EPR framework to tackle C&D waste in India from April 26, ET RealEstate
India’s cities and towns – along with their roadsides, green spaces water bodies – are being swallowed by mounds of construction and demolition (C&D) waste. On top of it being an eyesore, they also worsen air and water pollution. With India generating some 150-500 Mt of C&D waste annually, GoI’s newly notified rules mark a critical policy intervention.
From April 2026, an extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework will require promoters with building projects over 20,000 sq m built-up area to manage and recycle their waste sustainably. In the absence of effective regulation, unauthorised dumping is rampant, driven by a lack of designated disposal space and improper mixing of C&D waste with biodegradable matter.
The construction sector, expected to hit $1.4 tn by 2025, will be the biggest economic growth and debris source. As housing, industrial corridors and road networks expand, so, too, will the waste load. NCR generates 6,303 tonnes of C&D waste a day. While about 78 per cent of it is processed daily, other parts don’t have records of processing that much waste. Unless local bodies set up collection and processing infra, and ensure actual use of recycled material, illegal dumping will persist.
To truly embed circularity, India needs more than compliance – it needs incentives. Green procurement norms, tax breaks for recycled concrete and revised building codes mandating recycled content are essential. Higher taxes on virgin materials and a phasing out of their subsidies can help tilt the market. Consumer perception must shift, too. Recycled doesn’t mean substandard. EPR rules offer a solid starting point. With active policy support, robust infra and public awareness, India can build tomorrow’s skyline on today’s neglected rubble.
