SHILLONG, May 1: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board has brought a wide range of large institutions, commercial establishments and residential complexes under stricter waste management norms, following the enforcement of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, from April 1.
Under the new framework, any entity with a built-up area of 20,000 sq m or more, water consumption of 40,000 litres per day, or generating 100 kg of waste daily will be classified as a bulk waste generator and required to comply with mandatory waste segregation and disposal protocols.
The coverage spans government offices, local bodies, public sector units, private firms, schools and colleges, as well as commercial hubs such as transport terminals, industrial units, malls, hotels, hospitals, hostels, wholesale markets, stadiums and convention centres. Residential societies meeting the threshold have also been included.
Officials indicated that all such generators must register with local authorities and ensure segregation of waste into four categories—dry, wet, sanitary and special care waste.
Special care waste has been defined to include hazardous items such as paint containers, pesticide bottles, expired medicines, fluorescent lamps, mercury thermometers, batteries and used syringes.
The move is aimed at tightening waste handling practices in urban and high-consumption zones, with authorities signalling closer monitoring of compliance as Meghalaya expands its waste management framework.
