GUIDELINES FOR SETTING UP OF OPERATING FACILITY: HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT :

Availability of reliable "operating facility" is an impornt requirement for effective management of hazardous wastes. The operator can be a government agency, an industry Association or a joint venture/private sector company. The possibility of common effluent treatment plants, where government, nodal agency and industry associations/companies have participated, has been a practical experience.

Treatment of Hazardous waste is a costly proposition. It also needs continuity to run the treatment unit. The facility demands specialized supervision and instrumentation. Hazardous wastes can hardly be reliably disposed a loose confederation. A dedicated operating agency can only offer a solution. Industry and regulatory authorities should, therefore, groom such operating agencies.

Rule 5 (4) of the Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1989 expects that the proposed operator should possess appropriate facilities, technical capacities and equipment to handle hazardous wastes safely Further, the very fact that the rules provide for transfer of responsibility by permission to the operator, means that the rule pre-supposes that the operating agency will do such work more efficiently than the generator. To this end, CPCB has brought out guidelines for setting up of operating facility for hazardous waste management. This document provides practical tips given in a capsule form along with a few check points to the aid of State Pollution Control Boards, future operating agencies and member industries. The guidelines deal with the following aspects: