New Solid Waste Rules: Pay Penalty for Careless Garbage Disposal from April 1

• New Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, come into effect from April 1, replacing 2016 rules.
• Penalties will be imposed for mixing or carelessly dumping garbage, following the 'polluter pays' principle.
• Mandatory waste segregation into wet, dry, sanitary, and special care waste is now required.
• Bulk waste generators must ensure environmentally sound waste collection, transport, and processing.
• Landfill use is sharply limited to non-recyclable waste, with higher fees for unsegregated garbage.

Why It Matters: New rules mandate waste segregation and penalize improper disposal to improve solid waste management.