Key Points
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a directive for the comprehensive execution of the 'Framework on Identification of Materials Generated from Industrial Processes as Wastes or By-Products,' which was initially promulgated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in September 2019...
The underlying objective of this framework is to prevent hazardous waste from escaping thorough scrutiny under the Hazardous and Other Waste Management Rules, 2016, by being erroneously labeled as a by-product..
"Currently, there is lack of implementation or rather non-implementation of the aforesaid Framework, which also includes the issue of import of material that is apprehended to be a hazardous waste but gets misclassified as a by-product such as Sulphuric acid produced by smelters..
"This laxity on the part of the regulatory authorities has led to a situation where hazardous wastes and by-products are not being appropriately identified and being handled in accordance with the Framework Guidelines," the order said...
The NGT has instructed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to collaborate with the CPCB and state pollution control boards to ensure the effective application of the framework...
