"Infrastructure Needs Complete Audit": Top Court On Solid Waste Management

Expressing concern over the high volume of solid waste generated and the lack of civic sense in society, the Supreme Court has issued a slew of directions for its management and disposal, saying the infrastructure for the purpose needs to be scaled up to meet the standards of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026.A bench of Justices SVN Bhatti and NV Anjaria said it is regrettable that across society, the general feeling is "I am entitled to generate but not to cooperate and control the impact of solid waste management at the threshold".It said, "The volume and complexity of such waste, i.e., biodegradable, non-biodegradable, hazardous, electronic and construction, have outgrown what any single class of workers can be expected to absorb or handle. The infrastructure needs a complete audit and upgradation to meet the extant standards of the SWM Rules, 2026."