Twenty-five years ago, on September 25, 2000, India’s first Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management Rules were introduced — born out of a Supreme Court order at the time. Ironically, a quarter century later, courts are still pushing governments to clean up their act. Cities such as Delhi, Gurugram, and Bengaluru are struggling with garbage-strewn spaces, dysfunctional treatment facilities and overflowing landfills. Large swathes of urban India are in the throes of a solid waste crisis.

Meanwhile, the regulatory framework has since expanded with the 2016 Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, accompanied by rules on construction waste, plastic waste, e-waste, biomedical and hazardous waste. Despite a huge infrastructure push for waste management, and progress in many areas, results remain below expectations.

Now, a new draft of SWM Rules — set to take effect in October 2025 — proposes more ambitious goals: Four-way source segregation, centralised digital portal, and deeper integration of the circular economy. As we look ahead, it is essential to ask: Why did we fall short with the earlier rules?

At a fundamental level, the challenge is one of weak local governance — weak institutional capacity and leadership, poor contract management, and low public trust. However, at a domain level, a common narrative blames the lack of source segregation by households as the root of the problem. But is this assumption valid?

Many Indians returning from cities like Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur or Istanbul are struck by their cleanliness.........

© hindustantimes