Here Is What Homebuyers Should Know About Solid Waste Management Rules
The counsel appearing for the Centre got an earful from the apex court on February 6 during a hearing pertaining to solid waste management rules. While conceding that the absence of solid waste management rules is the prime cause of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya, the Supreme Court had on December 12 last year asked the Centre to update it the notification of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, in states and union territories. Lack of details in the 845-page affidavit given by the government and the inability of its counsel to answer certain queries invited the SC ire.
"There is no point in filing affidavits if they contain nothing. We are not taking this affidavit on record... Whatever junk you have, you dump it before us. We are not garbage collectors. Be absolutely clear about this," the SC said.
It is in this context that we should look at the key provisions of the Central rules, and find out why they are important.
Why do we need the rules?
Indian cities are counted among the dirtiest in the world for obvious reasons.
Data reflect that quite clearly.
While per capita waste generation in Indian cities ranges from 200 gramme to 600 gramme a day, India produced 62 million tonne (mt) of waste annually. Of this, 5.6 mt was plastic waste, 0.17 mt biomedical waste, 7.90 mt hazardous waste and 15 lakh tonne e-waste. Only 80 per cent of the municipal waste in India gets collected and only 22-28 per cent of this waste is processed and treated. Waste generation will increase from 62 mt to about 165 mt in 2030.
Also read: Are Zero-Waste Cities Possible?
What do the rules say?
The rules primarily talk about "scientific disposal of solid waste". This included segregation, collection and treatment and disposal in an environmentally-friendly manner. Local authorities have been made responsible for the development of infrastructure for collection, storage, segregation, transportation, processing and disposal of waste. The rules also talk about bringing waste pickers and waste dealers in the formal sector by states.
How does this concern your housing society?
*At the building stage, developers have to dispose the construction and demolition waste under the rules specified in the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016.
*All resident welfare associations and gated communities with an area of over 5,000 square metre have to segregate waste at source. Housing societies are mandated to develop in-house waste handling, and processing arrangements for bio-degradable waste.
*The bio-degradable waste produced in housing societies has to be processed, treated and disposed of through composting or bio-methanation within the premises as far as possible. The residual waste could be given to the waste collectors.
Also read: How Waste-To-Energy Policy Will Light Up Gujarat’s Real Estate Industry
How does this concern you?
Before you go on a spiel about authorities not doing their job and polluting the environment, completely forgetting the fact that you might be significantly contributing to the problem, it would be prudent to know what your responsibilities are.
Once your state notifies these rules, here is what you will have to do:
*Segregate the waste in the categories, wet, dry and hazardous. Under the first category fall the waste that is biodegradable i.e. vegetable and fruit peels, for instance. Under the second category fall waste materials that are made of plastic, paper, metal, wood, etc. In the domestic hazardous waste category come diapers, napkins, empty containers of cleaning agents, mosquito repellents, etc. In place of putting them in one bin, a user will have to keep them separately, and dispose them off accordingly. In Delhi, for instance, users are already going by that rule.
*The common practice of throwing, burning and burying of solid waste on streets, open public spaces drain or water bodies is prohibited under the rules. Any flouting of the norms will invite penalty.
*You will be paying a user fee to the waste collector
*The rules talk about spot fine for littering and non-segregation of waste. The Delhi High Court has already made this mandatory.
*Rules must be followed if you are organising a large party that involves more than 100 people. As specified by the local authority in your area, segregation of waste has to be ensured.
*The waste generated in your garden must be disposed according to the directions of the local authority.
Also read: Ghazipur Landfill: The Story So Far
With inputs from Housing News