NEW DELHI, AUG 19 (PTI): Concerned over rising solid waste generation and poor civic responsibility, the Supreme Court has issued a series of directions for effective waste management and disposal, calling for infrastructure to be audited and upgraded to meet the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026.
A bench of Justices SVN Bhatti and NV Anjaria said waste management could no longer be left to sanitary workers alone, noting that the volume and complexity of biodegradable, non-biodegradable, hazardous, electronic and construction waste had outgrown existing capacities. The court said every individual, household, institution and establishment has a duty under Rule 4 to segregate, safely store and hand over waste.
The proceedings, initially arising from a National Green Tribunal matter involving the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, were expanded nationwide considering the scale of the problem.
The court directed district collectors, in coordination with local bodies, to identify all bulk waste generators (BWGs) within six weeks. Through the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee (SCMC) and state chief secretaries, collectors must inform BWGs of consequences for non-compliance, including temporary disconnection of electricity or water supply until compliance is achieved.
BWGs were directed to establish waste-management facilities, submit online compliance reports to local bodies for inspection and forward them to district collectors.
SCMC was directed to focus on pollution of rivers by municipal solid waste and submit data to the court for further directions. The court said preventing such pollution is linked to the statutory duty under Article 51A(g) and the right to a clean and healthy environment under Article 21. District collectors were also asked to increase the participation of elected representatives from gram panchayats, municipalities and corporations in implementing the SWM Rules. ULBs/MLBs/RLBs were directed to notify the waste generated, accounted for and unaccounted for, and steps taken to achieve 100 per cent basic stakeholder participation.
The court further directed school and higher education departments to immediately incorporate theoretical and practical solid waste management education into curricula, enabling students to train family members and preparing teachers as trainers.
The court stressed that enforcement mechanisms alone cannot create civic behaviour and called for greater compliance by residential, commercial and business establishments.
Thursday, August 20, 2026