Bill no.

2 of 2023

National Waste Management Bill, 2023

Government Bill

Presented by The Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate

To the Respected chair and the Opposition.

Preamble:
An Act to provide for the sustainable and scientific management of waste in India (consisting of all types
of waste), to protect the environment, public health and promote resource efficiency, and to establish a
National Waste Management Authority under which plants will function (facilities to manage and ensure
optimum use of discarded goods and proper disposal of waste), to provide sustainable and scientific
management of waste in India, to protect the environment, public health and promote resource efficiency
in rural as well as urban India.

Chapter I: Preliminary

Optimum waste management

The following bill is put forward by the Ruling Government in accordance with the increasing waste
problem in India. The bill covers all types of waste and ways of treating them.

Definitions:
“Ruling government” is the government elected by the people through majority votes.

Solid Waste - Solid refers to solid and semi-solid waste generated by households, industries, companies,
rural and urban areas, human waste etc.

Biodegradable Waste: Biodegradable Waste refers to waste generated in households which can be broken
down into environment friendly organic matter.

Recyclable Waste: Recyclable Waste refers to components of waste which can be reused by processing or
even without processing.

Toxic Waste: Toxic Waste refers to components to be treated and diluted before reusing or disposing into
environment.

Bio-medical waste - Waste from hospitals like body fluids, used equipment etc.
E-waste - waste from electronic devices like phones, computers, digital devices, batteries containing
semiconductors and/or lead.

Local Authorities: Comprises of local government bodies like Municipal Council, Panchayat, Nagar
Parishads.

Application :

The problem of waste in India is huge. With the increasing population, the amount of waste generated
every day is bound to increase. India is developing industrially and economically, we have to stay on the
path without compromising with health, environment and all other factors affects by inefficient waste
management. On the administrative front, we as a country do not have a uniformly implemented Bill
because of which there is a lack of coordination and communication among the executives at each level of
the government. The bill enables the Ruling government to establish National Waste Management
Authorities that will work in accordance with the respective Village, City/urban bodies, and State
Sanitation departments to minimize waste generation and treatment of existing waste in the landfills and
other facilities.

Chapter II: National Waste Management Authority

Establishment of National Waste Management Authority (NWMA)

The Authority will act as a regulator and headquarter for the different waste treatment plants that will
work under the NWMA and minimize existing waste and also help decrease waste generation through
education and surveillance.

Powers and functions of National Waste Management Authority

The National Waste Management Authority (NWMA) will have the following Powers :

1) They can survey and check the work done by the various waste processing plants and help
improve their utility.
2) They can audit the plants with regards to accounts and usage of funds. This has to be reported
directly to the Ministry of Finance.
3) They can conduct campaigns to promote waste management under public interest.
4) They can conduct scientific and other kinds of research to ensure waste is treated and used to
public benefit.
5) They can collect waste from controlled, uncontrolled and residential landfills via the government.
assigned trucks.

The National Waste Management Authority (NWMA) will have the following Functions :

1) The subsidiary plants will have to collect all garbage from all aforementioned landfills and need
to manage segregation, treatment and disposal without any harm to the environment.
 2) The Authority will audit and ensure the day-to-day targets are met so as to avoid wastage of
Government funds.
3) To educate common people regarding the importance of cleanliness and waste segregation.

Composition of National Waste Management Authority:

Central Monitoring Committee headed by the
I. Secretary Rank Senior IAS officer of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

II. The Committee comprises the Ministry of Urban Development.

III. Ministry of Finance

IV. Ministry of health and family affairs

V. Ministry of Rural Development.

VI. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

VII. Ministry of Agriculture.

VIII. Ministry of Home affairs

IX. Other relevant ministries will be consulted as and when deemed necessary.

Meetings of National Waste Management Authority

● Meetings to be held every quarter to ensure that short term goals are being met in alignment with
the long term goals set.

1. The National Waste Management Authority will be funded through the above mentioned
ministries.

Chapter III: Waste Management Plans and Regulations

● Rural Waste Management Plans:

❖ Biodegradable Waste:
Rural India generates around 0.3 to 0.4 million metric tons per day.
Solid waste generated in rural areas is predominantly organic and biodegradable as reported by the
Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS), Government of India.

This Bill proposes to maintain traditional ways of waste management.

 1. By the end of 2027, bio pits and community compost pits are to be set up by the Government in
rural India.
2. The biogas plants for small, medium and large farmers will be started. The farmers bringing
waste would receive organic fertilizers at a subsidized rate. Monetizing waste will encourage
people to take a step forward. Introducing 'Compost Bank' wherein the farmers can deposit
agricultural waste produced by them and the bank provides them with compost accordingly. The
agricultural waste produced will be further used to prepare compost at community centres.
3. Awareness is to be created on a larger scale as Waste segregation is a major issue in rural India.
The idea of having dedicated ambassadors to work for cleanliness which was proposed under the
‘SWACHH BHARAT ABHIYAN’ will increase it’s working capacity in Rural India.
❖ Non-Biodegradable Waste:
In rural India, the population has no choice of dumping waste but have to rely on recycling shops which
are also located in the districts and towns. Rural waste management policy 2023 proposed under this
Bill eliminates the problem. The policy includes–
1. Collection of non-biodegradable waste from the households on a weekly basis. For this, the social
heads as Sarpanch and local self government workers will be bound by putting an obligation on
them. This obligation includes sending visual reports to the central government in-charges weekly
and a digital marksheet of villagers to be filled.
2. Regional actors, NGOs and religious Gurus will be appointed as ambassadors same as 'swachhata
karyakarta'
3. Carbon banks to be created for the Agro-based industries. This will monetize their carbon
emissions. The rigidity of this will be decided after a performance sarvekshan of each industry in
rural India by the Central appointees.

● Urban Waste Management:

Urban India produces about 42.0 million tons of municipal solid waste annually i.e. 1.15 lakh metric tons
per day(TPD), out of which 83,378 TPD is generated in 423 Class-I cities as per the data of Ministry of
Home and Urban Affairs.
The waste can be broadly classified as hazardous, non-hazardous and other.

● Waste Credit system:

Local governance bodies and State Governments will be given credits based on their waste management
success. These credits can be used in development of infrastructure for furthermore efforts in waste
management. The credit system will be based on 'SWACHHTA SARVEKSHAN'. It will now operate in
a new way. A circular for the same will be issued by the government. Previous 'SWACHHTA
SARVEKSHAN' ranking will stay and current credits will be allocated on the basis of these ranks.

● HAZARDOUS WASTE

Hazardous waste includes e-waste, medical waste and biowaste.

This Bill proposes to enhance the efficiency of formal units to manage e-waste. 95% of the e-waste in
India is being recycled in the non-formal sector and 5% of the e-waste volume is handled in the formal
unit. The formal units will be provided with the equipment required after a survey conducted on the
ground level which is under the Centre's surveillance.

Biowaste Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 to be implemented strictly with Centre's
dedicated panel in each state and union territories.
● Disposal of Hazardous Non-Recyclable waste:
This includes treatment of toxic waste and diluting the hazardous elements inside mass waste produced.
After dilution process of disposal will start. Land filling, incineration, bacterial action are the techniques
to be used to dispose the waste accordingly.

● NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE

Non-hazardous waste include biodegradable waste, plastic, paper and recyclable metals and materials.

The government intends to reuse and reduce policy to solve this and subsidiary issues. Single use plastic
ban will continue to be while the already existing plastic will be recycled in production of plastic of
allowed limit.
E-waste generated will be treated as recyclable waste. The non-recyclable parts will be treated as toxic
and hazardous
● Composting and biogas production:
All the government gardens will be managed using organic fertilizers and pesticides. Special compost
gardens to be set up by local governing bodies where the segregated bio waste will be used. Biogas plants
to be installed at the outskirts of city and transport all the city convertible city waste there. Government
plans on providing biogas an alternative to traditional LPG at subsidized rates.

Chapter IV: Waste Collection, Transportation, Disposal, Treatment and

Waste Management Workforce
19. Waste Collection and Segregation:

All waste producers have to segregate waste right from the source of waste generation and while
collection.

The local authorities are expected to follow the following criteria for waste segregation:
➔ Recyclable Material
➔ Composite Waste
➔ Biodegradable Waste
➔ Inert Waste
➔ Hazardous and Toxic Waste

● Base level waste collection and segregation workforce:

Utmost care will be taken of the health of the workforce collecting and segregating waste. Sanitation
workers will be organized into the formal sector as government employees. Providing medical checkups
weekly will be primary help. Each workforce employee will be given health insurance benefits under PM-
JAY. The workforce will be provided with necessary equipments like suits, gloves and mask as required
by the work they perform.

● Research on waste management:

The government plans on introducing a fellowship for the students of research under basic sciences to
perform research on management and treatment of waste. Science models prepared by other students at
college and school level on sustainable development will be given a stage to display at national level
through an online process. Fellowship will be provided to these students too. Government will buy their
ideas or help them in executing on a mass level.

● MSME and PPP involvement:

The government plans to uplift local production by upcycling waste. MSME benefits will be provided to
such production companies where waste is used as raw product.
Recycling waste and it's treatment will be brought under the MSME sector and private companies will be
given authority over waste as it suits to the local governing body. Waste management will be done under
PPP model where the private companies will be having a stake lesser than local governing body.
Entrepreneurs planning on executing Recycling and Upcycling of waste to produce products of major use
will be given full support by government on foreign export and introducing a 'Market For Sustainability'
that will give them a stage to display and sell their products. The government will allot a 20% fund from
the MSME sector exclusively for the waste-based projects.

Chapter V: Roles and Responsibilities

26. Responsibilities of Producers:
It is the responsibility of producers of waste to segregate it at the level of generation itself.

Responsibilities of Local Bodies:

★ To ensure and facilitate proper waste segregation.
★ Spread awareness about waste management to citizens.
★ Make sure proper waste management stated as per the bill is followed.
★ Control the introduction of waste directly into the environment.
★ Bring in new techniques based on the geography and type of waste in the area.
★ Regular auditing over the waste collection, disposal, use, health of workforce.
★ Decide fines upon disrespect of rules given in Chapter VI
Responsibilities of State Governments:
★ Provide funds allocated through center into the local Bodies.
★ Imposing fines on showing ignorance towards any action stated in the bill.
 ★ Solving the grievances and issues of local bodies. Send a report on funds required by local
bodies.
★ Help and support every commercial body which works under the title of waste Management.

Responsibilities of Central Government:

★ Conduct Swachhta Sarvekhsan.
★ Fund researches and projects based on waste management.
★ Ensure sustainability of every project.
★ Allocate proper funds as required by local authorities.

Responsibilities and duties of Citizens:

It shall be the duty of every citizen of India—
to abide by the Bill and respect its ideals; take concern of waste management and segregation at
individual levels with great concern.

Chapter VI: Enforcement, Penalties and Offenses

31. Offenses and Penalties
➔ Single use plastic is banned. If found using will be fined as per local bodies decide.
➔ Littering in important places and other tourist places will be fined.
➔ Not segregating the waste before handing over will result into workforce not accepting the
garbage and fine will be imposed.
➔ It will become mandatory for every industry to treat the effluents disposed in the rivers. These
effluents must be treated and diluted. Local Authorities will be responsible to audit the effluent
release every month and send a report to the. Ignoring this step will lead to taken strict action be
taken on the industries and authorities. A fine of 5 lakhs will be imposed on local governing
authority. This fine will be a responsibility of the state government. River and ocean cleaning
machinery will be provided to regions with direct proximity to the water body. Stagnant water
bodies like lakes and ponds aren't included under requirement of machinery. The local authority
has to fine the industries which do not comply with the regulations on effluent release and waste
generation.