Supreme Court Urges Crucial Waste Segregation for NCR Environmental Health

The Supreme Court has called for strict adherence to the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, emphasizing the vital role of waste segregation at source for environmental well-being. The court demanded updated compliance reports from NCR states and addressed the pollution risks posed by inefficient waste-to-energy plants due to improper segregation.

On Monday, the Supreme Court underscored the 'vital importance' of waste segregation at source for environmental sustainability, urging NCR states to comply with the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016. The apex court highlighted widespread non-compliance affecting metropolitan areas nationwide.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan questioned the feasibility of achieving smart city objectives without adherence to these crucial waste management rules. Particular attention was given to the National Capital Region (NCR), which includes Delhi and parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

Addressing the potential environmental hazards, the court pointed out that inadequate waste segregation could exacerbate pollution problems in waste-to-energy projects. Senior advocate Aparajita Singh stressed that non-segregated waste heightened pollution risks. The NCR states were tasked with filing affidavits by March's end, detailing compliance and implementing comprehensive waste management plans.