The PRESS Pad

India has ushered in a major transformation in how solid waste is collected, segregated, processed, and disposed of with the notification of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026 . Issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 , the new rules will replace the decade-old SWM Rules, 2016  and come into full effect from April 1, 2026 . The revised framework places strong emphasis on circular economy pri