India's environmental rulebook changed more between 2025 and 2026 than in any period in the last decade. New EPR regimes came in for vehicles, construction waste and non-ferrous metals, the solid waste rules were replaced, a national environment audit system started, and the carbon market moved from paper to practice. This guide summarises what industries in Gujarat and across India need to know, as of November 2026.
1. Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026
Notified on 28 January 2026 and in force from 1 April 2026, these rules replace the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
- Four-stream segregation at source: wet, dry, sanitary and special care waste.
- Bulk waste generators (more than 20,000 sq m floor area, more than 40,000 litres of water a day, or 100 kg or more of waste a day) must process wet waste on site or hold a responsibility certificate from an authorised processor.
- Only inert, non-recyclable residual waste may be landfilled; legacy dumpsites must be cleared by biomining and bioremediation.
- Cement plants and waste-to-energy facilities must raise refuse-derived fuel use from 5% to 15% over six years.
- A centralised online portal tracks waste from generation to disposal, and violations attract environmental compensation.
2. Construction and demolition waste: EPR from 1 April 2026
The Environment (Construction and Demolition) Waste Management Rules, 2025 replaced the 2016 rules and apply from 1 April 2026. Producers of C&D waste with projects of 20,000 sq m or more built-up area carry EPR, with recycling targets rising to 100% by 2028-29. Building projects must progressively use 5% to 25% recycled C&D material by 2030-31, and road projects 5% to 15%.
3. Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2026
Notified on 31 March 2026 (G.S.R. 237(E)).
- Recycled-content targets for 2026-27: 40% for rigid (Category I), 10% for flexible (Category II) and 5% for multi-layered (Category III) packaging, rising to 60%, 20% and 10% from 2028-29.
- Shortfalls from 2025-26 can be carried forward for up to three years from 2026-27 if at least one-third is cleared each year.
- Exemption where FSSAI, CDSCO, the Central Insecticide Board or a mandatory Indian Standard restricts recycled plastic.
- Reuse obligations for rigid packaging, and a certificate mechanism for importers.
- EPR claims can be verified by designated agencies and Registered Environment Auditors.
4. E-waste and battery EPR
Under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, producers must meet 70% of estimated e-waste generation in 2025-26 and 2026-27 and 80% from 2027-28. The 2024 amendment banded EPR certificate prices between 30% and 100% of the environmental compensation rate; this band is under challenge in the Delhi High Court.
Under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 (amended up to 2025), recyclers must recover 80% of battery materials in 2025-26 and 90% from 2026-27.
5. Used oil, end-of-life vehicles and non-ferrous metals
- Used oil EPR (from 1 April 2024): recycling targets of 10% in 2025-26, 20% in 2026-27 and 2027-28, and 40% from 2028-29.
- End-of-Life Vehicles Rules, 2025 (from 1 April 2025): vehicle producers must meet steel scrapping targets of 8% in 2025-26, rising to 13% from 2030 and 18% from 2035, using certificates from Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities.
- Non-ferrous metals (from 1 April 2026): EPR for aluminium, copper and zinc products under the Hazardous and Other Wastes Amendment Rules, 2025, with recycling targets rising from 10% in 2026-27 to 75% by 2032-33.
6. Environment Audit Rules, 2025
In force from 29 August 2025, the rules create Registered Environment Auditors (REAs), certified and registered by the Environment Audit Designated Agency. REAs are assigned randomly, must declare impartiality, and can verify compliance under the Environment, Air and Water Acts, EIA and CRZ notifications, EPR rules and the Green Credit Rules. Their audits supplement, not replace, inspections by pollution control boards.
7. Penalties: from jail to monetary penalties
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 replaced imprisonment with monetary penalties for most contraventions under the Environment (Protection) Act and the Air Act, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 did the same for the Water Act. Penalties range from ₹10,000 to ₹15 lakh and are imposed by adjudicating officers, with appeals to the National Green Tribunal. Non-payment can still lead to prosecution. In practice, environmental compensation under EPR and waste rules is now the main financial risk for non-compliance.
8. Carbon Credit Trading Scheme and green credits
Greenhouse gas emission intensity targets under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme have been notified for aluminium, cement, chlor-alkali and pulp & paper (October 2025, 282 entities) and for refineries, petrochemicals, textiles and secondary aluminium (January 2026). Targets apply for 2025-26 and 2026-27 against a 2023-24 baseline, and surplus performers earn Carbon Credit Certificates tradable on power exchanges.
Under the 2025 amendments to the Green Credit Rules, tree-plantation green credits are awarded after at least five years based on canopy density and tree survival, and are non-tradable. They can be exchanged once against compensatory afforestation, CSR or other legal obligations, or reported under ESG indicators.
9. Contaminated sites
The Environment Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules, 2025 set a polluter-pays framework to identify, assess and remediate chemically contaminated sites, with assessment against the hazardous chemicals listed in the Hazardous Waste Rules.
What should your unit do now?
- Check whether you are now a bulk waste generator under the SWM Rules, 2026.
- Review EPR registrations and 2026-27 targets for every regime that applies to you: plastic, e-waste, battery, used oil, tyres, vehicles, C&D and non-ferrous metals.
- Budget for EPR certificates early; environmental compensation for shortfalls is costlier than compliance.
- Prepare for independent verification by Registered Environment Auditors.
- For energy-intensive sectors, track your GHG emission intensity against CCTS targets.
EcoNexa helps industries with all of the above through verified consultants, laboratories and recyclers, and through the EcoNexa EPR credit hub. Talk to our team or explore our EPR solutions.
This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Always check the latest Gazette notifications and CPCB guidelines.