Shillong: Meghalaya govt has enforced the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, making segregation of waste into four categories mandatory and placing greater responsibility on households, businesses and institutions.Launching an awareness programme at Williamnagar, the East Garo Hills district headquarters, on Thursday, housing and urban affairs minister Marcuise N Marak said effective waste management was essential to protect the state’s environment and public health.“The solid waste management rules are vital for the well-being of society and require the active participation of every citizen,” he said, adding that proper segregation would ease waste processing, reduce urban flooding and help conserve rivers and forests in the hill state.The govt is strengthening urban infrastructure ahead of the National Games 2027 and pursuing Smart City initiatives, along with measures to protect the Simsang River and improve biomedical waste disposal, the minister said.Williamnagar Municipal Board CEO RN Sangma said the town generates around 12.5 tonnes of waste every day, with door-to-door collection currently covering eight of the 10 wards. Under the rules, waste must be segregated at source into wet waste, dry waste, sanitary waste and special care waste, using separate colour-coded bins for each category, she said.Deputy commissioner Raksin P Marak said rapid urbanisation and changing lifestyles made scientific waste management necessary. Improper disposal, he said, contributes to water pollution, clogged drains and the spread of disease.The rules also make bulk waste generators — including apartment complexes, hotels, restaurants, schools, hospitals and markets — responsible for processing wet waste, handing over other waste to authorised collectors and filing annual compliance reports with urban local bodies.
