Question : MONITORING OF WASTE MANAGEMENT

(a) whether industrial waste/e-waste is increasing in various parts of the country including the metropolitan cities;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether there is any effective mechanism for proper disposal management and handling of waste being generated in the metropolitan cities;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether Government has formulated any system to monitor the waste/e-waste management;

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(g) the action plan drawn to address the issue?

MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)

(a) to (g) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

THE STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARAS (a),(b),(c),(d),(e),(f) & (g) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.176 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.7.2009 ON MONITORING OF WASTE MANAGEMENT RAISED BY SHRI BAIJAYANT JAY PANDA & SHRI N. CHALUVARAYA SWAMY:

(a) & (b) As per information of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), there are 36,165 of hazardous waste generating industries in the country, generating about 6.2 MT hazardous waste every year, of which Landfillable waste is 2.7 MT, Incinerable 0.41 MT and Recyclable Hazardous Waste 3.08 MT.

(c) & (d) The Ministry of Environment and Forests has notified the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008, for proper management and handling of hazardous wastes. The industries generating hazardous wastes are required to be regulated as per these Rules. The State Governments have the responsibility for identifying sites for setting-up of Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDFs) for disposal of waste in an environmentally sound manner.

(e) & (f) As per Hazardous Waste Rules, 2008, the industrial units generating hazardous waste are required to seek authorization from respective State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees. The units undertaking recycling/reprocessing of hazardous wastes listed in Schedule IV are required to be registered with Central Pollution Control Board. This includes electronic waste. CPCB prescribes standards for environmentally sound management of waste.

(g) The Ministry and the CPCB are organizing training programmes for creation of awareness about the provisions laid down in the HW Rules. Guidelines have been published on various aspects of the hazardous waste management for ensuring compliance of the aforesaid Rules. The respective SPCBs/PCCs are monitoring the units generating hazardous wastes.This Ministry provides financial assistance on a cost sharing basis for setting-up of TSDFs. The functioning of TSDFs is monitored by the concerned State Pollution Control Boards.