Indore upgrades its waste management framework to align with new rules

Indore: Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) is upgrading its existing waste management framework to ensure full compliance with the newly enacted Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026.

Under its existing model, IMC tracks entities producing over 50kg/day of waste as bulk generators, a threshold more stringent than the standard 100kg/day benchmark. The city also utilizes an advanced six-stream source segregation system (wet, non-plastic dry, plastic, e-waste, sanitary, and domestic hazardous waste), surpassing the statutory four-stream minimum mandate.

To fully comply with the 2026 guidelines, the corporation is transitioning its decentralised network into a portal-enabled, certificate-linked tracking system. Key updates include expanding the bulk waste generator master list to incorporate the three new statutory triggers: Building areas of 20,000 square meters or more, daily water consumption reaching 40,000 litres, or solid waste generation of 100 kg/day.

Furthermore, the corporation is establishing a dedicated Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility (EBWGR) cell.

“ Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility cell will manage digital certificate generation and validate annual returns via a centralised online portal before the June 30 deadline. All municipal material recovery facilities (MRFs) and processing concessionaires will also be formally registered on the central platform to eliminate engagement with unregistered entities,” IMC additional commissioner Prakhar Singh told TOI.

Key Highlights & Compliance Updates

Stricter Local Thresholds: Indore identifies commercial and residential bulk generators at 50kg/day, catching high-impact waste sources much earlier than the federal baseline.

New Statutory Criteria: The updated bulk waste generator database will now screen establishments based on total built-up area (20,000 sqm) and water footprint (40,000litres/day) alongside raw waste weight.

Certification: IMC will generate online Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility certificates for tracked waste safely routed to registered recyclers and processors.

Enhanced Digital Tracking: All identified institutional, commercial, and residential bulk waste generators are being geo-tagged and cross-linked to specific collection routes and processing facilities.

Enforcement & Returns: Mandatory annual compliance returns must be filed by bulk waste generators on the centralised portal by June 30 each year. Repeated source-segregation failures will face graded penalties and potential suspension of municipal collection privileges.