27 Oct : Recycling capacity of hazardous wastes material is 1.82 million tones per annum in the country today. As per the provisions laid down in the Hazardous Waste Rules, import of certain hazardous wastes are permitted only for the purpose of recycling by those recycling facilities which are registered with the Central Pollution Control Board and are having environmentally sound technologies. A total of 558 units have been registered as recyclers/ reprocessors (both lead and non-ferrous metal wastes) with the Central Pollution Control Board. They have a total permitted recycling capacity of 1.82 million tonnes per annum (approximately).Ministry of Environment & Forests has notified the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Trans-boundary Movement) Rules 2008 and Biomedical (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998, wherein imports of hazardous waste/biomedical waste for the purpose of disposal are not permitted
India-Japan negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) are ongoing. One of the fields identified for cooperation under the proposed Agreement is environment. Ministry of Environment & Forests has notified the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Trans-boundary Movement) Rules 2008 and Biomedical (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998 , as amended from time to time, wherein import of hazardous waste/biomedical waste for the purpose of disposal is not permitted.