Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2016
Q. Which of the following is/are true regarding Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2016?
1) Rules have been made to distinguish between Hazardous Waste and other wastes for the first time.
2) India has banned the import of solid plastic waste, including PET bottles.- Published on 05 Apr 16a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: Both 1 and 2
- For the first time, Rules have been made to distinguish between Hazardous Waste and other wastes.
- Other wastes include: Waste tyre, paper waste, metal scrap, used electronic items, etc. and are recognized as a resource for recycling and reuse.
- These resources supplement the industrial processes and reduce the load on the virgin resource of the country.
- India has banned the import of solid plastic waste, including PET bottles, as part of new hazardous waste management rules that aims to prevent the country from becoming a dumping yard for industrialised nations.
- Among other items banned for import are waste edible fats and oil of animals, household waste, tyres for direct re-use purpose, solid plastic wastes, including PET bottles, waste electrical and electronic assemblies scrap and other chemical wastes especially in solvent form.
- PET bottles are used by the fibre industry in India and import of plastic waste (PET bottles) is preferred because that ensures bulk availability. But India itself has a huge amount of plastic waste including PET bottles that remain uncollected and harm environment. These rules will ensure their collection and reduce load on our pollution.
