HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS : AN ENVIRONMENTAL VIEWPOINT OF INDIAN GOVERNANCE
Disasters occur due to both the natural and man-made activities. Hazards and disasters are categorized into four groups, viz., natural events, technological events, man-made events and region-wise events. The adverse impacts caused due to the indiscriminate disposal of hazardous wastes (HWs) come under the category of environmental disasters. Hazardous Waste Management (HWM) is a very important issue and is assuming significance globally. There is no proper secured landfill facility available in India to dispose of hazardous waste (HW) till 1997. Very few industries in India, mostly in large scale and a few in medium scales, own proper treatment and disposal facilities. A common waste treatment and disposal facility such as treatment, storage and disposal facility (TSDF) for management of HWs generated from industries is one of the useful options under such conditions. Few Guidelines issued by Ministry of Environment and Forests under Hazardous Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 1989 promulgated under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 are available in India for selection of best site for TSDF. The planning for HWM comprises of several aspects ranging from identification and quantification of HW to development and monitoring of TSDF. Currently there are about 30,000 industries generating hazardous waste of the order of 6 Million Tonns per annum in the country. Since industries change their products, processes and capacity of production, and new industries get established periodic, updation of inventories is required. Hazardous Waste regulations, industries are required to store hazardous waste for a period not exceeding 90 days and shall maintain a record of sale, transfer, storage, recycling and reprocessing of such wastes unless the concerned State Pollution Control Board has extended the stipulated period. INTRODUCTION: The hazardous waste (HW) is defined as ‘any substance, whether in solid, liquid or gaseous form, which has no further use and due to physical, chemical, reactive, toxic, flammable, explosive, corrosive, radioactive or infectious characteristics causes danger or is likely to cause danger to health or environment, whether alone or when in contact with other wastes or environment, and should be considered as such when generated, handled, stored, transported, treated and disposed off’. This definition includes any product that releases hazardous substance at the end of its life, if indiscriminately disposed off. The hazardous wastes can be classified into 3 categories and they are as follows - (i) Solid wastes (ii) Liquid wastes (iii) Gaseous wastes (iv) Sludge wastes from various anthropogenic sources. An efficient Hazardous Waste Management protocol needs to be executed; other-wise it may cause land, surface and ground water pollution. The Hazards and Disasters are classified broadly into three categories, they are as follows: Environmental events like hydrometeorological, geological and chemical hazards: Avalanches, cyclones, droughts, dust/sand storms, earth quakes, epidemic diseases, famines, floods, hurricanes, landslides/mud slides, thunders and storms, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, wild-land fires, tsunami, and natural disposal of hazardous chemicals/toxics. Technological events like fire and explosion. Accidents - Industrial, nuclear, radiological, mechanical, electrical accidents, dam failures, and mining accidents. Civil and Man-made events (Bio-Terrorism, Conflicts, Mass poisoning, Mass Hysteria, Sabotage, Assassinations, Vandalism, Transport disasters, etc) and Region-wise events specifically like tsunami in Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India and also earthquakes in China and Japan. The adverse impacts caused due to the indiscriminate disposal of Hazardous Wastes (HWs) come under the category of Technological Disasters. These problems actually caused by rapid, unprecedented and unplanned development programs in pretext of development in industrial sector. Industries, though contribute in development and progress of nation but their wastes and toxic effluents are discharged freely in air, water, and soil which are doing adverse effects to mankind. Similarly, uncontrolled exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources without caring for the waste debris has caused ecological imbalance and pollution hazards in environment. Due to this reason, we have great loss in thousand of species of animal, birds, and plants and also some of them are under constant threat of being extinct in the near future. In 1996-97, 265354 tonnes of soil and other dioxin contaminated material from Times Beach (Missouri, U.S.A) and other locations of eastern Missouri had been cremated. The Bhopal Holocaust (1984) where more than 3000 people died and about 2 lacs were affected by the leakage of MIC (Methyl Isocyanate) gas. Also Love Canal Incident of USA (1978) where residents of this area were evacuated and American Government spent nearly $ 30 billion dollars for cleaning up. The Seveso Incident in North Italy (1976) where contaminated debris in steel drums were disposed inoffensively with barrels of vinegar in a pickle factory and that played a great havoc later on. Methyl mercury poisoning in Minamata Bay of Japan (1956-80) which was caused by leakage of methyl and mercury compounds resulting in death of many people and some of them suffered from diseases like prenatal brain hemorrhage etc. Nuclear accidents at The Three Mile Island nuclear power station of the USA (1979) and Chernobyl in USSR are most threatening and dreadful incidents. Hazardous Waste Management (HWM) is a very important issue and is assuming significance globally. There is no proper secured landfill facility available in India to dispose of hazardous waste (HW) till 1997. Very few industries in India, mostly in large scale and a few in medium scales, own proper treatment and disposal facilities. A common waste treatment and disposal facility such as treatment, storage and disposal facility (TSDF) for management of HWs generated from industries is one of the useful options under such conditions. Few Guidelines issued by Ministry of Environment and Forests under Hazardous Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 1989 promulgated under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 are available in India for selection of best site for TSDF. The planning for HWM comprises of several aspects ranging from identification and quantification of HW to development and monitoring of TSDF. Currently there are about 30,000 industries generating hazardous waste of the order of 6 Million Tonns per annum in the country. Since industries change their products, processes and capacity of production, and new industries get established periodic, updation of inventories is required. Hazardous Waste regulations, industries are required to store hazardous waste for a period not exceeding 90 days and shall maintain a record of sale, transfer, storage, recycling and reprocessing of such wastes unless the concerned State Pollution Control Board has extended the stipulated period. India has been undergoing an industrial revolution in a big way during the last three or four decades. With the recent modernization and liberalization of our country’s industrial policies, it has acquired a further boost. Time is not at all far when India will be counted amongst the highly industrialized country even competing with the most developed western world. The consumer goods will be available freely and with good quality and this will help the exporting the goods, and this will also make an impact on foreign exchange that will flood in our country. Although prosperity will prevail and India will again become the legendary as “Golden Bird”, but we can call this one side of the coin. The other side of the coin is not bright and shining like coin. Looking to the multitudinous and menacing adverse effects of toxic wastes, number of measurements have been already adopted at Regional, National, and International levels from time-to-time. The Stockholm Declaration (1972) on Human Environment also raised its accent concerning the brisk rushing of Science and Technology. Application of geoinformatics with greater use of space based information for mapping and decisions is of key significance in understanding the potential risks and inter-relationship of different environmental/natural and technological challenges. This paper focuses on the treatment, management, and various stratagem to manage the hazardous waste materials and basic steps involved in the comprehensive HWM (CHWM). The current status in India pertaining to generation of HW and the TSDF sites is discussed and try to keep mankind on safe side. WASTE MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS : A STRATAGEM Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules [HW (M&H)] in 1989 through the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Under the HW (M&H) Rules, the hazardous wastes are divided into 18 categories. Moreover, the role and responsibilities of the waste generator, state/central pollution controls boards and state Government is clearly defined. In order to encourage the effective implementation of these rules, the Ministry of Environment & Forests has further brought out the Guidelines for hazardous waste (HW) (M & H) Rules in 1991 giving the technical details of the principles of hazardous waste management (HWM) covered under the HW (M&H) Rules, 1989. However, the selection of a suitable site for an effective functioning of treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSDF) is the key aspect and depends upon several factors such as waste characteristics, site characteristics, public acceptance and prevailing laws & regulations. The facility sitting should also incorporate the protection of human health, environment and property values in a community. Though the selection of an ideal site confirming with the above factors is a difficult task, few Guidelines are available (Guidelines, 1991) in India for selection of best site for the same purpose. In India, unauthorized dumping of HWs is however continuing and in most of the places, the HW is being utilized to fill the low-lying areas which are not acceptable. CLASSIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE GENERATION: The types of hazardous waste materials are classified in different categories and there are 18 categories and some of them are mentioned below. There is a probability of occurrence of wastes in more than one category; and the above classification system does not give any information to understand the toxic characteristics of HW. Waste containing water soluble chemical compounds of lead, copper, zinc, chromium, nickel, selenium, barium and antimony 10 kg per year the sum of the specified substance calculated as pure metal Mercury, arsenic, thallium, and cadmium bearing wastes 5 kg per year the sum of the specified substance calculated as pure metal Wastes from paints, pigments, glue, varnish, and printing ink 250 kg per year calculated as oil or oil emulsions Discarded containers and container liners of hazardous and toxic wastes Irrespective of any quantity. DATA ANTHOLOGY: This methodology involves doing surveys by making various questionnaires, field visits to where the source is indicated and to help to develop the respective inventory. Secondary data can be very much useful in verification. WASTE CLASSIFICATION: The samples collected from the waste generation source are analyzed and provides information on hazardous wastes characterization viz. physical, chemical & general characteristics; and corrosivity, reactivity, ignitability & toxicity. EVALUATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTES: The hazardous wastes are quantified based on their individual characteristics. The several options of compatibility of wastes with different characteristics should be studied and segregated. The quantity of hazardous wastes will be expressed in terms of each category for disposal (e.g. Recyclable, Incinerable, or Disposable etc). IDENTIFICATION OF SITES FOR DISPOSAL: After quantifying the HW, and assessing the probable area requirements for its treatment, storage and disposal, the sites are to be identified. 3. INDIAN DEVELOPMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT: The data on HW generation in few Indian States are mentioned below in Table-1. The data shows that the HW generation is maximum in Maharashtra (45.47%) followed by Gujarat (9.73%). Minimum HW is reported in Chandigarh (0.0069%). The number of industries that generate HW are maximum in Maharashtra (30.38%) followed by Gujarat (22.93%). Table-1: Status of Hazardous Waste Generation in various States of India
| State/Union Territories | Total Districts | Hazardous waste located in Districts | No. of Units in toto |
| Andhra Pradesh | 23 | 22 | 501 |
| Gujarat | 24 | 24 | 2984 |
| Bihar | 55 | 12 | 42 |
| Delhi | 9 | 9 | 403 |
| Goa | 2 | 2 | 25 |
| Assam | 23 | 8 | 18 |
| Karnataka | 27 | 25 | 454 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 61 | 38 | 183 |
| Kerala | 14 | 11 | 133 |
| Orissa | 30 | 17 | 163 |
| Tamil Nadu | 29 | 29 | 1000 |
| West Bengal | 20 | 17 | 435 |
| Punjab | 20 | 25 | 650 |
| India | 550 | 380 | 15011 |
3.1. WASTE CHARACTERIZATION: The HWs are classified into three clusters i.e. Recyclable, Incinerable, and Disposable. The HW generation trends in Maharashtra and India (total) are similar. The quantity of disposable HW (inorganic in nature to be disposed off in landfill) is high compared to the other two categories. 3.2. QUANTIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTES: The quantity of HW generation reported in India is 4415954 from 373 districts out of 524 districts. According to one estimate, the land required to dispose 5.3 million tones of HW in an engineered landfill, assuming the average density of waste to be around 1.2 tonnes/m3 and the depth of the landfill 4 m, would be around 1.08 km2 every year. This information may be rather should be applied to future waste projections to arrive at future land requirements for the disposal of hazardous waste. 4. HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY: 4.1. OBJECTIVE: 1. Effective management of hazardous waste, so as to avoid environmental pollution and adverse health effects due to its improper handing & disposal. 2. To have an appropriate strategy for the regulatory bodies, generators of hazardous waste, its recyclers and operators of facilities to minimize, recycle, treat and dispose of left over hazardous waste in an environmentally sound manner. 3. To facilitate implementation of the action plan brought out in “National Environment Policy 2006” on management aspects of hazardous waste, and to fulfil obligations under the Basel Convention on Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes including their minimization environmentally sound management and active promotion of transfer and use of cleaner technologies. 4.2 PROPOSED ACTIONS: 4.2.a. INVENTORY OF HAZARDOUS WASTE GENERATION: Currently there are about 30,000 industries generating hazardous waste of the order of 6 Million Tonns per annum in the country. Since industries change their products, processes and capacity of production, and new industries get established periodic, updation of inventories is required. It should be made mandatory on the part of industries to report changes/additions in hazardous waste generation and steps taken to reduce generation of waste per unit of production. As per the Hazardous Waste regulations, industries are required to store hazardous waste for a period not exceeding 90 days and shall maintain a record of sale, transfer, storage, recycling and reprocessing of such wastes unless the concerned State Pollution Control Board has extended the stipulated period. The waste could either be recycled /reused or disposed of in captive or common Treatment, Storage and Disposed Facilities (TSDF) available in the state, or be incinerated. Inventories of ‘end of life’ consumer products such as e-waste are also required to be made. 4.2.b. WASTE AVOIDANCE AND WASTE MINIMIZATION AT SOURCE: In the hierarchy of waste management, waste avoidance and waste minimization have to be attempted first, for which dissemination of information on technological options should be a continuing exercise. Promote implementation of recovery of resources such as solvents, other reagents and by-products as well as re-generation of spent catalysts in a time frame manner. 4.2.c. REUSE, RECOVERY AND RECYCLING OF HAZARDOUS WASTE: Industrial associations/industries should explore options/ opportunities of reusing, recovery and recycling of hazardous waste in an environmentally sound manner. Incentivise reprocessors with state-of-the-art facilities to meet CPCB guidelines & beyond. Introduce payback scheme as part of extended corporate responsibility in case of lead-acid batteries. 5. SAFE DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS WASTE: Waste which cannot be reused or recycled has to be disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. Design and operational norms of such facilities, either captive or common should strictly adhere to the guidelines framed by the Central pollution Control Board. Supervision of such facilities during construction stage would be necessary to ensure quality of the construction of the disposal facilities as per guidelines of Central Pollution Control Board. Post-closure monitoring of the disposal facilities would also be necessary. A separate escrow fund needs to be created for this purpose. Common facilities shall be equipped with laboratory facilities to verify waste characteristics so as to decide upon treatment and disposal options including secured land filling or incineration. 6. SETTING-UP OF THE COMMON TREATMENT, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES: Currently there are 25 Common Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities in operation in 12 States. In addition, 64 sites have been identified and 35 sites have been notified for setting up of the disposal facilities. The annual capacities of the TSDFs range from 10,000 T/annum to 1.2 lakhs T/annum with an operating life span of 15-30 years. Common facilities including integrated facilities have to be planned following the polluter pays principle although, at the initial stages, a certain level of assistance from the State Governments could significantly accelerate the process of setting up of these facilities. 7. CONCLUSIONS: Proper treatment, storage prior to treatment or disposal and safe disposal of HWs is the need of the hour. However, the site(s) to be selected for this purpose should fulfill certain criteria. The methodology of site selection may differ from country to country. There is no proper secured landfill facility available in India to dispose of HW till 1997. Guidelines are available in India for Management and Handling of HWs.
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Kaushalraj M. Upadhyaya Asst. Prof. Shri K. A. Pandhi English Medium Law College, Rajkot Mobile: +91-98790-42412 Email : kaushalraj_u@yahoo.com
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