The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000

The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India have notified Municipal Solid Waste (M&H) Rules, 2000 under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986. As per the provisions of the implementation schedules prescribed in the said rules, local bodies are required to set up waste processing and disposal facilities by 31.12.2003, the existing landfill sites are to be improved by 31.12.2001 and landfill sites for future use are to be identified by 31.12.2002.

Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board has addressed all local bodies in Tamilnadu to take necessary steps for compliance with various provisions of the said rules. Though composting and landfill have been specified as waste treatment/disposal option, Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board is advocating the concept of segregation at source, reduction, recycle and reuse of waste. This is done keeping in view of the high capital cost and operating cost involved in construction, operation of landfill. Few private entrepreneurs have established composting facilities for composting municipal solid waste. Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board is emphasizing the development of a system of primary collection of segregated waste.

Incineration of unsegregated municipal solid wastes is not allowed in view of the hazards generated due to incomplete combustion and formation of dioxins and furans.

In order to have an effective management of municipal solid waste generated, segregation of wastes at source (individual houses) must be carried out. Segregation can be done as wet compostable , dry recyclable, domestic hazardous, inert wastes, construction debris, etc. Segregated waste must be collected house-to-house. The compostable wastes can be composted in a composting yard. Recyclable wastes can be sent to scrap dealers for recycling. The domestic hazardous, inert wastes, construction debris can be land filled in a secure landfill site. By segregating the wastes at source, the quantity of municipal solid wastes coming to the landfill site will be reduced by 60% thereby the requirement of land for land filling will be reduced.

All the local bodies have initiated action for segregation of wastes at source and for door to door collection. Few local bodies have started identification of land for composting of municipal solid wastes.

All the Local bodies are in the process of identification of site for composting and secure landfill. All the Municipal Commissioners have been instructed to take action to stop the disposal of unsegregated municipal solid wastes into low lying areas and water bodies in order to prevent water pollution. Further, Board initially issues “ NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE” to the sites selected by the local body if the site is found suitable. This is done to speedup the process of settingup the compost facilities by the local bodies. So far 90 out of 152 Municipalities have been issued NOC for the site selected by them and 45 NOC have been converted as authorisation. One corporation (Tirunelveli) has also been issued NOC. Further, a biomethanation plant has been set up to produce electricity by using the vegetable and other organic wastes from Koyambedu Vegetable Market Complex. Authorisation under the Municipal Solid Wastes (M&H) Rules, 2000 and Consent to Operate under the Water and Air Acts have issued to the CMDA by the Board , The plant is under operation.

The Noise Pollution (Regulation & control) Rules, 2000

Noise generated from machineries, industries, vehicles, power stations, loud speakers and other activities not only cause health hazard to human beings, but also cause stress. In order to control and regulate noise emission in the ambient the Government of India have notified in the year 2000, the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

Ambient Air Quality standards in respect of Noise for areas/zones are given below:

Actual bulk consumers, including Central/State Government Departments and State Transport Corporations are requested to deposit the used lead acid batteries with the dealer, actual manufacturer or registered recycler, reconditionar or at there designated collection centers. Dealers have also been made responsible for collection and handling over the batteries to designate collection centres and registered recyclers.

The auctioneers are also requested to auction the used batteries only to registered recyclers. The purpose of this rule is channelise the used lead acid batteries to units who adopt environmentally sound technology for recovering lead from these wastes. Consequently the rule would result in substantial reduction in the supply of lead scrap and used batteries to backyard smelters. Processing of lead in such back yard smelter could result in lead poisoning and anemia due to exposure to air borne lead.

Manufacturers/assemblers/reconditioners/importers/auctioners/userconsumers are requested to furnish half-yearly returns to 'State Pollution Control Board' by 30th June and 31st December every year in the prescribed format.

The rule also provides for a collection schedule based on the quantities of batteries sold. Accordingly the dealers are required to collect 50% of the new batteries sold by the end of first year and 90% of new batteries sold by the end of year of implementation of the rules. Manufacturers, Recyclers and dealers are requested either contact Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board Corporate Office or concerned Joint Chief Environmental Engineers, District Environmental Engineers and Assistant Environmental Engineers for any further clarification.