India has a separate set of rules for almost every kind of waste: hazardous, biomedical, plastic, electronic, batteries, construction debris and ordinary solid waste. Each set has its own authorisations, records and penalties, and they overlap more than most businesses expect.
We help generators, transporters, recyclers and producers understand which rules apply to them, get the right authorisations, and respond when a board or the NGT takes action over waste handling.
हिंदी में सारांश
भारत में हर तरह के कचरे के लिए अलग नियम हैं: ख़तरनाक कचरा, बायोमेडिकल, प्लास्टिक, ई-कचरा, बैटरी और ठोस कचरा। ज़्यादातर में बोर्ड से प्राधिकरण, रिकॉर्ड और रिटर्न ज़रूरी हैं। ख़तरनाक कचरा सिर्फ़ अधिकृत व्यक्ति को ही दिया जा सकता है।
Is this your situation?
- Your unit generates hazardous waste and needs authorisation
- You run a hospital, clinic or lab and handle biomedical waste
- You recycle or transport waste and need registration
- You import or export waste or scrap
- You store hazardous chemicals and need to meet safety rules
- You received a notice about waste storage, dumping or vendors
Rules by type of waste
Hazardous waste
Authorisation, safe storage, manifest system for transport, disposal only through authorised facilities.
Biomedical waste
Segregation by colour codes, tie-up with a common treatment facility, records and annual report.
Plastic waste
EPR for producers, importers and brand owners, plus bans on certain single-use items.
E-waste and batteries
EPR registration and targets on CPCB portals.
Construction waste
Segregation, storage on site and delivery to authorised processing.
Solid waste
Duties of bulk waste generators and local bodies.
Where waste handling goes wrong
The most frequent issue is giving hazardous waste to a vendor who is not authorised to receive it, or whose authorisation does not cover that waste. The generator remains responsible, and a board finding waste dumped in the open will trace it back. Other common problems include storage beyond the permitted period, missing manifests, and annual returns not filed.
For hazardous chemicals, the focus is on safety: on-site emergency plans, safety reports for major accident hazard units, and public liability insurance where the Public Liability Insurance Act applies.
Records the board will ask for
Keep these in one place and up to date:
| Record | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Authorisation and its conditions | Shows what you are allowed to generate and store |
| Manifests for each transport | Proves where the waste went |
| Vendor authorisations | Shows the receiver was allowed to take it |
| Annual returns | Required filings under the rules |
| Storage log | Shows waste was not kept beyond the permitted time |
How we help
Map the waste
Every waste stream, its quantity and where it goes.
Check authorisations
For your unit and every vendor.
Fix gaps
Applications, vendor changes and record systems.
Respond to action
Replies, hearings and appeals if notices arrive.
How we work
We are a litigation and advisory practice led by Advocate BK Singh, with offices in Dwarka (New Delhi) and Vaishali (Ghaziabad), working on environmental matters across India.
- Deadline first: we tell you the time limit before anything else.
- Regulator and tribunal: we handle the board stage and the NGT, so nothing is lost between them.
- Plain advice: what we think will happen, including when a case is not worth filing.
- Written fee terms: agreed stage by stage, never linked to the outcome.
Related services
Hazardous waste authorisation · Biomedical waste authorisation · Plastic EPR · E-waste EPR · Battery EPR · Bulk waste generators
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I responsible if my vendor dumps the waste?
Generally yes. The generator must ensure waste goes only to an authorised receiver. Checking vendor authorisations is your protection.
How long can hazardous waste be stored?
Usually up to 90 days under the rules, though the board can allow longer in some cases. Check your authorisation.
Does a small clinic need biomedical waste authorisation?
Yes, most healthcare facilities generating biomedical waste need authorisation and must tie up with a common treatment facility.
Can I import scrap or used goods?
Some waste and scrap imports are allowed with permission, others are prohibited. Check the schedules to the hazardous waste rules before importing.
What is a manifest?
A document that travels with hazardous waste from the generator to the receiver, recording its quantity and nature.
What if waste was dumped on my land by someone else?
Report it to the board and the police. You may need to prove you were not responsible, so act quickly.
Waste or chemicals question?
Send us your authorisation or the notice. We will tell you what needs fixing.
This page gives general information about environmental law as it stood when it was last reviewed. It is not legal advice on your case and does not promise any result. Laws, rules and time limits change, so check the current position for your matter before acting.
Need help with Waste Management and Hazardous Substances Law?
Send us the notice, the order or a few photos. We'll tell you where you stand, which authority or NGT bench deals with it and when the next step is due, in plain words.
