What happened: Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 for sanitary landfills and legacy waste action in Delhi-NCR
The Government of India notified the Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM Rules), 2026 in supersession of the earlier SWM Rules, 2016. The Rules provide for proper and effective management of municipal solid waste (MSW), including disposal through sanitary landfills, and they came into force with effect from 01.04.2026. The Rules define sanitary landfilling as final and safe disposal of residual solid waste and inert wastes in facilities with protective measures against pollution of groundwater, surface water, and fugitive air dust, alongside controls for fire hazards, animal and bird menace, pests/rodents, greenhouse gas emissions, persistent organic pollutants, slope instability and erosion.
Background and earlier position
Before the SWM Rules, 2026, the legal framework for municipal solid waste management was governed by the SWM Rules, 2016. In parallel, legacy waste dumpsites in Delhi-NCR have been targeted through regulatory directions aimed at reducing pollution risks, including air pollution from open burning and particulate matter generation.
Under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) issued a direction on 27.01.2021 under Section 5, mandating State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) to direct authorities concerned to take necessary action for biomining and bio remediation of legacy waste dumpsites following due procedures.
For NCR air-quality management, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) issued Direction No. 91 on 03.06.2025 directing agencies to take actions for management of legacy waste at sanitary landfill sites and dumpsites to tackle air pollution caused by open burning of MSW/open biomass generating particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and other harmful pollutants.
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