Experts stress on effective waste management

Hazardous wastes, if not properly managed, can pose a serious threat to the environment including land, water, flora and fauna.

Since industrialization and economic growth is accompanied with increased generation of waste, management and handling of these wastes have assumed importance in the states like Orissa. For every Rs 50,000 the country spends, 1 kg of hazardous waste is generated. In this context, the industries generating waste need to be familiar with management of these hazardous material, feel the experts.

Participating in a seminar on Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the experts stressed on the need of effective waste management. There are 36,000 hazardous waste generating industries in the country which generate 62,33,000 tonnes of wastes per annum. About 50 percent of these material is recyclable, about 7 percent is incinerable and 43.78 percent is land disposable.

In this context, there is a need for adoption of multiple approaches to manage hazardous waste, strengthening of legislation and ensuring and enabling compliance to proactive engagement of the industry in reducing the quantum of waste generated.

Besides, experts emphasized on increasing environmentally sound recycling of the waste; moving towards greener production and consumption practices and adoption of new technologies of waste management.

Speaking in the inaugural function Sidhant Das, member secretary, Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) said, though modern industries are aware of the impact of waste, they are negligent if a regulation is not imposed. The Seminar was attended by major industries in Orissa, Karnataka, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.