The Union Environment Ministry has proposed exempting common municipal solid waste management facilities and common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) from obtaining prior environmental clearance, according to two draft notifications issued in early October. One notification, released on 3 October, covers CETPs, while the second, issued on 6 October, relates to solid waste facilities. Both propose exemptions based on recommendations from the sectoral Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).

The EAC highlighted that solid waste management facilities and CETPs are regulated under the Water Act, 1974, and the Air Act, 1981, with strict and comprehensive compliance requirements. Consequently, the draft notifications propose removing entries for these facilities from the list of activities requiring prior environmental clearance under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.

The notifications will be open for public comment, objections, or suggestions for a period of 60 days. The Infrastructure-II panel of the EAC, responsible for appraising projects from airports to waste and hazardous disposal plants, recommended the exemption.

Regarding solid waste facilities, the EAC noted that, under the Central Pollution Control Board’s updated industrial categorisation, these facilities qualify as “essential environmental services.” They contribute to the circular economy by producing by-products such as compost, secondary raw materials, and energy, while promoting sustainable development.