HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES

GUIDELINES FOR OCCUPIER/GENERATOR OF HAZARDOUS WASTES

In order to have a proper control over hazardous waste management, the regulatory authorities should specify the occupier or generator of hazardous waste:

  1. To keep a complete record of the types, quantities and characteristics of hazardous waste.
  2. To segregate hazardous waste at source from non-hazardous waste.
  3. To transport hazardous waste only through the specified and registered transporters.
  4. To fulfill the pre-transport requirements before transporting hazardous waste.
  5. To dispose of hazardous waste only at the notified disposable facilities.
  6. The regulatory authorities shall ask the occupier or generator to submit quarterly reports.
  7. The authorities should ensure that the occupier/generator sends a copy of the manifest to them as soon as the hazardous wastes is shipped for ultimate disposal.
  8. The regulatory authorities may allow the occupier/generator to store his hazardous waste on-site provided that:

  9. The regulatory authorities may allow the occupier/generator to store his hazardous waste on-site a maximum quantity of 10,000 kgs or a truckload whichever is less for a maximum period of 90 days.
  10. If an occupier/generator generates less than 1,000 kgs of hazardous waste in a month,he may be considered as a small quantity generator.Such type of generators may be allowed to store their waste on-site for a maximum period of 180 days. In any case, the quantity of waste should not exceed 6,000 kgs at anygiven point of time.
  11. The regulatory authorities may provide an extension in the storage period to the occupier,on case-by-case basis,provided that:

    An occupier/generator who generates less than 1000 kgs of hazardouswaste in a month and who transports his waste more than a idistance of 500 kmsfor off-site storage,treatment and/or disposal may be allowed to store hazardouswaste on-site for a maximum period of 270 days at the discretion of regulatoryauthorities. In any case the quantity of waste should not exceed 10,000 kgs atany given point of time.

  12. To ensure that the occupier/genarator disposes their waste only in the notified disposal facilities.
  13. In case of any unforeseen, temporary, and uncontrollable circumstances, the regulatory authorities may grant an extension to 90-day or 180-day or 270-day in the on-site period upto a maximum period of 30 days, after receiving written application from the occupier/generator.
  14. An occupier/generator who generates less than 1000 kgs of hazardous waste more than 10,000 kgs or store hazardous waste more than 90 days or 180 days or 270 days, as the case may be, should be considered as an operator of a storage facility, unless an extension has been provided by the regulatory authorities.
  15. An occupier may be allowed to store not more than one day's quantity of semi-solid hazardous waste at a time in containers near the source/point of generation, which is under the control of the operator generating the waste. In any case, the container should have marking of the words "HAZARDOUS WASTE" bothin English and respective local language.
  16. At all times there must be at least one employee either on the premises or on call with the responsibilities for co-ordinating all emergency response measures.
  17. To inspect the on-site storage areas for proper storage.
  18. In order to track the hazardous waste from the source of generation to the final disposal points, the regulatory authorities should introduce the manifest system. This system should not only help the regulatory authorities intracking the hazardous waste but also ensure the safe disposal of the waste. Themanifest system would serve as a "chain of custody" document. Every time the shipment changes hands,the responsible persons sign the manifest.

    GUIDELINES FOR TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

    1. Transportation of hazardous waste being the important link in hazardous waste management system, it requires precise control to ensure safe disposal of such wastes. Therefore, it would be prudent to consider registering the transporters of hazardous waste with the Department of Environment & Forests inaddition to the Department of Transport. This would enable the Ministry of Environment and Forests/respective State Pollution Control Boards to ensure safeand secured transport of hazardous wastes.
    2. To ensure that the occupier/generator transport their hazardous waste only in the specified transport vehicles.
    3. The transporters should be asked to train the drivers and helpers of hazardous waste transport vehicles to handle the wastes under emergency situations.

    GUIDELINES FOR OWNER/OPERATOR OF HAZARDOUS WASTE STORAGE, TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL FACILITY

    1. Licensing system: The regulatory authorities may issue a consent to an owner/operator of a facility who can demonstrate his technical, financial and managerial competence, and that his staff are properlytrained.The authorities shall specify in the consent, the wates which a facilitycan receive, the operational conditions which must be met, the monitoring and control procedures to be carried out and the records which must be kept. Along with the application for consent, the following information should be furnished by the owner/operator of a facility:

      • Area required for the facility.
      • Types of wastes to be handled,stored,treated and/or disposed.
      • Facilities available for managing these wastes.
      • Environment Impact Assessment of the area where the activity has been proposed.
      • Contingency plan of the facility.

      The regulatory authorities should ensure that the owner/operator of a facility has all necessary equipments such as fire control equipment, decontamination equipment, water spray system and internal communication or alarm systems capable of meeting any emergency situation at thefacility.

    2. Establishment of standards: The regulatory authorities should identify the Principal Organic Hazardous Constituents(POHC) in the waste and fix up standards for stack emission for POHC from the incinerator.

      Also the effluent and ground water quality should be monitored regularly.The records of the facility should be checked regularly.

    3. Post-closure care and use of property: The post closure-care for each hazardous waste storage , treatment, and/or disposal facility should begin after closure of the facility and the regulatory authorities must ensure that the postclosure continues for 30 days from the date of closure. The local or State Adminstrative body should be made responsible for the post-closure care.
    4. To ensure that the copy of the manifest reaches the authorities after receiving the hazardous waste from the occupier/generator. The owner/operator should indicate the proposed treatment and disposal scheme to be followed for the hazardous waste. The copy of the manifest should be linked with the copy of the copy of the manifest sent by the occupier/generator.

    For further information, please contact :

    Director (HSMD)
    Government of India
    Ministry of Environment & Forests
    Paryawaran Bhawan, CGO Complex
    Lodi Road, NEW DELHI - 110 003 INDIA

    E-Mail :indu@envfor.delhi.nic.in