Govt decides to ban import of tyres, edible fats for recycling

Streamlining the implementation of hazardous waste management for its effective disposal, the government has decided to ban the import of tyres, waste edible fats, animal and vegetable oils and critical care medical equipment for the purpose of recycling.
Bringing amendments to the Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008, which are expected to be notified soon by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the import of tyres, household and edible fats waste, oils of animal and vegetable origin and critical care medical equipment have been added to the prohibited list, a top ministry official said.

The changes to the Act were made as vegetable oils and animal fats are said to produce similar effects on environment as by petroleum oils. They can cause devastating environmental effects, such as coating animals and plants with oil and suffocating them by oxygen depletion.
"There are about 41,523 number of hazardous waste generating industries in India generating about 7.90 million tonnes per annum of hazardous waste," the official said.
These wastes are categorised into three components -- recyclable, land fillable and incinerable or capable of being destroyed by burning, he said.
The new norms will also enable industries wanting to dispose their hazardous waste in other states to do so without obtaining any no-objection certificate from the respective state government.

There are 36 common hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities, including incinerators and secured landfill facilities, located in 16 states and union territories.
"The waste generated in remaining states have limited or inadequate options for disposal due to hindrances in interstate movement and permissions. The new rules will not require them to obtain NoC from other states for disposal," the official said.
Hazardous waste includes wastes which have characteristic of being chemical, reactive, toxic, flammable, explosive or corrosive.