Hazardous Waste Management

The project on inventorisation and management of hazardous waste in various states was taken-up, with a view to identify hazardous waste generating industries, quantification of hazardous waste generated, present hazardous waste management practices adopted by various industrial sectors and proposed hazardous waste management plan for the state. So far, CPCB has published the study reports for the states of Punjab, Gujarat, J&K, Kerala, Orissa and recently for the state of Andhra Pradesh and National Capital Region (Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut and Faridabad).

The Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India has notified the Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Amendment Rules, 2000 vide notification No. SO 24(E), dated January 6, 2000. According to the rules, the hazardous wastes are defined as:

1. Waste substances which are generated in the process indicated in column 2 of schedule 1, and consist of wholly or partly of the waste substances referred to in column 3 of the same schedule.
2. Waste substances which consist wholly or partly of substances indicated in schedule 2, unless the concentration of substances is less than the limit indicated in same schedule and
3. Waste substances indicated in part `A' of schedule 3 applicable only to the import and export of hazardous wastes unless they do not possess any of the hazard characteristics as indicated in part `B' of the same schedule.

In the light of amended Rules, CPCB has undertaken the project on identification of hazardous waste streams in various industrial sectors, their characterisation and waste minimisation options, with a view to identify and characterise hazardous waste streams from each process, estimation of hazardous waste generation per  tonne of product, and to assess the scope of pre-treatment, reuse & recovery of hazardous waste generated from each stream and also to propose the waste minimisation option to be adopted for reduction of hazardous waste generation. During this year, the study has been taken-up for Pesticides, Dye & Dye Intermediates and Petrochemical Sectors.

CPCB has also undertaken the project on Assessment of Hazardous Waste Management in Caustic Soda Industries, Oil Refineries and Fertilizer Sectors with a view to estimate the various types of hazardous waste generation and status of hazardous waste management practices adopted by each industry. The report on technology development and control of pollution in caustic soda industries is under documentation.

According to the Hazardous Waste Management Rules, as amended, the wastes are classified based on the process and hazardous waste streams, waste substances with concentration limits and waste characteristics. In view of the importance of analysis and characterisation of waste, for classification as hazardous waste, in the laboratories of State Pollution Control Boards, CPCB sponsored the 4-days hands-on training programme for the officials of all State Pollution Control Boards, on "Sampling, Analysis and Characterisation of Hazardous Waste". The monitoring protocol has been circulated to all the SPCBs which may help in establishment of laboratory facility for analysis of hazardous waste.