MAHARASHTRA POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
A NOTE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TECHNOLOGIES FOR RE-REFINING/RECYCLING OF USED OIL/WASTE OIL
1) Background:
The Hazardous Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, as amended on May 20, 2003, have come into force from the date of their publication in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II (3) (ii) No. 471 dated May 23, 2003. As per Rule 21 of HW Rules, it is mandatory that re-refining/recycling of the used oil/waste oil is done only through application of environmentally sound technologies (EST’s). Existing industries are required to switch over within six months from the date of commencement of the HW Rules to other EST’s mentioned in the HW Rules.
As per Rule 4, it shall be the responsibility of the occupier and the operator of facility, to take all steps to ensure that the wastes listed in schedules-1, 2 and 3 of the HW Rules, are properly handled and disposed of without any adverse effects to the environment. He will also take adequate steps while handling the hazardous wastes to-
- Contain contaminants and prevent accidents and limit their consequences on human and the environment;
provide persons working on the site with information, training and equipment necessary to ensure their safety.
2) Environmentally Sound Technologies (EST’s)
Rule 21 provides for the technology and standards for re-refining/recycling of used oil/waste oil in an environmentally sound manner. EST’s stipulated in the HW Rules are as under:
- Vacuum distillation with clay treatment.
- Thin-film evaporation process.
- Vacuum distillation hydro treating.
- Any technology approved by the MoEF. The approved technologies and standards have distinctive advantages such as :
- The re-refining/recycling is done without adding any chemicals or other substances, which can increase the quantity or toxicity of waste generated in the whole process.
- The quality of products are of accepted standards for the purposes for which they are intended.