Chandigarh: With the Centre implementing solid waste management (SWM) rules, 2026 from April 1, Chandigarh MC has adopted the new framework and started implementation in a phased and calibrated manner after notification by the Chandigarh administration. Officials said the gradual rollout has been planned by factoring in local feasibility, revised penalty provisions and specific conditions prevalent in the city.The SWM Rules, 2026 supersede the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and aim not only at strengthening waste management systems but also at fixing direct responsibility on waste generators, particularly bulk waste generators (BWGs). The revised rules place significant emphasis on accountability of large waste producers to ensure effective segregation, processing and disposal at source itself.One of the major shifts under the new rules is the integration of circular economy principles and extended producer responsibility. The focus has moved beyond conventional collection and disposal to resource recovery and life-cycle management of waste. Mandatory four-stream segregation — wet, dry, sanitary and special care waste — has been made a statutory requirement for all waste generators.A key component of the rules is expansion of extended bulk waste generator responsibility (EBWGR). Under the revised definition, BWGs now include entities having a floor area of 20,000 square metres or more, or water consumption of 40,000 litres per day or more, or solid waste generation of 100kg per day or more. An MC official said earlier, only limited categories of waste generators were classified as BWGs, but with widening of the scope, a fresh survey would be required to identify additional entities falling under the definition.“As per MC records, there are around 18 BWGs at present, but this number is expected to rise substantially. A survey to identify more BWGs as per the revised criteria will be started in the coming days,” the official said.Another major provision of the SWM Rules, 2026 is mandatory digital monitoring. The centralised online portal will be used to track every stage of solid waste management, including waste generation, collection, transportation, processing and disposal. It will also cover biomining and bioremediation of legacy waste dumps, allowing real-time tracking and reporting.MC officials said while the rules have been formally adopted, implementation will be gradual. The initial focus will be on awareness and capacity building. “The MC will first educate people and stakeholders falling under different categories of the rules. Action against violators, including penalties and punitive measures, will be taken only after that,” an official told TOI.The revised framework also strengthens the ‘polluter pays’ principle by proposing higher landfill charges and stricter penalties for dumping unsegregated waste. Officials said the intent is to reduce pressure on landfills and push decentralised waste processing at source, particularly in large residential complexes, hotels, institutions and commercial establishments.The new rules also place greater responsibility on urban local bodies. Apart from ensuring city-wide implementation, local bodies are required to develop solid waste action plans, integrate informal workers into the system, and ensure convergence between urban and rural waste management mechanisms. Authorities will also need to plan for time-bound remediation of legacy waste and enhanced use of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF).To ensure tighter supervision, the rules provide for central and state-level committees. At the UT level, a committee chaired by the UT administrator or chief secretary will oversee implementation and recommend corrective measures to the Central Pollution Control Board.Box: Key Changes in SWM Rules 2026Four-stream segregation: Mandatory segregation of waste into wet, dry, sanitary and special care Digital tracking: Centralised online portal managed by CPCB to track waste and streamline reporting Bulk Waste Generator accountability: Large entities to register online, process wet waste on-site and obtain EBWGR certification Polluter Pays principle: Increased landfill fees and heavy penalties for dumping unsegregated waste Circular economy focus: Greater use of refuse derived fuel in industrial units Legacy waste management: Time-bound bioremediation of old landfill sites with quarterly monitoring Special provisions: Tourist destinations to levy user fees and manage waste through decentralised systems Overall objective: Reduce landfill dependence and improve technology-driven waste handling Box: Key duties of local bodies and MC—Develop state-level SWM policy for urban and rural areas —Ensure convergence between urban and rural waste management —Implement Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 —Prepare Solid Waste Action Plans, including infrastructure development and legacy waste remediation —Register on the centralised online portal —Ensure registration of BWGs and waste processing facilities such as RDF, compost and biomethanation plants —Increase use of refuse derived fuel, with substitution rates rising from 5% to 15% over six years Box: Responsibilities of the authority—Identify and allocate land for solid waste processing and disposal facilities —Review performance of local bodies on solid waste management at least once every quarter and take corrective steps in consultation with the state govt Box: Effective implementation —Provision for central and state/UT-level committees for monitoring implementation —UT-level committee to be chaired by the administrator or chief secretary to recommend measures to CPCB for effective enforcement Imp Box: QuotesFirst, residents must be properly educated about the new provisions in the SWM 2026. Implementation should be gradual, with the involvement of the public. Baljinder Sing Bittu | Chairman, FOSWAC Few people are aware of the two-bin system and with SWM 2026, there is a four-bin system. Chandigarh should not be treated as a testing ground for new things. People should be taken into confidence Sanjeev Chadha | President, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal Over 90% of the industry in the city is green and we do not generate bulk waste. Most industry waste is either saleable or recycled. Industry is still paying high garbage collection charges. Everyone must be trained before new rules are implemented Naveen Manglani | vice-president, Chamber of Chandigarh IndustriesMSID:: 130021679 413 |
