New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has removed the mandatory requirement of 90% property tax payment by all households for residents welfare associations (RWAs) to achieve zero waste tag and earn incentives. Under Zero Waste Colony Scheme, which was earlier known as Sahbhagita Scheme, the civic body has also increased the maximum incentive for waste processing from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh for larger colonies.The revised scheme has been aligned with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, which mandate segregation of waste into four streams — wet, dry, sanitary and special care waste.Sahbhagita Scheme was launched in 2022. Eligible colonies were earlier entitled to an incentive equivalent to 5% of the property tax collected, subject to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh, provided 90% of households had paid property tax.
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An official said that the property tax condition had been removed after it was found to be impractical. “It is difficult for RWAs to ensure that everyone pays the tax.”“From 2022 till date, only 680 colonies across the corporation’s 12 zones could be declared zero waste colonies. Due to inadequate monitoring and the declining willingness of residents to continue in situ composting, performance was compromised in some colonies,” the official said.Under the revised initiative, all RWAs qualifying as bulk waste generators—those with a built-up area of 20,000 square metres or more, water consumption of 40,000 litres per day or more, or solid waste generation of at least 100 kg per day — will be covered under the scheme. SWM rules also mandate gated colonies above 5,000 sqm in area to adhere to waste segregation norms.Colonies will be recognised as zero waste colonies if they ensure 100% source segregation, compost wet and horticultural waste, recycle dry waste through authorised recyclers, channelise e-waste to authorised agencies and ensure proper handling of construction and demolition waste.The revised scheme introduces fixed annual incentives based on the number of households. Colonies with up to 100 households will be eligible for Rs 50,000, those with 100-250 households for Rs 1 lakh, colonies with 250-500 households for Rs 2 lakh and colonies with more than 500 households for Rs 2.5 lakh. The incentives will be used by MCD to execute minor infrastructure and development works recommended by RWAs.Officials said the revised policy would also address several issues faced by RWAs, including the lack of space for composting units, aerobins and decentralised waste segregation facilities.The civic body is planning to soon invite interested NGOs and other agencies to provide technical support to RWAs implementing the scheme. A third-party assessment is also proposed to check performance of zero waste colonies in future.
