Solid Waste Management Round Table, Bengaluru

This visual has been developed in alignment with the updated Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026.

We would love to hear your feedback on this visual, as well as on the supporting resources we are sharing—a detailed apartment manual and an accompanying Excel sheet (links attached below).

We invite stakeholders from RWAs, MCs, waste processors, and other sectors of the waste management ecosystem to share their input. Please feel free to leave detailed feedback in the comments, and let us know who you are, the kind of space you represent, and the nature of your work.

Please feel free to write to us with your feedback and comments at [email protected]

Document link - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iznFHr1s2e2go6znOj69s5r-3DsLdC6e5Yn64se0QIk/edit?usp=sharing

Excel Sheet link - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QWE4xyEuaqvGNcZGpZtFi50lzN_9JNRZ/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102766085589809258863&rtpof=true&sd=true

Parmar Sowmya Raghavan Aarthi Thoppae

The Chennai Story

A recent RTI response has raised serious concerns about environmental monitoring at a 50-tonne-per-day waste incinerator in North Chennai. According to the report, the facility allegedly failed to monitor 45 out of 48 mandated environmental parameters, including key indicators related to air emissions, leachate discharge, and toxic ash handling.

Out of 11 required air emission parameters, only 3 were reportedly tested — and not consistently over the years. Residents in nearby areas have reported persistent foul odours, black dust deposits, and respiratory concerns, further intensifying questions about compliance and oversight.

Controlled incineration is legally permitted for specific waste streams, but it must operate under strict environmental safeguards. Without continuous monitoring, transparency, and accountability, waste-to-energy systems can pose risks to air quality, ecosystems, and public health.

Read the full article to understand the findings in detail.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/smoky-north-chennai-incinerator-goes-unchecked-rti-reply-confirms-citizens-concerns/articleshow/128434036.cms

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team this weeK Sowmya Raghavan Monika Khanna Gulati NCR Waste Matters

CPCB Compliance Report on India WTEs – Kashipur (Uttarakhand)

This marks the final case in our WhyBurnWaste series, examining the compliance status of waste-to-energy operations in Kashipur, Uttarakhand. This case highlights key regulatory and operational findings identified through inspection and compliance reviews.

Bahl Paper Mills Ltd., Kashipur, Uttarakhand, operates a 2.5 MW waste-to-energy facility. Authorisation details for the unit’s waste-to-energy operations were not provided. The plant has also reported the utilisation of 100 TPD of RDF, for which approval details were not provided.

Operational data indicates the use of auxiliary fuel, with reported combustion temperatures between 950–1000°C. Despite this, key compliance information remains incomplete. Analysis reports and details on the disposal or utilisation of bottom ash and fly ash were also not provided.

While emission monitoring reportedly covered PM, SO₂, NOx, and CO, and compliance was indicated, treated leachate was not monitored or analysed, as noted in the compliance findings. In addition, all parameters prescribed under Schedule II of the Solid Waste Management Rules were not monitored.

This case reinforces the need for robust regulatory oversight, complete disclosure, and strict enforcement to ensure waste-to-energy facilities operate in an environmentally responsible manner.

Report link:
https://drive.google.com/.../10upDH5ubkpetAKHVsnQgZL.../view

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WTE Violations Pan India - No success stories.

Across India, waste-to-energy plants continue to violate environmental norms.

As part of WhyBurnWaste, we have examined cases from Udham Singh Nagar, Malkajgiri, Medchal, Delhi, Bidadi, and other cities. Despite differences in geography, scale, and operators, the patterns remain strikingly similar.

Repeated violations include expired or missing consents, inadequate emissions monitoring, substandard combustion temperatures, and limited public access to data and disclosures. These issues point not to isolated lapses, but to systemic weaknesses in oversight and enforcement.

When safeguards are ignored, communities bear the health and environmental costs.

Through WhyBurnWaste, we will continue to document evidence, ask difficult questions, and push for transparency, regulatory accountability, and waste management solutions that prioritise public health and environmental justice.

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team this week Sowmya Raghavan Monika Khanna Gulati NCR Waste Matters

CPCB Compliance Report on India WTEs – Kashipur (Uttarakhand)

What is the current compliance status of waste-to-energy operations in Kashipur? As part of the WhyBurnWaste series, this case highlights key regulatory and operational concerns identified during inspections by the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB).

Siddheshwari Paper Udyog Pvt. Ltd., Kashipur, Uttarakhand, operates a 6 MW waste-to-energy facility. The Consent to Operate expired on 8 August 2025 and has not been renewed, raising concerns over continued operations without valid authorisation.

Operational findings indicate that the plant does not have approval to utilise 185 TPD of RDF and has recorded combustion temperatures between 600–610°C, far below the prescribed minimum requirement of 950°C for compliant combustion.

Emission monitoring covered PM2.5, SO₂, NOx, and CO, with PM2.5 and CO found to be non-compliant. In addition, details on the analysis and disposal of bottom ash and fly ash were not provided, and stack emissions and treated leachate were not monitored, as required under Schedule II of the Solid Waste Management Rules.

In view of these non-compliances, the UKPCB issued a Show Cause Notice dated 16 June 2025 for alleged violations related to authorisation, emissions, and monitoring requirements.

This case highlights the need for strong regulatory oversight, transparency in reporting, and strict enforcement to ensure environmentally responsible waste-to-energy operations.

Read the full report to understand the compliance concerns and regulatory actions in detail.

Report link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10upDH5ubkpetAKHVsnQgZLCpemQj4uxK/view

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team this week Sowmya Raghavan Monika Khanna Gulati NCR Waste Matters

CPCB Compliance Report on India WTEs – US Nagar (Uttarakhand)

What is the current compliance status of waste-to-energy operations in U.S. Nagar? As part of the WhyBurnWaste series, this case highlights key regulatory and operational concerns identified during inspections by the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB).

Siddharth Papers Ltd., U.S. Nagar, Uttarakhand, runs a 6 MW waste-to-energy system. The Consent to Operate expired on 8 August 2025 and has not yet been renewed, raising apprehensions over its continued operations despite not having a valid authorization.

Operational findings show that the plant has not received approval for 185 TPD RDF usage and has recorded combustion temperatures in the range of 700–750°C, much below the prescribed minimum requirement of 950°C for safe combustion.

Emission parameters monitored included PM, SO₂, NOx, and CO, with PM and CO found to be non-compliant. Specific information related to the analysis and disposal of bottom ash and fly ash was also not provided; treated leachate analysis was also not reported. The unit also did not follow all the parameters under Schedule II of the Solid Waste Management Rules.

In view of these non-compliances, the UKPCB has issued a Show Cause Notice dated 16 June 2025 for alleged violation of statutory requirements under Authorization, Emissions, and Monitoring exigencies.

This case emphasizes how vital strong regulatory oversight, transparency in reporting, and strict enforcement are towards ensuring the good status of the environment from waste-to-energy operations.

Read the full report to understand the compliance concerns and regulatory actions in detail.

Report link:
https://lnkd.in/gefFBeqw

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team this week Sowmya Raghavan Monika Khanna Gulati NCR Waste Matters

CPCB Compliance Report on India WTEs – Malkajgiri (Telangana)

What is the current status of the Malkajgiri WtE plant? As part of the WhyBurnWaste series, this case highlights regulatory gaps and ongoing compliance concerns identified through CPCB reviews.

The Dundigal Waste-to-Energy plant, located in Dundigal, Malkajgiri, Telangana, holds a valid Consent under the Air and Water Acts until 31 March 2028. The facility receives processed municipal solid waste from HIMSW, a separate entity authorised by the Telangana Pollution Control Board until July 2028, and processes about 1,000 TPD while generating 14.5 MW of power.

The plant reported maintaining combustion temperatures above 950°C and monitoring key emission parameters, with ambient air quality found to be within prescribed standards. However, the CPCB noted that the quantities of bottom ash and fly ash were not reported separately, which limits transparency regarding waste residues.

At the same time, CPCB observed that the facility has not obtained the mandatory authorisation under the Solid Waste Management Rules. In addition, while leachate is sent to HIMSW’s central Leachate Treatment Plant, the analysis report of the treated leachate was not submitted.

Due to these compliance gaps, CPCB issued directions to the facility in November 2024 and again in March 2025.

Read the full report to understand why continued monitoring and stronger regulatory oversight remain crucial for the Malkajgiri WtE plant.

Report link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10upDH5ubkpetAKHVsnQgZLCpemQj4uxK/view

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team this week Sowmya Raghavan Monika Khanna Gulati NCR Waste Matters

Manali Incinerator Closure – Chennai (Tamil Nadu)

What led to the permanent shutdown of the Manali incinerator? As part of the WhyBurnWaste series, this case highlights how operational failures, sustained public opposition and environmental concerns shaped municipal decision-making.

The Greater Chennai Corporation resolved to shut down the 10-tonne incinerator facility located on MGR Street in Manali, Chennai. The plant was set up in 2019 using corporate social responsibility funds and processed dry waste collected door-to-door in the Manali zone, as per Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board guidelines.

Over time, the facility faced repeated operational challenges, including frequent breakages of heating pipes and base plates that required extensive maintenance. During the COVID-19 lockdown, the incinerator continued to operate despite shortages of personnel and spare parts, which prevented the renewal of its Consent to Operate.

Reports and fact-finding exercises also highlighted improper ash disposal, detection of heavy metals in surrounding soil, and prolonged regulatory lapses, drawing scrutiny from environmental bodies.

Residents and environmental groups raised pollution concerns, and although repair tenders were issued and a contract awarded, the facility failed to resume operations. Taking into account operational failures and strong community resistance, the Chennai Corporation Council decided to permanently close the incinerator.

Read more to understand why this decision matters for waste management policy and the future of incineration in Indian cities.

Report link:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/its-curtains-for-manali-incinerator-plant/articleshow/126082713.cms

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CPCB Compliance Report on India WTEs – Medchal (Telangana)

What is the current state of the Medchal WTE plant? The WhyBurnWaste series, based on recent CPCB reviews, highlights important compliance gaps at the MSW Energy Solutions Pvt. Ltd. facility in Jawahar Nagar, Medchal, Telangana.

The plant’s Consent under the Air and Water Acts was valid until 31 March 2023 and has since expired. The facility receives processed waste from HIMSW, a separate entity authorised by the Telangana PCB until July 2028, and currently manages about 2400 TPD while generating 48 MW of power.

CPCB noted that the plant has not obtained the required authorisation, a key regulatory requirement. Additionally, while leachate is routed to the central Leachate Treatment Plant operated by HIMSW, the plant did not submit the analysis report for the treated leachate, an essential parameter for environmental compliance.

Due to these shortcomings, CPCB issued directions to the facility in January 2025 and again in March 2025.

Read the full report to understand why continued monitoring and stronger regulatory oversight remain crucial for the Medchal WTE plant.

Report link -(https://lnkd.in/gefFBeqw)

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team this week Sowmya Raghavan Monika Khanna Gulati NCR Waste Matters

CPCB Compliance Report on India WTEs – Sangli (Maharashtra)

What is the current state of the Sangli WTE plant? The WhyBurnWaste series, based on recent CPCB reports, shows major non-compliances with severe environmental implications.

The facility by Bhumi Green Energy Pvt. Ltd. has been operating without a valid Consent to Operate since August 2024, with some permissions only until August 2027. It processes approximately 300 TPD of waste and generates 10 MW of power, needing supplementary fuel to maintain its operations.

Although the plant reports very high temperatures of incineration, CPCB inspections have recorded temperatures as low as 230°C, which is very far below the required 950°C for safe secondary chamber combustion. This raises very serious questions about combustion efficiency and pollution control.

The plant reported an average ash generation of 18.6 percent and claimed the usage of bottom and fly ash for brick making. However, no reports on analysis were submitted for stack emissions, bottom ash, fly ash, and treated leachate. Quantities of the bottom and fly ash separately were also not reported by the plant.

Given repeated reporting failures, missing data, and serious temperature violations, CPCB issued proposed directions in March 2025, followed by an interim direction in July 2025.

Read the full report to see why stronger oversight and enforcement are urgently needed at the Sangli WTE plant.

Report link -https://lnkd.in/gefFBeqw

Instagram Link -
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CPCB Compliance Report on India WTEs – Pimpri-Chinchwad (Maharashtra)

What’s really happening at the Pimpri Chinchwad WTE plant? The WhyBurnWaste series highlights CPCB findings that point to significant compliance gaps impacting both the environment and public health.

The facility operated by Antony Lara Renewable Energy Private Limited is licensed until June 2026, with certain operations approved up to July 2027. It processes around 700 TPD of waste and generates 14 MW of power. Spot checks revealed incineration temperatures as low as 950°C, despite reported ranges of 1600–1900°C, raising concerns over inconsistent temperature maintenance and incomplete combustion.

The plant also failed to report separate quantities and analyses for bottom ash and fly ash, a mandatory requirement. While emissions and treated leachate were monitored, full results for key parameters were not shared, affecting transparency and independent verification.

These lapses in temperature control, ash reporting, and data disclosure point to deeper management and monitoring issues at the facility.

Read the complete report to understand why stronger oversight and accountability are required for the Pimpri Chinchwad WTE plant.

Report link-https://drive.google.com/file/d/10upDH5ubkpetAKHVsnQgZLCpemQj4uxK/view

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NCR Waste Matters

-Chinchwad