STALLION In short: From 1 April 2026 the Solid Waste Management Rules require waste to be separated at source into four streams: wet, dry, sanitary and special care. A venue that produces 100 kg of waste a day or more counts as a bulk generator and carries extra duties.
The four streams
Aluminium cans and PET bottles are dry waste. Keeping them out of the wet bin is the point of segregation, and it is also what makes them worth something to a collector.
- Wet: kitchen waste, food leftovers, fruit and vegetable peels. It is to be composted or bio-methanated.
- Dry: plastic, paper, metal and glass. It goes to material recovery facilities for recycling.
- Sanitary: diapers and sanitary napkins, wrapped and kept separate.
- Special care: bulbs, batteries and medicines, which go to authorised agencies or collection centres.
Are you a bulk waste generator?
The rules treat an entity as a bulk waste generator if it meets any one of three thresholds: a floor area of 20,000 square metres or more, water use of 40,000 litres a day or more, or waste generation of 100 kg a day or more. Residential societies, government buildings and universities are included.
The summaries we read do not name hotels, restaurants or bars, so the thresholds decide it. A large hotel or a busy club may cross 100 kg a day. A small cafe probably does not. If you are unsure, ask your local body, which in Dehradun is the Nagar Nigam.
What bulk generators have to do
One legal summary on Mondaq describes the certificate as covering collection and transport of all four streams, while the others limit it to cases where on-site processing is not possible. Read the notification before you decide which applies to you.
- Process wet waste on site, or get an Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility certificate if that is not feasible.
- Register on the central online portal that will track waste generation, collection and disposal.
- Expect environmental compensation under the polluter pays principle for non-compliance, and higher landfill fees for unsegregated waste.
Setting up a venue that works
- Put a separate bin for cans and one for PET at the bar and in the kitchen pass, with a wet bin beside them.
- Label the bins in the language your staff read.
- Pick one pickup day and keep the bags dry until then.
- Keep a simple log of what left and what you were paid. It helps if an auditor asks.
What we do for venues
We give venues free collection bins as stock allows and collect on a fixed day for your area. We count the cans, weigh the PET, and pay on the spot at every pickup. Our standard rates are ₹1.5 per can and ₹18 per kg of PET, last updated 26 October 2026. We currently collect cans and PET bottles. For glass, message us.
Common questions
When did the Solid Waste Management Rules 2026 come into force?
On 1 April 2026. They replaced the 2016 rules and apply to urban and rural local bodies.
What is a bulk waste generator?
An entity that meets any one of three thresholds: floor area of 20,000 square metres or more, water use of 40,000 litres a day or more, or waste of 100 kg a day or more.
Does a small cafe have to register as a bulk generator?
Only if it meets one of the thresholds. Check with the local body if you are close to the limits.
Are aluminium cans and PET bottles dry waste?
Yes. Plastic, paper, metal and glass are the dry stream, which is meant to go to recycling.
Sources
Next steps
Turn your empties into a regular payout.
Bins, a fixed pickup day and payment on the spot for bars, restaurants and cafes in Dehradun.