HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION

Hazardous Waste generated by the industries can cause environmental pollution and adverse health effects if not handled and managed properly.

In order to manage hazardous waste (HW) mainly solids, semi-solids, solvents and other industrial wastes not covered by the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and to enable the authorities to control handling, transport, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste (HW) in an environmentally sound manner, Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) promulgated Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules on 28 July 1989 under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

In September 2008, the said rules were repealed and new rules entitled “Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008” (here after referred as HW (M, H & TM) Rules) were notified & have been amended then after.

HAZARDOUS WASTE?

According to the HW (M, H & TM) Rules, any waste, which by virtue of any of its physical, chemical, reactive, toxic, flammable, explosive or corrosive characteristics causes danger or is likely to cause danger to health or environment, whether alone or when in contact with other wastes or substances has been defined as “hazardous wastes” and includes wastes generated mainly from the 36 industrial processes referred under Schedule – I of the said Rules. In addition, some wastes become hazardous by virtue of concentration limits as well as hazardous characteristics listed under Schedule – II of the said Rules.

Thus, a waste is hazardous if it exhibits whether alone or when in contact with other wastes or substances, any of the characteristics identified below:

Responsibility of Occupier

The occupier shall be responsible:

for safe and environmentally sound handling of all HW generated in his establishment.

Wastes generated shall be sent/sold to a registered and/or authorized recycler/reprocessor/reuser or shall be disposed of in an authorized disposal facility.

All hazardous wastes transported shall be as per provisions.

The occupier shall take adequate steps while handling HW to:

contain contaminants and prevent accidents and limit their consequences on humans and the environment; and

provide persons working on the site with information, training and equipment necessary to ensure their safety.

GRANT OF AUTHORIZATION

Every person who is engaged in generation, processing, treatment, package, storage, transportation, use, collection, destruction, conversion, offering for sale , transfer or the like of the HW shall require to obtain Authorization from the SPCB.

HW shall be collected, treated, re-cycled, re-processed, stored and disposed of only in such facilities as may be authorized by the SPCB;

The occupier or operator of facility shall take necessary steps, wherever required, the reduction and prevention of the waste generated or for recycling or reuse and comply the conditions specified in the authorization.

STORAGE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

The occupier, recyclers, re- processors, re- users and operators of facilities may store the hazardous wastes for a period not exceeding ninety days and shall maintain a record of sale, transfer, storage, recycling and reprocessing of such wastes and make these records available for inspection;

Provided that the SPCB may extend the said period in following cases, namely:

Small generators upto ten tones per annum

recyclers, re- processors and facility operators up to six months of their annual capacity;

Generators who do not have access to any TSDF in the concerned State;

the waste which needs to be specifically stored for development of a process for its recycling, reuse

Each container holding HW shall be marked “HAZARDOUS WASTE’, in RED color, in English, Hindi & in Vernacular languages.

The storage area should have a proper containment system. The containment system should have a collection area to collect and remove any leak, spill or precipitation

Floor in the storage area should be provided with secondary containment such as proper slopes as well as collection pit so as to collect wash water and the leakages/spills, etc.

The container shall be made or lined with suitable material, which will not react with, or in other words compatible with the hazardous wastes proposed to be stored.

Drums containing wastes stored in the storage area should be labeled properly indicating mainly type, quantity, characteristics, source and date of storing, etc.

In case of spills/leaks, dry adsorbents/cotton should be used for cleaning instead of water.

Flammable, ignitable, reactive and incompatible wastes should be stored separately and never should be stored in the same storage shed.

HW TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is one of the most important areas of concern associated with the handling of hazardous waste.

Considering the toxic, flammable, explosive or corrosive characteristics of hazardous waste, its transport has to be planned in such a way that this waste does not cause danger to health or environment, when handled individually or when in contact with other wastes or substances during transportation.

The off-site transportation requirements involve proper awareness about the following:

Container: Specially designed container considering the fact that the hazardous wastes are corrosive/abrasive in nature, the container shall be made of appropriate leak-proof material with mechanical stability for 3 (three) years.

Labeling of the container: to identify the waste, describe the possible hazard, and the remedial measures/first-aid required in case of any accidental spills

Collector/transporter selection: to have technical competence and relevant skills and other requirements

License/manifest: to carry application and ‘No objection certificate (NOC)’ documents

Emergency procedures: to have knowledge about actions to be taken in case of spills or accidents

Manifest:

Transporter shall not accept hazardous wastes from an occupier (generator) unless six-copies (with color codes) of the manifest (Form 9) as per Rule 7 of the HW (M & H) Rules, 1989 and as amended are provided by the generator.

The transporter shall give a copy of the manifest signed and dated to the generator and retain the remaining four copies to be used for further necessary action prescribed in the Hazardous Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 1989, as under:

Copy 1 (White): To be forwarded to the SPCB/PCC by the occupier

Copy 2 (Yellow): To be signed by the transporter and retained by the occupier.

Copy 3 (Pink): To be retained by the operator of a facility.

Copy 4 (Orange): To be returned to the transporter by the operator of facility after accepting waste.

Copy 5 (Green): To be forwarded to the SPCB/PCC by the operator of facility after disposal.

Copy 6 (Blue): To be returned to the occupier by the operator of the facility after disposal.

note:- Many states have implemented XGN for online manifest

HW TREATMENT & DISPOSAL AT TSDF

Image Credit – ACTnews

Waste received at landfill site can be handled in different ways i.e.,

Direct disposal into landfill.

Treatment/stabilization of wastes and then disposal into landfill.

Direct incineration/pre-treatment and incineration/pre-treatment, incineration and disposal of incineration ash in landfill.

Waste processed for fuel/industrial by-products for recycling.