizens**
* **Impact:** Experience cleaner urban environments.
* **Action Required:** Participate in waste segregation.
Key Entities Referenced
Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) 2.0: A national mission aiming for garbage-free status in all cities through waste segregation, door-to-door collection, and scientific waste management.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Regulations enforced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change targeting five waste streams (plastic packaging, E-waste, battery waste, waste tyre, and used oil) to promote environmentally sound waste management and circular economy.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: The central ministry responsible for overseeing the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) and related urban development initiatives.
GOBARdhan: The Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan scheme promotes circular economy via Waste to Wealth plants.
National Safai Karamchari Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC): The corporation that provides loans to Safai-Mitras and sanitation workers under Swachhta Udyami Yojna.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2043
TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 11, 2025
WASTE COLLECTION AND SOURCE SEGREGATION
UNDER SBM - U 2.0
NO. 2043. DR. D. PURANDESWARI:
Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the progress on achieving hundred per cent door-to-door
waste collection and source segregation under Swachh Bharat Mission -
Urban (SBM-U) 2.0, State-wise;
(b) the total quantum of legacy waste (in million tonnes) remediated and the
amount still present at dumpsites, State-wise;
(c) the number of Waste-to-Energy and bio-methanation plants currently
operational and under construction;
(d) the steps being taken to formalise the informal waste-picker (Safai Mitra)
ecosystem and integrate them into the formal waste management chain;
and
(e) the measures in place to enforce Extended Producer Responsibility for
plastic waste and e-waste in urban areas?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)
(a)& (b) : Government of India launched the Swachh Bharat Mission-
Urban (SBM-U) on October 2, 2014 with the objective of making urban
areas of the country Open Defecation Free (ODF) and for scientific
processing of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated in the urban areas
of the country. To carry forward the progress made, SBM-U 2.0 has been
launched on October 1, 2021 for a period of five years with a vision of
achieving Garbage Free Status for all cities through 100% source
segregation, door to door collection and scientific management of all
fractions of waste including safe disposal in scientific landfills and
remediation of all legacy dumpsites. Used Water Management (UWM) is
also a new component under SBM-U 2.0 to holistically deal with faecal
sludge & septage in cities having less than 1 lakh population as per
…2/--2-
census 2011. As reported by States/UTs on Swachhattam portal, 100%
door to door collection is practiced in 96.64% of the wards i.e. 94,405 out
of the total 97,684 wards and source segregation is being practiced in
88.08% of the wards i.e. 86,043 out of total 97,684 wards.
A total of 2478 dumpsites (with more than 1000 tonne of waste)
having 25.04 Cr. Metric Tonnes (MT) of waste have been identified for
remediation. So far, 1096 dumpsites have been remediated completely
and 986 sites are under progress. A cumulative of 15.20 Cr. MT (61%) of
waste has been remediated and 7903.47 Acres (52%) land has been
reclaimed. State-wise legacy dumpsites remediation and land reclaimed
in the urban areas of the country under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban
(SBM-U) 2.0 are available on website at https://sbmurban.org/swachh-
bharat-mission-progess.
(c): Under SBM-U 2.0, central assistance is provided for setting up all
type of waste management projects including Waste to Energy Plants/
bio-methanation plants. So far, action plans for setting up Waste to
Electricity plants of 4462 TPD and Bio-methanation plants of 8701.50 TPD
have been received from State/UTs and approved with total project cost
of ₹2318 Cr having central share of ₹698.29 Cr. As per reports received
from State/UTs, 16 Waste to Electricity plants (18,900 TPD) are functional
at present and 6 plants (5,550 TPD) are under construction.
As per the budget announcement 2023-24, 500 new “Waste to
Wealth” plants under the Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan
(GOBARdhan) are to be established for promoting circular economy.
Accordingly, a total of 145 Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plants which
includes 53 plants under SBM-U 2.0, 65 plants taken up by Oil and Gas
Marketing Companies and 27 state funded plants are being set-up with
cumulative capacity of 20,155 TPD under GOBARdhan scheme. At
present, 17 Bio-methanation plants with designed capacity of 1,910 TPD
are operational.
(d): SBM-U has nudged the creation of an ecosystem encouraging
entrepreneurship in the sanitation and waste management space and
empowering women led self-help groups (SHGs) through convergence
with other government programs such as National Urban Livelihood
Mission (NULM). Specifically, self-help groups (SHGs), informal sector
waste pickers and sanitation workers have a scope for new engagement
prospects through their association with the program, becoming waste
managers and waste entrepreneurs.
…3/--3-
Further, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) through the
National Safai Karamchari Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC)
provides loans (@ Rs.15 lakh for individual and Rs.50 lakh for Self Help
Group) to the Safai-Mitras and Sanitation workers under its Swachhta
Udyami Yojna to procure equipment and vehicles for cleaning sewers and
septic tanks so as to create sani-preneurs. Concessional loans are also
provided under Green Business Scheme of NSKFDC for procurement
Battery electric vehicle (E-rickshaw), Compressed air vehicle, Solar
energy gadgets and Poly houses.
(e): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified
regulations for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for five waste
streams viz. plastic packaging, E-waste, battery waste, waste tyre and
used oil, in order to ensure environmentally sound management of waste
and operationalization of circular economy.
The EPR regulations prescribe mandatory targets for recycling of wastes
and also focus on reuse and use of recycled content depending on the
type of waste stream. Mandatory targets have been prescribed for reuse
of rigid plastic packaging as per EPR Guidelines on plastic packaging.
The EPR regulations on E-waste, battery waste and tyre waste also
promote refurbishment for further use. The implementation of extend
producer responsibility regulations will lead to further development of
waste management infrastructure and recycling industry, reduction in
pollution caused by littered and unmanaged waste and recovery of
valuable material through recycling. Thus, leading to environmental
protection and resource conservation.
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