MCD prepares roadmap to implement waste mgmt rules

Vibha SharmaNew Delhi: The Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, are set to come into force on April 1.The rules, which will replace the 2016 regulations, aim to strengthen waste management through stricter segregation and accountability.Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has chalked out a timeline for step-wise implementation. A report on this regard was submitted to mayor Raja Iqbal Singh on Tuesday.For achieving 100% source segregation, the report suggests preparation and implementation of ward-wise, zone-specific blueprints. Considering that the situation in each ward is different, the blueprints will be prepared based on the ground realities.MCD has also suggested involving primary elected representatives as lead facilitators for source segregation and community awareness.All zones will make arrangements for an alternate-day collection system. For instance, wet waste can be collected on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, while dry waste can be collected on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. This can begin with a ward-wise phasing plan — starting with pilot projects, followed by scale-ups and a full enforcement.“Extending incentives in the form of property tax rebates or development work on their recommendation is a way to motivate people for source segregation. Identification of 2-5 new zero-waste colonies per month for expansion of source segregation are among other steps suggested in the plan,” the civic body said.MCD has also recommended revamping old or abandoned dhalaos and other secondary storage points into material recovery facilities to discourage segregation outside fixed compact transfer stations.Many of these initiatives — such as identifying zero-waste colonies, housing societies, establishing wet waste plants through NGOs, and facilitating dry waste collection —were started under the 2016 rules but did not yield significant success.In a report submitted to National Green Tribunal in Feb, MCD outlined plans of achieving 100% waste segregation at source by Jan 2027 only. Sharing data from Dec 2025, the civic body stated that it had achieved 60% segregation at source and aims to reach 85% by Feb-end, 90% by Aug, and 100% by Jan next year.Referring to 678 zero-waste colonies and institutions, MCD also stated phasing out all dhalaos in the city.The new rules also introduce Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibilities (EBWGR), under which bulk waste generators (BWGs) are made accountable for processing the waste they generate. BWGs are businesses or commercial entities that generate daily solid waste of more than 100 kg. There are other parameters that also govern the classification of BWGs.While the rules mandate four-stream segregation at source -- wet, dry, sanitary and special care waste -- with immediate effect, MCD will give BWGs a one-year deadline from the date of notification to ensure 100% processing on their premises or through authorised agencies.These businesses are required to process wet waste on-site as far as possible or obtain an EBWGR certificate from urban local bodies.The civic body has proposed intensifying the process of registering BWGs and ensuring self-reporting of waste management by registered generators on the MCD 311 app.However, till Sept 30, MCD had registered only 3,749 BWGs despite repeated compliance requests. The civic body estimates the total number of such generators in Delhi to be around 10,000.