VATIS UPDATE Article

The Indian Environment ministry has announced the new Hazardous Waste Rules to resource recovery and disposal of hazardous waste. The new rules have banned the import of waste edible fats and oil of animals, or vegetable origin, household waste, critical care medical equipment, tyres for direct re-use purpose, solid plastic wastes including pet bottles, waste electrical and electronic assemblies scrap and other chemical wastes especially in solvent form. However, no ministerial permission will be required for import of metal scrap, paper waste and various categories of electrical and electronic equipment for re-use purpose.

As per the information furnished by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in the year 2015, the total hazardous waste generation in the country is 7.46 million metric tonnes per annum from about 44,000 industries. The Rules also simplify a range of procedures to merge all the approvals as a single window clearance for setting up of hazardous waste disposal facility and import of other wastes. There is emphasis on the necessity of infrastructure to safeguard the health and environment from waste processing industry has been prescribed as Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) specific to waste type.

The Rules also stipulate that states must allot industrial space or sheds for recycling, pre-processing and utilization of hazardous waste; register the workers involved in recycling, pre-processing and other utilization activities and ensure safety and health of workers. State Pollution Control Board are mandated to prepare an annual inventory of the waste generated; waste recycled, recovered, utilised including co-processed; waste re-exported and waste disposed and submit to the CPCB by the 30th day of September every year.