The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has notified the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2024, which will come into force on April 1, 2025. The rules aim to regulate the management of waste generated from construction, demolition, remodeling, renovation, and repair activities. These rules were notified on August 30, 2024.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
A key aspect of these rules is the introduction of an EPR framework for producers. This mandates that producers take responsibility for the management of construction and demolition waste. They will be required to register on an online portal and meet specific recycling targets.
Waste Management Plan
Additionally, all construction, reconstruction, or demolition projects will need to have a waste management plan approved by the implementing agency. The plan should detail the quantity of waste generated and outline strategies for its management, including recycling and disposal.
Intermediate Waste Storage Facilities
Local authorities or development authorities will establish intermediate waste storage facilities until recycling facilities become operational. Producers will be obligated to deposit their waste at these facilities.
Responsibility of Stakeholders
The rules provide detailed responsibilities for the following stakeholders:
- Waste Generator
- Producers
- Contractors, Service Providers and Authorized Agencies
- Operators of Intermediate Waste Storage Facility
- Recycler
- Central Government
- Central Pollution Control Board
- Bureau of Indian Standards and Indian Roads Congress and
- State Government or Union Territory Administration, local authority or development authority, and the State and Union Territory Pollution Control Board or Committee
Reporting and Information sharing
The entities registered under the extended producer responsibility framework shall be required to furnish information on the portal for collation of data on receipt, storage, recycling and despatch of waste during preceding half year by October 15 and April 15 each year.
Where an accident occurs during collection, transportation, storage or processing of waste, the authorized person representing the entity viz. waste generator, authorized agency, integrated waste facility operator or recycler, as the case may, shall report immediately or within 24 hours about the incident to the concerned State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or Pollution Control Committee (PCC) through telephone and e-mail.
