18-Jul-2022: Combatting Emission of Toxic Gases from Landfills
The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, provide the statutory framework for management of solid waste in the country. As per the Rules, the local authorities and village panchayats are responsible for solid waste management. The Central Government has launched Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0) in October 2021 with overall vision of creating "Garbage Free Cities", to be executed over the next five years, which would involve achieving the target that all Urban Local Bodies will become at least 3-star certified (as per Star Rating Protocol for Garbage Free Cities), with at least 80% wards covered with door to door collection, 60% source segregation practiced in each ward, and at least 80% of municipal solid waste being scientifically processed. Under the Scheme of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, additional Central Assistance is provided to States and Union Territories for solid waste management by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, as per scheme guidelines. Under Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen Phase II, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation has issued operational guidelines to the States and Union Territories which include solid waste management activities at the village level.
The Schedule I of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, provides specification for sanitary landfills, which includes criteria for (i) site selection, (ii) development of facilities at the sanitary landfill, (iii) pollution prevention, (iv) air and water quality monitoring, and (v) operation of landfill and closure on completion of landfilling. The Criteria for closure of and rehabilitation of old waste dumps have also been prescribed under the Rules. Central Pollution Control Board has also issued guidelines for Disposal of Legacy Waste (Old Municipal Solid Waste). Directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, have been issued to all State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees for enforcement of provisions of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, regarding bio-mining of legacy waste.