BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government has directed all urban local bodies to strictly implement the Solid Waste Management Rules 2026, making waste segregation at source mandatory and warning of penalties for violations, officials said.
Officials from the Urban Administration and Development Department said the new framework shifts the focus from merely removing waste to ensuring its scientific processing and recycling under the “waste to wealth” model.
Under the revised rules, households will be required to separate wet waste, dry waste and domestic hazardous waste before collection. Wet waste will be processed into organic compost, while dry waste will be sent for scientific recycling.
Authorities said activities such as open dumping of garbage, burning plastic waste and littering public spaces would attract strict action, including fines and penalties.
The department has also directed bulk waste generators to establish on-site waste processing systems within their premises.
The push comes as Madhya Pradesh prepares for Swachh Survekshan 2025-26, with 406 urban local bodies participating in the nationwide cleanliness survey, including 28 new entrants this year.
To strengthen implementation at the ground level, the Urban Administration and Development Department has organised 51 capacity-building workshops across the state, along with three state-level training sessions for chief municipal officers, engineers and sanitation nodal officers.
Officials said 874 women sanitation workers had also been trained in 15 batches on health, hygiene and workplace safety practices.
The state government said the initiative aims to strengthen public participation, improve urban sanitation systems and enhance Madhya Pradesh’s performance in the national cleanliness rankings.
