The Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, notified the Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules on July 28, 1989 under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which was further amended in the year 2000 and 2003 and recently The Hazardous Wastes(Management,Handling and Transboundry Movement) Rules,2008 were notified for effective management of hazardous waste (HW), mainly solids, semi-solids and other industrial wastes, which do not come under the purview of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 and also to enable the Authorities to
control storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste in an environmentally sound manner. The objective for introduction of such Rules is to ensure safe management of hazardous waste, generated from different industrial sources. The Rules define various categories of hazardous waste, based on the process listing (waste streams) and concentration of
hazard components. The regulatory mechanism for enforcement of the Rules is the responsibility of the State Pollution Control Boards.