Solid Plastic Waste for Recycling Allowed in SEZ

Post Consumption Waste such as Plastic Bags not Allowed

The government has notified ‘Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016’ in April for better management, handling and trans-boundary movement of hazardous and other wastes.

Government has allowed companies located in special economic zones (SEZs) to import solid plastic waste.

The Environment Ministry has permitted the import by amending the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.

“The import of solid plastic waste at column (2) against Basel Number B3010 in Schedule VI, excluding post consumer wastes, is permitted to units in SEZs notified by the central government,” the ministry said in a notification.

SEZ units can import plastic or mixed plastic waste prepared to a specification, it added.

New ‘Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016’ in April for better management, handling and trans-boundary movement of hazardous and other wastes.

Wastes are not allowed for disposal but only for recycling, recovery, reuse and utilisation, including co-processing are covered.

Import of listed hazardous waste would be allowed to actual users with prior informed consent of the exporting country and that will require the permission of the Environment Ministry.

[Ref: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Notification dated 6 July 2016]

G.S.R 670 (E).- In exercise of powers confirmed by sections 6, 8 and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 ( 29 of 1986), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules to amend the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, namely:-

1. (1) These rules may be called Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2016.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. In the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 (hereinafter referred to the said rules), in rule 12, after sub-rule (6), the following sub-rule shall be inserted, namely:-

“ 6A. The import of solid plastic waste at column (2), against Basel Number B3010 in Schedule VI, excluding post consumer wastes, is permitted to units in Special Economic Zones notified by the Central Government.”.

3. In the said rules, in Schedule III, in the Note, for the portion beginning with the words “ **** Import permitted in the country” and ending with the words “domestically manufactured”, the following shall be substituted, namely:-

“ **** Import permitted in the country to the actual users or trader in accordance with the documents required and verified by the Custom Authority as specified under Schedule VIII of these rules. The policy for free trade for multifunction print and copying machine to be reviewed once the MFDs are domestically manufactured.” .

4. In the said rules, in Schedule VI, after the entries in column (2) against Basel Number B3010, the following Note shall be inserted, namely:-

“Note.- Import is permitted to the units in special economic zones notified by the Central Government.”

[F. No. 23-76 009-HSMD]

Online application for Import/Export of Hazardous waste to be made mandatory from October 2016