Question 1

Waste management laws in India are exclusively under the State domain since local government is a State Subject.

Accepted Answer

While local government is a State subject (Schedule 7, List II), environmental protection is a shared concern, and the Union Government uses its powers and international treaty obligations (under Article 253) to enact environmental statutes like the EPA 1986 and this new Bill.

Question 2

The Solid Waste Management Bill 2025 repeals and replaces the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Accepted Answer

The Bill supplements the existing EPA framework. It explicitly states it operates in addition to, and not in derogation of, the EPA 1986.

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the Solid Waste Management Bill, 2025:
1. It aims to elevate waste management obligations from delegated legislation under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to a primary parliamentary statute.
2. It mandates the Central Government to provide adequate funds to State Governments for carrying out the purposes of the Act.
3. It completely repeals the overarching Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to eliminate overlapping jurisdictions.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

(b) Only two — Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Bill moves away from just having the SWM Rules 2016 (delegated legislation) to creating a primary statute, and it contains provisions for central funding. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Bill operates in addition to, not in derogation of, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Question 4

Match the following waste categories with their intended statutory destination/treatment as emphasized by India's modern waste management framework and the 2025 Bill:

List I (Waste Type)
A. Unsegregated combustible municipal waste
B. Non-recyclable and non-biodegradable inert waste
C. E-waste
D. Biodegradable organic waste

List II (Treatment/Destination)
1. Notified sanitary landfills
2. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) recycling channels
3. Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants
4. Composting or biomethanation facilities

Select the correct code:

Accepted Answer

(a) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4 — Under the solid waste framework, combustible high-calorific waste goes to Waste-to-Energy plants (A-3). Landfills are strictly reserved ONLY for non-recyclable, non-biodegradable inert waste (B-1). E-waste is managed through EPR channels (C-2). Biodegradable waste must be processed via composting or biomethanation (D-4).

Question 5

Assertion (A): The Solid Waste Management Bill, 2025, proposes financial liabilities on waste generating units based on the weight of unsegregated waste sent to landfills.
Reason (R): The Bill operationalizes the 'Polluter Pays' principle to create a direct economic disincentive for dumping mixed waste.
Select the correct answer:

Accepted Answer

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. — The Assertion is true as the Bill introduces weight-based fees for waste sent to landfills. The Reason is also true and correctly explains the Assertion, because charging generators by the weight of their unsegregated waste applies the 'Polluter Pays' principle, making it cheaper to segregate and recycle than to dump indiscriminately.

Solid Waste Management Bill 2025 Introduced

EPR Rules Introduced for Non-Ferrous Metal Scrap