The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, has released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and checklist for the utilization of spent Calcium Chloride powder.
This waste, generated from the manufacturing of Triethyl Phosphite (TEP) and Trimethyl Phosphite (TMP), is now authorized for reuse in the production of Pigment Violet under Rule 9 of the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 (HOWM Rules).
✅ Key Highlights of the SOP:
- Eligibility: Only units utilizing spent calcium chloride for industrial-grade Pigment Violet (excluding food, pharma, healthcare, and cosmetics) are eligible.
- Purity Requirement: The powder must have a calcium chloride content of approx. 87.82%.
- Process Description: Includes ball milling, filtration, drying, and reuse of calcium chloride, with zero liquid discharge (ZLD) or ETP compliance.
- End-Use Declaration: All Pigment Violet products must be labeled indicating use of hazardous waste as raw material.
📋 Checklist of Minimal Facilities Required:
- Brick-lined dedicated storage area
- Mechanized, closed-system transfer of materials
- HDPE vessels, ball mill, filter press, dryer
- Air Pollution Control Devices like cyclone separators & bag filters
- Wastewater treatment via ETP or CETP
- Fire safety and PPE compliance
- Record maintenance via the National Hazardous Waste Tracking System (NHWTS)
🔄 SPCB/PCC Responsibilities:
- Authorization only after ensuring source, end-use, and SOP compliance
- Quarterly verification for 1 year, then annual monitoring
- Maintain a public list of authorized units
- Ensure tracking via manifest system and passbooks
📢 Environmental Safeguards & Legal Obligations:
- Any deviation from SOP must be referred to CPCB
- Units are liable for remediation in case of environmental damage
- Compliance with Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 is mandatory
This initiative supports resource recovery while ensuring environmental safety, marking a significant step towards circular economy practices in India’s hazardous waste management framework.
