Goa Assembly Passes Landmark Bill Making Waste Mismanagement a Punishable Offence

Team Goemkarponn

Panaji: In a major push towards environmental protection and sustainable waste management, the Goa Legislative Assembly has passed the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing stringent measures to curb illegal dumping and regulate waste handling across the state.

The new law imposes strict penalties on individuals and commercial entities found violating waste disposal norms and aims to bring greater accountability and transparency in waste management practices.

Under the amended provisions:

•Dumping of waste — including biodegradable waste in plastic bags — in drains, water bodies, quarries, and open lands is now prohibited.

•Bulk Waste Generators, Waste Collectors, Recyclers, and Coprocessors are required to register with the Goa Pollution Control Board (GPCB).

•Heavy fines and penalties will be levied on violators, with vehicles used for illegal dumping liable to be impounded.

•Repeat offenders may face permanent cancellation of operating licenses.

•The scope of the Act has been significantly expanded to include Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) units, and 28 new waste types such as multilayer plastic, rubber, wood, jute, and tetra packs.

Chief Minister of Goa, in a post on social media, described the legislation as a “defining step in protecting Goa’s environment”, stating that the amendment provides the legal framework to ensure clean streets, safe water, and a sustainable future for the state.

Environmentalists and civic bodies have welcomed the move, calling it a long-overdue measure to tackle Goa’s growing waste crisis.

The government has assured that awareness campaigns and enforcement drives will be conducted in the coming weeks to ensure smooth implementation of the new law.