Last reviewed 4 Nov 2026 · Facts as of 4 Nov 2026 · 3 min read
All these rules are made under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The CPCB and State Pollution Control Boards monitor them; urban local bodies and panchayats implement the solid waste rules.
1. Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016
| Provision | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Extended beyond municipal areas to urban agglomerations, census towns, industrial townships, railways, airports, SEZs, places of pilgrimage |
| Source segregation | Generators must separate waste into three streams — wet (biodegradable), dry (non-biodegradable) and domestic hazardous |
| User fee | Local bodies may charge user fees and spot fines for littering or burning |
| No burning or dumping | Burning of waste in the open is banned |
| Processing | Composting, biomethanation, waste-to-energy for non-recyclable high-calorific waste (≥ 1,500 kcal/kg) |
| Landfill | Only non-usable, non-recyclable inert waste and rejects to go to sanitary landfills |
| Bulk generators | Must process wet waste on site where possible |
New solid waste rules to replace the 2016 rules have been under preparation (a draft was published in 2024); check which version is in force before the exam.
2. Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016
| Colour | Waste | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Human and animal anatomical waste, soiled dressings, expired medicines, chemical waste, microbiology lab waste | Incineration / plasma pyrolysis / deep burial (where allowed) |
| Red | Contaminated recyclable plastics — tubing, bottles, IV sets, catheters, gloves | Autoclaving / microwaving, shredding, then recycling |
| White (translucent) | Sharps — needles, scalpels, blades | Autoclaving, shredding; puncture-proof containers |
| Blue | Glassware and metallic body implants | Disinfection, then recycling |
- Pre-treatment of lab and highly infectious waste on site; bar-coding of bags; chlorinated plastic bags phased out.
- Untreated waste must be treated within 48 hours.
- Treatment at Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBWTFs).