13.2 Solid and hazardous waste management notes

1. 13.2.1Solid waste: types, collection and treatment by composting, incineration and landfill

   Solid waste is best handled by first avoiding and segregating it, then treating wet waste biologically, recovering energy from dry high-calorific waste, and sending only inert rejects to an engineered sanitary landfill.

   Standard · 8 min · Full course
2. 13.2.2Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016

   The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 replaced the 2000 municipal waste rules, made every generator segregate waste at source, extended the rules beyond municipal areas and set duties for local bodies, bulk generators, brand owners and industries.

   Standard · 9 min · Full course
3. 13.2.3Plastic pollution and the Plastic Waste Management Rules: single-use plastic ban

   India regulates plastic through the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: thicker carry bags, a ban on identified single-use plastic items from 1 July 2022, and extended producer responsibility for all plastic packaging.

   Standard · 8 min · Full course
4. 13.2.4E-waste: hazards and the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022

   E-waste is discarded electrical and electronic equipment that holds valuable metals and toxic substances; the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 make producers meet recycling targets by buying EPR certificates from registered recyclers.

   Standard · 7 min · Full course
5. 13.2.5Biomedical, hazardous, battery and construction and demolition waste rules

   Four special waste streams have their own rules under the EP Act: bio-medical waste (colour-coded segregation), hazardous and other wastes (a hierarchy and import control), batteries (EPR, 2022) and construction and demolition debris (2016).

   Standard · 10 min · Full course
6. 13.2.6Wastewater: sewage treatment, faecal sludge and reuse

   Sewage is cleaned in stages, physically then biologically then by polishing, and the sludge from septic tanks must also be emptied and treated; India treats only part of the sewage it generates, so reuse and decentralised treatment matter.

   Standard · 7 min · Full course
7. 13.2.7Circular economy and extended producer responsibility

   A circular economy keeps materials in use for as long as possible instead of "take, make, throw", and extended producer responsibility is the main legal tool India uses to make producers pay for the end of their products' life.

   Standard · 7 min · Full course

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