Local bodies to train garbage collectors in solid waste management

New Delhi: Urban local bodies and gram panchayats will now have to train garbage collectors in solid waste management and ensure dry leaves are not burned, according to new rules framed by the Environment Ministry. Under the new Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, released by the Ministry recently, the urban local authorities and panchayats will also prepare a plan for managing solid refuse within six months apart from arranging for door-to-door collection of such segregated waste. The local authorities, under the new rules, will have to frame by-laws and prescribe criteria for levying spot fines for littering. "The local authorities and panchayats of census towns and urban agglomerations will direct street sweepers not to burn tree leaves collected from street sweeping and store them separately and handover to waste collectors or agency authorized by local authority. "They will provide training on solid waste management to waste pickers and waste collectors," according to the new rules. The authorities will also direct waste generators not to litter and to segregate waste at source before handing over to waste pickers while they have to set up material recovery or secondary storage facilities and provide access to waste pickers and recyclers for collection of such waste. Under the new rules, the local authorities will have to phase out the use of chemical fertilizers within two years and use compost in all parks and gardens maintained by them. "Incentives may be provided to recycling initiatives by informal waste recycling sector," the rules said. The local authorities and panchayats will also have to ensure that provisions for setting up of centres for collection, segregation and storage of waste are incorporated in building plan while granting approval of such a plan of a group housing society or a market complex. The local bodies will also have to create public awareness about the new solid waste management rules. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar while releasing the rules recently had said that 62 million tonnes of waste is generated annually in the country at present, out of which 5.6 million tonnes is plastic waste and 0.17 million tonnes bio-medical waste. Hazardous waste generation stood at 7.90 million tonnes per annum, e-waste 15 lakh tonnes. The new rules also fix responsibility on generators to segregate waste into three categories wet, dry and hazardous. The generator will have to pay 'user fee' to the waste collector and a 'spot fine' for littering and non-segregation.