Hazardous wastes increasing at 2-5% per year: Assocham-PwC study

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) along with the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) are the 2 nodal central ministries influencing the waste-to-energy programme legislation and incentives. The program on recovery of energy from waste is a part of the National Master Plan for Development of Waste-to- Energy in India. The key objectives of the program are as follows are to accelerate the installation of energy recovery projects from industrial wastes with a view to harness the available potential by 2017. To assess and upgrade various conversion technologies; create a conducive environment for the development of the sector in the country.

The Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2016, have recently been notified by the Government of India considering the factors of Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and sustainability & conservation of environment. The rules recognise hazardous waste and other waste, categorising that other waste can be considered as resource and must be used for recycling and reuse, supplementing industrial processes and reducing the load on the virgin resources in the country.

Stringent management procedures but simplified procedures to be followed. Standard operating procedures pertinent to safe management and disposal, safeguarding health and environment has been prescribed that needs to be followed for stakeholders or applicable parties. Single window clearance for setting up of hazardous waste disposal facility and import of other wastes, highlighted the joint study. 

The approval process for co-processing of hazardous waste to recover energy has been streamlined and put on emission norms basis rather than on trial basis. Revision of list of waste regulated for import/export. The import of metal scrap, paper waste and various categories of electrical and electronic equipment for re-use purpose has been exempted from the need of obtaining Ministry’s permission. Responsibilities of state government for environmentally sound management of hazardous and other wastes have been introduced. 

The study has suggested methods to manage hazardous waste collection and transportation (C&T). Hazardous waste transporters are individuals or entities that move hazardous waste from one site to another - usually from the source of generation to its storage and disposal predominantly by road, rail, or water. Transporters accepting hazardous waste from a generator or another transporter may need to hold waste temporarily during the normal course of transportation; hence they require the necessary infrastructure to manage the waste. The C&T activity entails the generator to handover waste in a specified fashion having necessary authorisation, packaging, and labelling to transport waste. 

Responsibility of transportation lies with waste generator, the coprocessor, who utilises the waste (in case of co-processing) and transporter, who transport the waste from generator to coprocessor. The waste generator should ensure that waste is packaged avoiding handling related accident during transport. The waste and the transport vehicle needs to be adequately labelled with necessary clearances from the state pollution control board during interstate transport.

A lot of effort is now being made to recover value out of the hazardous waste generated in the industries. While the conventional management method of land filling and incineration are still the preferred ones, methods by co-processing of compatible hazardous waste in cement kilns is slowly picking pace. The method is being researched adequately by the Central Pollution Control Board and is recommended as one of the safest ways to manage the hazardous waste.