Lok Sabha Question No. 1866 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-21
Subject: Waste Generated from Scrap Tyres
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: UDIT RAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1866.

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2018

## Waste Generated from Scrap Tyres

## 1866. DR. UDIT RAJ:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  harmful  waste  is  being  created  form  scrap  tyres  which  are  imported  from foreign countries and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  licenses  for  import  of  scrap  tyres  which  are  being  used  forproducing crumb  rubber  are  given  for  huge  quantities  ranging  from  100  tonnes  to  10,000 tonnes and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  importers  are  directly  selling  crumb  rubber  to  the  unauthorized  pyrolysis plants for oil production at a commission which is a violation of licensing laws as well and are creating India a dumping waste site and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  certain  importers  having  very  low  capacity  and  even  not  having  working factories are given licenses for import of more than 1000 tonnes; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measure taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) In the process of recovery of crumb rubber from imported or indigenously generated scrap tyres, other materials such as iron scrap and fibres are also produced.Such processing if done in an environmentally sound manner does not have environmental impact.

(b)& (c) Theimport and export of hazardous and other waste is regulated under the Hazardous and Other Waste (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016. Import of scrap tyre  is  permitted  only  to  actual  users  for  making  crumb  and  reclaim  rubber  i.e.  only  to producers  of  crumb  rubber  having  facilities  as  per  the  Standard  Operating  Procedures  as published by the Ministry/Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)and  having  valid authorisation and consent to operate/establish from State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution  Control  Committees  (PCCs).  The  permission  for  import  of  waste  tyres including  other  materials  such  as  lead  acid  batteries,  waste  glass,  used  equipment  etc.  is granted  on  case  to  case  basis.  The  Expert  Committee  in  the  Ministry  examines  each  such applications for import/export and recommends for export or import. The quantityof import of tyre scrap is restricted only to a part of the annual processing capacity of the unit while the remaining quantity is to be collected indigenously for full utilisation of consented capacity as granted by the state pollution control boards.

(d) & (e) The importing units are inspected by the pollution control boards at regular interval to  ensure  environmental  sound  handling  of  such  scrap.  It  also  ensures  that  the  pollution control  devices  and  machineries  are  put  in  place  and  are  functional  as  per  the  Standard Operating Procedures published by the Ministry/CPCB. The Permission is granted with the condition that the crumb rubber should only be sold to the manufacturers of reclaimed rubber, foot wear, sports ground surface, carpets, mats etc.

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