The new solid waste management rules released by the Environment Ministry on Tuesday recognise the intrinsic role of rag pickers in its management. Revised after 16 years, it also makes burning of waste a criminal offence.
Under the new rules, sanitary napkins and diapers would not be allowed to be dumped in the open. The rules further warn against throwing or burying the solid waste generated on streets and in open public spaces outside residential premises, clogging drains or in water bodies.
The authority of the new rules have been extended beyond municipal corporations and includes notified industrial townships, areas under the control of Indian Railways, airports, airbase, port and harbour, defence establishments, special economic zones, State and Central Government organisations, places of pilgrims, religious and historical importance.
Releasing the rules, Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar said, “as per official estimates, at present around 62 million tonnes of solid waste is generated every year. But only 43 million tonnes is collected and only 12 millions tonnes is treated.”
Solid waste management is thus a major problem across the country as untreated waste disposed in the open has led to water pollution and clogged sewer systems, he added.
The new rules have assigned specific responsibilities of those generating waste. They would henceforth have to segregate waste in to three streams; Wet (Biodegradable), Dry (Plastic, Paper, metal, wood, etc.) and domestic hazardous wastes (diapers, napkins, empty containers of cleaning agents, mosquito repellents. Further, it has asked all such brand owners who sell products in non biodegradable packaging material to put in place a system to collect back the packaging waste generated due to their production.
Such segregated wastes would be handed over to authorised rag-pickers or waste collectors or local bodies. “Ragpickers and waste dealers should be brought into a formal system from the informal system. They would all be registered and their welfare will be taken care of,” said the minister.
Those generating waste will have to pay user fee to waste collector and as spot fine for littering and non-segregation. The rules have also made it obligatory for manufacturing companies of sanitary napkins and diapers to explore the possibility of using all recyclable materials in their products and providing a pouch or wrapper for their disposal.