Law Notify : The government has notified the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, which will come into force from April 1 this year. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said the revised framework is designed to align solid waste management with circular economy principles and extended producer responsibility.

A key provision of the new rules is the mandatory four-stream segregation of solid waste at the source, aimed at improving collection, processing, and recycling efficiency. The ministry said this measure is expected to strengthen overall waste handling and reduce the burden on landfills.

The SWM Rules 2026 also introduce environmental compensation for non-compliance, based on the Polluter Pays principle. Penalties may be levied for violations such as operating without registration, submitting false information, or following improper waste management practices.

In addition, the rules lay down graded criteria for development in areas surrounding solid waste processing and disposal facilities. According to the ministry, this is intended to enable quicker land allocation and support the timely establishment of waste management infrastructure.