Domestic Hazardous Waste (DHW) is any chemical or product that could endanger environmental or human health if mishandled. It can lead to serious illness or environmental contamination when improperly stored, transported, or disposed of. Common examples of DHW include auto batteries, fertilizers, non-alkaline batteries, and paint. When such waste ends up in the trash, down drains, or on land, it puts trash collectors at risk and contaminates our water and soil.
Domestic Hazardous Waste in India
According to research conducted in 2020 by scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and IIT Bombay, toxic heavy metals and persistent organic contaminants, including pesticides, are alarmingly high in DHW in India. This was discovered after analysing fine particles from eight dump sites around the country. Despite this, segregation of DHW remains a challenge for many Indian cities due to a lack of vigorous framework and infrastructure. Currently, Indore is the only recognized city in India that safely manages its DHW.
Regulating Household Waste: Solid Waste Management Rules 2016
Management of household waste in India is guided by the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016. According to these rules, household waste is divided into two categories: dry and wet waste. Wet waste refers to any waste that degrades or decomposes naturally, while other forms of waste fall under the classification of dry waste.
Issues with Solid Waste Management Rules 2016
The Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, however, have some shortcomings. Firstly, they only vaguely define DHW, leaving room for interpretation by local government bodies and households which often results in improper classification and handling of waste. Additionally, provisions of these rules like segregation of waste into wet, dry and hazardous categories, and the collection of hazardous waste by local government bodies have not been fully translated on the ground.
The Challenge of Disposal
Another pressing issue is the absence of adequate disposal facilities for DHW. Ideally, these facilities should have engineered landfills to prevent percolation of toxic leachate into the ground, or controlled incinerators to burn the waste without causing environmental harm. However, as of 2019, there were only 45 such facilities in the country, according to the Handbook on Chemicals and Hazardous Waste Management and Handling in India.
Proposed Solutions: The Role of Extended Producer Responsibility
Considering these challenges, a possible solution is the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Under EPR, manufacturers are responsible for collecting and recycling their post-consumer products. Currently, India only has an EPR policy for plastic products and electronic and electrical equipment, but it could be beneficial to extend this policy to cover DHW. This approach has been effective in Canada since the 1990s, relieving the government and taxpayers of the DHW collection burden.
Further, authorities should ensure safe storage and transportation of DHW to disposal facilities. As per the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, it is the municipal authorities’ responsibility to collect hazardous waste periodically and establish deposit centres for waste generators. These measures will significantly improve the management of DHW in India.