The Indian government has included several significant recommendations from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in the new draft of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules 2024, aimed at addressing industrial waste management. These recommendations focus on integrating waste utilization within the framework of a circular economy.

The draft, introduced by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, builds on the 2016 SWM rules and shifts the focus from just waste management to waste utilization, enhancing monitoring, and reporting, and expanding the rules’ scope to cover both urban and rural areas for improved environmental standards.

A key suggestion by CSE was the creation of a centralized digital platform to support circular economy initiatives in various industrial sectors. The 2024 draft incorporates this by proposing that industries and waste-to-energy plants submit monthly reports on the use of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) and other waste materials through an online portal.

In addition, municipalities are assigned the task of mapping RDF plants, ensuring that the quality of RDF meets the required standards. This supports the collaboration between municipalities and industries to produce RDF that can be utilized for decarbonizing industries like cement production.

The draft also addresses the management of agricultural residues, which make up a significant portion of industrial waste. CSE’s recommendation to develop a national inventory of biomass availability is reflected in the draft’s focus on local bodies tracking and reporting agricultural waste.

While the draft SWM Rules 2024 signals progress in India’s approach to waste management by promoting circular economy principles, there are areas that still need improvement. Experts call for clearer policies and stronger enforcement to ensure these initiatives achieve their intended environmental goals.