For the first time, the new draft rules on solid waste management released by environment ministry, clearly defines what comprises of sanitary waste that did not find even a mention in its previous version in force since 2000.
The new rules released along with draft rules on managing plastic waste, electronic waste and biomedical waste defines sanitary waste as "wastes comprising of used diapers, sanitary towels or napkins, tampons, condoms, incontinence sheets any similar waste." The rules state that these wastes should also be wrapped before dumping it.
The draft rules forms a part of the ministry's plan to completely change the way different types of wastes is managed in the country's urban, semi-urban and rural areas. The ministry is currently seeking suggestions and objections on these draft rules for a period of 60 days before they are finalised. Many of the provisions of these new rules are in line to tackle the environmental hazards posed by landfills or dumpsites over the past years.
For instance, the draft rules on plastic waste management have said that three years after the rules are enforced, producers will have to stop use of multi-layered packaging and switch over to use of plastic which is recyclable or compostable, for packaging commodity. Activists working with waste-pickers welcomed the clarity on sanitary waste included in the new rules. "It is certainly a positive step but a lot of things depend on implementation. We are still studying the draft rules to send our suggestions and objections to the ministry," said Lakshmi Narayan, a Pune-based activist has been involved with women waste-pickers. According to an ASSOCHAM study conducted in August 2013, the total consumption of plastics in India is about 4 million tonnes and the waste produced is about 2 million tonnes
The draft solid waste management rules have this time around stressed the need to deal with existing dumpsites or landfills that are overflowing. The rules ask urban local bodies to "close down, remediate wherever feasible and cap the existing dumpsites, which are not engineered landfill sites. In fact, for twin cities or group of cities, the rules have asked for establishment of common landfills falling within 50kms (or more) radius on a cost sharing basis. This may usher in creation of common waste handling facilities for several metros and neighbouring cities such as Mumbai - Navi Mumbai and National Capital Region.
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