ABSTRACT
In the 21st century, the management of solid waste has become a pressing issue in environmental and public health management. The combined impacts of urbanization, industrialization, and growth in consumption have led to a significant increase in the scale and complexity of solid waste. Traditional approaches, which heavily rely on landfill for managing solid waste, have become unsustainable and detrimental to the environment. This article focuses on regulatory strategies to improve solid waste management (SWM) systems, drawing on international legal frameworks and practices, comparative practices, and regulatory experience in India, as an example. The paper will also talk about extended producer responsibility (EPR), decentralized approaches, financial instruments, and the use of technology. The article argues that effective SWM systems require legislation, but also enforcement, institutional capacity, and community involvement to be effective. The article concludes with a discussion of the gaps in the current regulatory frameworks and recommendations to reform solid waste regulations along the lines of the circular economy and sustainable development principles.
INTRODUCTION
Increasingly, solid waste management is being addressed as an issue of law and governance, rather than a merely technical one. “”The World Bank forecasts total global generation of municipal solid waste will grow from 2.24 billion tonnes in 2020 to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050, with the highest increases projected in low- and middle-income countries”.[1] Unless managed effectively, this growth poses serious risks to public health, environmental quality, and climate stability.
“In India, urban areas generate over 160,000 tonnes of waste every day, but less than 25 percent of total waste is processed in accordance with scientific norms”.[2] The gap between waste generation and waste processing underscores the need for effective regulatory paths. Public authorities and private actors need robust rules to shape the incentives, obligations, and accountability systems. Even technically advanced waste systems cannot be effective without coherent laws and enforcement.
This paper investigates regulatory pathways for improved SWM. First, the paper surveys global principles and comparative systems; next, it presents an analysis of India’s regulatory landscape; afterward, it considers innovative approaches, including EPR, market-based tools, and participatory paths.
[1]“World Bank, What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050 (2018).”
[2]“Central Pollution Control Board, Annual Report on Solid Waste Management (2022).”