MODULE-1 : RULES AND REGULATIONS
SYLLABUS :
Municipal solid waste (management and handling) rules, hazardous waste (management and
handling) rules, biomedical waste handling rules, fly ash rules, recycled plastics usage rules,
batteries (management and handling) rules
1. Hazardous Waste Management
Definition
Hazardous Waste is any solid, liquid, or gaseous material that, due to its quantity, concentration,
or physical/chemical properties, poses a significant risk to human health and the environment if
not properly treated, stored, transported, or disposed of.
It can be identified by the following characteristics:
● Ignitability: Substances that catch fire easily under normal conditions.
● Corrosivity: Materials that can corrode metals or have very high/low pH.
● Reactivity: Substances that can cause explosions, toxic fumes, gases, or vapors when
exposed to heat, pressure, or water.
● Toxicity: Substances harmful or fatal if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin.
List of Authorities and Their Duties
1. Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
● Identify hazardous and other wastes.
● Grant permission for exporters/importers of hazardous waste.
● Allow transit of hazardous waste through India.
● Promote environmentally safe management of hazardous waste.
● Organize training and awareness programs.
2. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1974
● Coordinate activities of State Pollution Control Boards.
● Conduct training for authorities handling hazardous waste.
● Recommend treatment/disposal standards, waste characterization procedures.
● Inspect facilities handling hazardous waste.
● Document waste sector-wise for inclusion in rules.
● Issue/update guidelines for waste reduction, recycling, co-processing.
● Prepare annual review report on hazardous waste management.
● Carry out additional duties as directed by MoEFCC.
3. State Government/Union Territory Administration
● Identify sites for Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDF).
● Assess Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports for site approval.
● Acquire or notify sites.
● Publish inventories of disposal sites.
4. State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees
● Maintain inventories of hazardous wastes.
● Grant/renew authorizations.
● Monitor compliance with rules and MoEFCC permissions.
● Examine and forward import applications to MoEFCC.
● Implement programs to minimize hazardous waste generation.
● Take action against rule violations.
● Perform additional duties as assigned by MoEFCC.
5. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
● Issue/refuse licenses for import/export of hazardous waste.
6. Port and Customs Authorities
● Verify documents of import/export shipments.
● Inform MoEFCC of illegal traffic.
● Analyze imported/exported waste if needed.
● Train officials in waste analysis and rules.
● Take action against violators under relevant Acts.
Procedure for Management of Hazardous Waste
Duties of the Occupier
● Follow steps: prevention → minimization → reuse → recycling →
recovery/utilization (incl. co-processing) → safe disposal.
● Ensure safe and eco-friendly waste management.
● Send/sell waste only to authorized users or facilities.
● Transport waste as per rules.
● Provide disposal facilities with necessary information for safe handling.
● Prevent accidents, train workers, and provide protective equipment.
Duties of State Government
● Allocate industrial space for recycling, pre-processing, and waste utilization.
● Recognize/register workers in waste recycling.
● Form worker groups for facility set-up.
● Provide skill development and health/safety monitoring.
● Prepare integrated plans and submit annual reports to MoEFCC.
Authorisation Process
● Any occupier handling hazardous waste must apply in Form 1 to SPCB.
● Documents required:
○ Consent to Establish (under Water/Air Acts).
○ Consent to Operate (under Water/Air Acts).
○ Compliance report (for renewal).
Suspension/Cancellation
● SPCB may suspend/cancel authorization if conditions are violated, after hearing the
occupier.
Storage of Hazardous Waste
● Wastes can be stored for up to 90 days.
● Records of sale, transfer, storage, recycling, recovery, etc., must be maintained.
Utilisation of Hazardous Waste
● Use of waste as a resource (or after pre-processing) requires authorization from SPCB.
SOPs and Guidelines
● MoEFCC or CPCB may issue SOPs/guidelines for safe handling and management.
Import and Export of Hazardous Waste
● MoEFCC is the nodal authority.
● No import/export allowed for disposal.
● Import/export allowed only for recycling, recovery, reuse, utilization, or
co-processing.
● Requires:
○ Permission from MoEFCC.
○ Prior informed consent from exporting country.
Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF)
● State Govt/occupiers must identify sites.
● Facilities must follow CPCB technical guidelines.
● SPCB monitors facilities.
● Operators are responsible for safe operation, closure, and post-closure.
● Records must be maintained and annual returns filed.
Packaging and Labelling
● Waste must be packaged safely (per CPCB guidelines).
● Labels must be non-washable, weatherproof, and visible.
Transport of Hazardous Waste
● Must comply with Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and CPCB guidelines.
● Occupier must provide transporter with waste hazard details and emergency
instructions.
● Transport requires No Objection Certificate (NOC) from SPCBs of both states.
Hazardous Waste Examples (by Industry)
● Petrochemical processes: oily sludge, tarry residues, spent catalysts.
● Crude oil/gas production: drill cuttings, sludge containing oil.
● Tank cleaning: cargo residue, ballast water with oil/chemicals.
● Zinc production: sludge, zinc ash, flue gas dust.
● Aluminum production: cathode residues, drosses, tar waste.
● Metal surface treatment: acidic/alkaline residues, spent acid/alkali, plating sludge.
● Plastics industry: spent catalysts, process residues.
● Pharmaceutical industry: expired products, spent solvents.
● Electronics industry: process residues, etching chemicals.
● Heavy metal processing: spent acids, residues.
Waste Constituents and Concentration Limits
● Class A: Based on leachable concentration (TCLP/STLC).
● Class B: Based on total threshold concentration (TTLC).
● Class C: Based on hazardous properties:
○ C1: Flammable
○ C2: Corrosive
○ C3: Reactive/explosive
○ C4: Toxic
○ C5: Spontaneous combustion
○ C6: Emits flammable gases with water
○ C7: Oxidizing
○ C8: Organic peroxides
○ C9: Poisons
○ C10: Infectious
○ C11: Releases toxic gases with air/water
○ C12: Eco-toxic
○ C13: Produces hazardous leachate
2. Bio-Medical Waste Management
Applicability
Applies to all generators, collectors, transporters, treaters, or disposers of biomedical waste
including hospitals, clinics, labs, blood banks, camps, and research facilities.
Duties of the Occupier (Healthcare Facility)
● Handle biomedical waste safely to protect health and environment.
● Provide a secured, ventilated storage area.
● Pre-treat lab/microbiological waste, blood samples/bags as per WHO/NACO guidelines.
● Phase out chlorinated bags, gloves, and blood bags within 2 years of rule notification.
● Dispose of non-biomedical waste as per solid waste rules.
● Train all healthcare workers.
● Immunize healthcare workers handling biomedical waste.
● Use a bar-code system for waste bags/containers.
● Segregate liquid chemical waste and treat before mixing with effluents.
● Ensure effluent treatment as per Water Act, 1974.
● Provide protective equipment and conduct annual health checkups.
● Maintain daily records and display monthly data online.
● Report major accidents to authorities.
● Review biomedical waste management every 6 months via a committee.
● Maintain records for 5 years.
● Upgrade incinerators within 2 years to meet emission standards.
Duties of the Operator (Treatment Facility)
● Collect, transport, treat, and dispose of waste safely.
● Ensure timely collection from occupiers.
● Use barcoding and GPS systems.
● Report non-compliance by occupiers.
● Train workers annually.
● Conduct medical exams and immunization for workers.
● Provide protective gear.
● Report accidents and maintain equipment log books.
● Allow occupiers to inspect waste treatment.
● Display authorization and reports on website.
● Give recyclables (plastics/glass) only to authorized recyclers.
● Supply non-chlorinated bags to occupiers.
● Collect waste on holidays.
● Maintain 5-year records.
● Upgrade incinerators to meet emission standards.
3. Plastic Waste Management
Recycled Plastics Usage Rules
● Ban on single-use plastics (from July 1, 2022): earbuds, polystyrene, packaging
wraps, etc.
● Aim: reduce plastic pollution and promote alternatives.
● Challenge: affects informal workers (ragpickers).
● Initiatives: startups like Plastics for Change connect waste pickers with markets.
● Supported by organizations like The Body Shop.
Plastic Usage Conditions
● Carry bags/plastic packaging must:
○ Be natural shade or use approved pigments (IS 9833:1981).
○ Not be used for ready-to-eat food if recycled.
○ Be at least 50 microns thick.
○ Compostable plastics allowed (must meet IS 17088:2008).
○ Sachets for gutkha, pan masala, tobacco are banned.
● Raw material sale only to registered producers.
● Recycling must follow IS 14534:1998 guidelines.
Plastic Waste Management Rules
● Recyclable plastic waste must go to registered recyclers.
● Non-recyclable waste can be used in road construction, energy recovery, or waste-to-oil.
● Local bodies must prevent open burning of plastic.
● Thermoset plastic disposal as per CPCB guidelines.
● Inert waste disposal as per Solid Waste Rules, 2000.
Local Bodies’ Duties
● Ensure segregation, collection, storage, transport, and disposal.
● Prevent environmental damage.
● Channel recyclable plastics to recyclers.
● Process/dispose of non-recyclables as per CPCB.
● Create awareness, involve civil society and waste pickers.
Responsibilities of Waste Generator
● Minimize waste generation.
● Segregate plastic waste at source.
● Store separately and hand over to local bodies, recyclers, or authorized collectors.
Plastic Identification Codes
1. PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
○ Common in: water bottles, soft drink bottles, food packaging.
○ Recyclable into: fibers, carpets, clothing.
2. HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
○ Common in: milk jugs, detergent bottles, toys, pipes.
○ Recyclable into: piping, plastic lumber.
3. V or PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
○ Common in: pipes, flooring, credit cards, medical equipment.
○ Difficult to recycle; can release toxic chemicals.
4. LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
○ Common in: plastic bags, cling wrap, squeezable bottles.
○ Recyclable into: garbage can liners, floor tiles.
5. PP (Polypropylene)
○ Common in: yogurt containers, bottle caps, straws, car parts.
○ Recyclable into: brooms, auto parts, containers.
6. PS (Polystyrene)
○ Common in: disposable cups/plates, egg cartons, Styrofoam.
○ Difficult to recycle; not environmentally friendly.
7. Other (Mixed Plastics, e.g., Polycarbonate, Acrylic)
○ Common in: CDs, baby bottles, medical storage containers.
○ Hard to recycle; sometimes contain BPA (toxic).
📌 Purpose:
● Helps consumers and waste managers identify plastic type.
● Improves segregation and recycling.
● Supports safe disposal and reuse strategies.
4. Battery Waste Management
Producer’s Responsibilities (Extended Producer Responsibility - EPR)
● Register as a producer through the centralized online portal.
● Ensure collection and recycling/refurbishing of waste batteries (no landfill/incineration).
● Meet recycling/refurbishing targets.
● File for renewal of registration in Form 1(A) 60 days before expiry.
● Provide EPR plan with details of battery quantity, weight, and materials.
● May use deposit-refund or buyback schemes for collection.
Consumer’s Responsibilities
● Discard waste batteries separately from other waste.
● Ensure proper disposal through authorized collectors/recyclers.
Other Responsible Bodies
● Public Waste Authorities: manage collection/segregation.
● Collectors/Segregators: handle treatment.
● Refurbishers/Recyclers: recover materials.
● CPCB/SPCBs: monitor, regulate, and impose penalties.
5. Fly Ash Management
Rules
● Mandatory use of fly ash in:
○ Bricks, blocks, tiles.
○ Paving blocks/tiles.
○ Concrete, mortar, plaster.
○ Cement (minimum 15% fly ash).
Targets for Thermal Power Plants
● Achieve 100% fly ash utilization within 3 years.
● Penalty: ₹1,000 per ton for non-compliance.
Monitoring and Compliance
● CPCB oversees implementation.
● Thermal plants must:
○ Submit annual compliance reports.
○ Maintain records of stock/utilization.
○ Install fly ash handling infrastructure.
● A monitoring committee enforces rules.
Benefits
● Reduces environmental impact of construction.
● Improves soil fertility when used as soil conditioner.
● Reduces land needed for ash disposal.
● Promotes sustainability and conservation.
