As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?
A
Waste generator has to segregate waste into five categories.
B
The Rules are applicable to notified urban local bodies, notified towns and all industrial townships only.
C
The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identification of sites for landfills and waste processing facilities.
D
It is mandatory on the part of waste generator that the waste generated in one district cannot be moved to another district.
Correct Answer: Option C
Explanation
1. The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 replaced the earlier Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000.
2. Statement (A) is incorrect. Rule 4 mandates the waste generator to segregate waste into three categories: wet waste (biodegradable), dry waste (plastic, paper, metal, wood, etc.), and domestic hazardous waste (diapers, napkins, cleaning agents, etc.), not five.
3. Statement (B) is incorrect. Rule 2 states that the Rules are applicable to every urban local body, outgrowths in urban agglomerations, census towns, notified areas, notified industrial townships, areas under the control of Indian Railways, airports, airbases, ports and harbours, defence establishments, special economic zones, State and Central government organizations, places of pilgrims, religious & historical importance; basically extending beyond just notified urban local bodies and towns.
4. Statement (C) is correct. Schedule I of the Rules provides for exact and elaborate criteria for site selection for setting up landfills and waste processing facilities. It specifies considerations like distance from habitations, water bodies, highways, environmentally sensitive areas, land availability, geological factors, etc.
5. Statement (D) is incorrect. While the Rules emphasize local processing and disposal, there is no absolute mandatory provision stating that waste generated in one district cannot be moved to another district, especially if regional facilities are being utilized under proper authorization.