Solid Waste Management Reforms 2025 in India The Hurdles and the Way Forward

25 Years of Waste management Regulations.

It is 25 years since India made its first Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management Rules in 2000. Regulatory framework has improved over the years with the 2016 Solid Waste Management Rules and other regulations on plastics, e-waste, biomedical, hazardous, and construction waste. In spite of such reforms, garbage management remains a severe issue in the cities of the country. The new 2025 draft SWM Rules are offering new provisions such as four-way source segregation and computer surveillance, although systemic vulnerabilities are an issue.

Intractable Urban Woes.

Delhi, Bengaluru, Gurugram and other cities continue to grapple with overflowing landfills, poorly operated treatment plants, and littered streets. Infrastructure investments have not necessarily led to a cleaner environment mainly because of poor local governance, bad contract handling and mistrust by the people. Modern facilities usually accept mixed waste that makes it less efficient and contributes to pollution.

The Segregation Gap

The 2016 Rules recommended full segregation of sources in two years, but this was nowhere near the actual situation. As practice has it, an effective collection scheme and a strong anti-littering policy frequently achieve more than unrealistic segregation targets. Inflated rates of segregation are registered in many Indian cities that do not correspond to real life situations because trusted data on waste is yet to be obtained.

Systemic Weaknesses

The lack of regular and frequent waste characterisation information impairs the ability of the municipalities to develop efficient systems. Without proper infrastructure in place, citizens are usually requested to separate their waste; and thus waste is so re-mixed during transportation. This makes the performance of treatment facilities weak and is a strain on landfills.

The Way Forward

According to the experts, a more gradual and localised strategy is needed. The priorities of cities in this regard should be to have a proper data of waste, reinforce collection and transportation, and treat homogenous waste such as construction waste and garden waste separately. Discipline among people can also be developed with strict implementation of anti-littering regulations.

Governance Matters Most

Finally, good solid waste management depends on the empowered local governance and leadership. The new draft Rules put a special emphasis on the integration of circular economy and portals, yet the success of these will be determined by the pragmatic city-based implementation supported by effective municipal authority.