Parliament Question: Waste Management Policies

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. …2/--2- 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. …3/--3- 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. *****