Hazardous and Other Waste (Management & Trans-boundary Movement) Rules, 2016

Hazardous and Other Waste (Management & Trans-boundary Movement) Rules, 2016 were notified to ensure environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes.

Salient Features: The scope of the rules has been expanded as compared to the previous rules.

• It establishes a Waste management hierarchy in the sequence of priority as – prevention, minimization, reuse, recycling, recovery, co-processing; and safe disposal being incorporated.
• The process of import/export of waste under the rules has been streamlined by simplifying the procedure and by revising the 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 have been exempted from the need of obtaining Ministry’s permission.

The list of waste prohibited for import has been revised by inclusion of following items –

• Waste edible fats and oils of animals or vegetable origin,
• Household waste,
• Critical care medical equipment,
• Solid plastic wastes, and
• Other chemical wastes especially in solvent form.
• The rules have an important provision on regulation of import/export of hazardous waste in pursuance to India’s obligation under the Basel Convention on Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

Amendment in Hazardous and Other Waste (Management & Trans-boundary Movement) Rules, 2016

• In order to strengthen the implementation of environmentally sound management of hazardous waste in the country, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has amended the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Trans-boundary Movement) Rules, 2016 on 1 March 2019.
• The amendment has been done keeping into consideration the “Ease of Doing Business” and boosting “Make in India” initiative by simplifying the procedures under the Rules, while at the same time upholding the principles of sustainable development and ensuring minimal impact on the environment.

Salient Features: Solid plastic waste has been prohibited from import into the country including in Special Economic Zones and by Export Oriented Units.

• Exporters of silk waste have now been given exemption from requiring permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Electrical and electronic assemblies and components manufactured in and exported from India, if found defective can now be imported back into the country, within a year of export, without obtaining permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Industries which do not require consent under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, are now exempted from requiring authorization also under the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, provided that hazardous and other wastes generated by such industries are handed over to the authorized actual users, waste collectors or disposal facilities.