Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste means any waste which by reason of any of its physical, hemical, reactive, toxic,inflammable,explosive or corrosive characteristics causes danger or is likely to cause danger to health or environment, whether alone or in contact with other wastes and substances(Hazardous wastes(Management and Handling) Amendment Rules,2003).It includes:

a) Wastes listed in column(3) of Schedule-1 of the Hazardous Waste(Management and Handling) Rules,1989(framed under the Environment Protection Act,1986), as amended in 2000 and 2003.

b) Waste having constituents listed in Schedule-2 of the amendment Rules,if their concentration is equal to more than the limit indicated in the said Schedule.

c) Wastes listed in lists A and B of Schedule-3(Part-A) of the above Rules applicable only in cases of import or export of hazardous waste in accordance with Rule-12,13 and 14 , if they possess any of the hazardous characteristics listed in Part-B of Schedule-3.

During the past couple of decades, concern for the diversity and quality of hazardous wastes generated by industrial activities and its effect on health and environment has increased considerably.Such wastes are usually residues of industrial operations involving heavy metals such as nickel,chrome,lead,mercury,etc; or utilizing different categories of oil and petrochemicals.Wastes from photocopiers and electronic equipments;chemicals such as Polychlorinated Biphenyls(PCBs); and by-products such as dioxins and furans and also recognized as extremely hazardous affecting all forms of life.Hazardous wastes in certain cases are also generated from process of treatment of wastewater and emissions of industries.Depending upon their characteristics,nature, and concentration of contaminants, some of these wastes are extremely toxic.

• District-wise generation of waste,2003

• District-wise generation of waste,2007

• Hazardous waste (Management and Handling) rules.