1) A Public Interest Litigation regarding management of hazardous wastes in India was filed in Hon’ble Supreme Court of India (Reference: CWP No. 657 of 1995). In October 1997, a High-Powered Committee (HPC), with Prof. M.G.K. Menon as its Chairman, was constituted by Hon’ble Supreme Court to examine all matters indepth concerning hazardous waste management and to give a report and recommendations on fourteen Terms of Reference (ToR). The HPC submitted its final report in January 2001. The Hon’ble Court considered the report and passed a detailed and comprehensive order on 14.10.2003. This included, among other things, several directives to be implemented in a time-bound manner by various authorities / agencies involved in regulation and management of hazardous wastes in the country.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), vide afore-said directives, is required to prepare and issue following guidelines, to be followed by all concerned including State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) in UTs and the Hazardous Waste Generating Industries and Operators of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities:

iv) Guidelines for Proper Functioning and Upkeep of Disposal Sites

v) Uniform Testing Procedures to be followed by the Labs.

vi) National Policy for HW for Landfill Sites

vii) Guidelines for HW incinerators

Accordingly, Central Board prepared and finalized the guidelines / Policies except the ‘Guidelines for Common Hazardous Waste Incinerators’. The draft prepared on the ‘Guidelines for Common Hazardous Waste Incinerators’ is under finalization and studies have been initiated for individual incinerators.

Also, in order to carryout inventory on hazardous waste generating industries by the SPCBs/PCCs as per the directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Central Board have prepared guidelines and circulated to all the SPCBs/PCCs.

2) According to Hazardous Waste (M & H) Amendment Rules, 2003 notified by the Government of India dated May 20, 2003, the Central Board has been designated as the authority for grant of registration to the recyclers or re-processors of hazardous wastes, as per the procedure laid down under Rule 19 of the HWM Rules. Accordingly, Central Board is presently issuing registration to the recyclers of hazardous wastes viz used oil/waste oil, non-ferrous metal wastes listed under Schedule 4 of the HW (M & H) Rules, 2003, having environmentally sound management facilities. Presently, there are 166 recycling units having valid registration.