Solid Waste Management by Bulk Waste Generators: Challenges and the Way Forward

The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, define a Bulk Waste Generator (BWG) as “having an average waste generation rate exceeding 100 kg per day”. The Rules make it compulsory for BWGs to manage their bio-degradable waste in-situ, and advise cities to adopt a community-based waste management system emphasising on-site or decentralised management of segregated organic waste. According to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ Bulk Waste Generator Guidelines 2017, bulk generators contribute significantly to waste generation: about 30 to 40 per cent of the total waste generated per day in any city. Cities are also having to fulfil the legal mandate to address the agenda of managing BWGs through appropriate provisions in their municipal bye-laws. 

In recent years, the agenda of solid waste management by the BWGs has emerged as one of the strongest challenges in Indian cities as the gap between policy and practice has been found to have widened for several reasons. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has been working on policy and implementation with regard to municipal solid waste (MSW) management at the regional, national and global levels. As part of its programme, the Centre has also focused on the agenda of solid waste management by BWGs and conducted studies in Gurugram (NCR/Haryana) and Agra (Uttar Pradesh) to examine the existing mechanisms, capture the good practices, and recommend actions for improvement. The learnings from both the studies have been documented in two different report to facilitate a dialogue with stakeholders on this subject. 

In its efforts to amplify research-based advocacy, CSE is organising a National Symposium titled “Solid Waste Management by Bulk Waste Generators: Challenges and the Way Forward”. Eminent domain experts including policymakers from the government, and representatives from industry, research institutions, municipal authorities, the civil society, media, academia etc will be coming together at the Symposium to discuss bulk waste generators in India, the challenges of managing the waste they generate, and a sustainable roadmap for them. 

CSE’s two exhaustive studies of BWGs in two key cities of the country – Agra in Uttar Pradesh and Gurugram in Haryana - will be released on this occasion. 

NOTE: The symposium is a physical event where participation is only by invitation. The event will also be streamed live on zoom and other social media platforms and can be attended virtually. Officials from ministry and state urban departments and municipalities, urban and town planners, civil society organizations, academia, research institutes, waste management industry representatives, students, journalists and others may register using the link given below. All those who register will receive an automatic confirmation. However, we request you to register yourself at the earliest and reach out to us in case of any queries.   

For more details please contact: 

Mou Sengupta
Deputy Programme Manager
Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy
Centre for Science and Environment
Email: mou.sengupta@cseindia.org
Mobile: +91 9836448262