Delhi is getting its fifth waste-to-energy (WTE) plant, located in Bawana, with a capacity to process 3,000 tonnes of waste daily. 

Waste Segregation at Source and Waste-to-Energy in India

Solid Waste Management in India

• Definition: Solid Waste includes garbage, refuse, sludge, and other discarded materials from residential, industrial, and institutional sources.
• Key Statute: Governed by the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016, notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Solid Waste Generation:
  • India: 1,70,338 tonnes/day (CPCB 2021–22)
  • Waste Treated: ~91,512 tonnes/day (~54%)
  • Delhi: Generates ~11,000 MT/day; processes ~8,073 MT/day
  • Improvement: Waste processing increased from 18% in FY 2014–15 to 78% in FY 2024

Waste Segregation at Source

• SWM Rules, 2016 Categories:
  • Biodegradable: Organic, compostable (food scraps, paper)
  • Non-Biodegradable: Recyclables and inert materials (plastics, glass, metals)
  • Domestic Hazardous: Diapers, cleaning agents, napkins, e-waste, batteries

Significance:

• Prevents cross-contamination of recyclable/organic waste
• Facilitates resource recovery through composting and recycling
• Reduces burden on landfills and improves urban sanitation
• Helps in tracking hazardous waste and reduces public health risk

Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Technologies

• Provisions under SWM Rules, 2016:
  • Waste ?1500 kcal/kg calorific value must be diverted to energy recovery.
  • Mandatory RDF Use: Industries within 100 km of RDF plants to use 5% RDF as fuel.

Major WtE Technologies:

Benefits:

• Reduces landfill demand and GHG emissions (methane diversion)
• Converts liability to asset (energy + materials)
• Resource recovery from metals and recyclables post-incineration
• Supports circular economy and clean energy goals

Draft SWM Rules, 2024 – Key Highlights

• Legal Backing: Proposed under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
• Enforcement:
  • Sanitation Workers authorized to impose fines for improper segregation
  • Clear accountability for citizens and local bodies
• Segregation Streamlined:
  • Mandatory sorting into Wet, Dry, Sanitary, and Special Care Waste
• Agricultural Waste Management:
  • Bans open burning; mandates collection and storage of stubble/agri-waste
  • Gram Panchayats empowered to penalize for stubble burning

Policy Linkages and Governance

• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): WtE and stubble management linked with urban air quality goals.
• Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0: Focus on 100% segregation and waste processing.
• National Bio-Energy Programme: Promotes bio-CNG and waste-to-biogas units.

Challenges in Implementation

• Low household compliance with segregation norms
• Inadequate infrastructure for RDF plants and WtE projects
• Financial non-viability and poor operation of WtE plants in smaller towns
• Informal waste sector lacks training and safety in handling hazardous/domestic waste
• Public apathy and insufficient behavioral awareness

Way Forward

• Strengthen ULB capacities to implement SWM rules effectively
• Promote decentralized composting and biomethanation at ward-level
• Incentivize citizen participation through reward-based models
• Private Sector Participation (PPP) for sustainable WtE plants
• Strict enforcement of segregation, landfill diversion targets, and agri-waste management
• Promote Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to reduce packaging and plastic waste