Is hazardous waste management really necessary? Regulations on hazardous waste management and treatment

Hazardous waste management is becoming a major challenge in the context of increasing environmental pollution. If not collected and treated properly, these types of waste can seriously affect the ecosystem as well as human health. Applying effective management measures and complying with technical standards is an essential solution to minimize negative impacts. Thereby moving towards a safer and more sustainable living environment. Follow the article below of Green In For more details!

1. What is hazardous waste?

According to Clause 20, Article 3 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, hazardous waste is waste containing toxic, radioactive, infectious, flammable, explosive, corrosive, toxic or other hazardous properties.

2. Negative impacts of hazardous waste 

Pursuant to Clause 20, Article 3 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, hazardous waste is hazardous waste containing toxic, radioactive, infectious, flammable, explosive, corrosive, toxic or other hazardous properties. Hazardous waste comes from many different sources such as: household activities, industry, healthcare, electronic equipment, radioactive waste, special waste. Specifically, the list of hazardous waste is specified in Section C, Form No. 1, Appendix 3 issued with Circular 02/2022/TT-BTNMT dated January 10, 01.
Hazardous waste causes many negative impacts on the environment and human health due to the toxic components it contains. Specifically:

• Environmental degradation: When not properly disposed of, hazardous waste can pollute water, air and soil, seriously affecting ecological balance and quality of living environment.
• Threat to human health: Direct or indirect exposure through contaminated air, water, food can lead to serious problems such as skin, respiratory, digestive, neurological diseases and even cancer.
• Ecosystem Impact: Toxic substances can accumulate in animals through the food chain, causing damage to the liver, kidneys, respiratory and digestive systems, and even leading to death. For plants, the absorption of pollutants from soil and water can reduce productivity, weaken crops and kill plants.

3. Regulations on hazardous waste management

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued a list of hazardous wastes to support their monitoring and safe handling. This list helps classify types of hazardous waste, thereby providing appropriate storage, transportation and disposal methods to minimize risks to humans and the environment.
Identification and management of hazardous waste plays an important role for manufacturing enterprises as well as households, in order to protect the environment and public health. Circular No. 02/2022/TT-BTNMT issued on January 10, 01 details a number of articles of the Law on Environmental Protection, including contents related to the list of hazardous waste, industrial waste requiring control and ordinary industrial solid waste. This Circular clearly stipulates waste codes and identifies types of industrial waste requiring control, including hazardous waste and ordinary industrial solid waste.
The determination of whether industrial waste requiring control belongs to the group of hazardous waste or ordinary industrial solid waste is carried out according to environmental technical regulations on hazardous waste thresholds. If there is no clear distinction, industrial waste requiring control will be managed as hazardous waste. In case there are no technical regulations for some hazardous components or properties, the national environmental protection standards of countries in the Group of Developed Industrial Countries will be applied.
For ordinary industrial solid waste, the collection, classification and reuse as raw materials, fuels or materials for production activities are encouraged. The Circular also stipulates technical requirements for environmental protection at collection points and transfer stations for domestic solid waste, ensuring close connection between collection, transportation and treatment. The collection radius at households, organizations and individuals along with the environmental safety distance must comply with the provisions of QCVN 01:2021/BXD - National technical regulation on construction planning issued by the Minister of Construction.
Waste collection points must be equipped with storage devices with a capacity suitable for the storage time, ensuring that there is no leakage of wastewater into the environment. At the same time, cleaning and deodorizing must be carried out after each operation. For collection points operating at night (from 18:06 p.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX a.m. the following morning), a lighting system must be fully installed to ensure safety and operational efficiency.

4. Regulations on hazardous waste treatment

Waste treatment is regulated in Article 84 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. Specifically, this article stipulates: 
- Hazardous waste must be treated with appropriate technology and comply with environmental protection laws.
- The State encourages and has preferential policies for organizations and individuals to participate in investing and providing hazardous waste treatment services; encourages investment in facilities providing hazardous waste treatment services at the regional level; and encourages co-treatment of hazardous waste.
- Facilities providing hazardous waste treatment services must meet the following requirements:
+ Comply with the national environmental protection plan or plan with content on hazardous waste treatment, except for the case of facilities co-treating hazardous waste;
+ Ensure environmental safety distance according to regulations;
+ Hazardous waste treatment technology must be assessed and commented upon according to the provisions of law on technology transfer; encourage the application of environmentally friendly technology, the best available techniques, treatment technology combined with energy recovery;
+ Have environmental license;
+ Have personnel in charge of environmental protection trained in environmental or relevant professional fields;
+ Have safe operating procedures for technology, vehicles, and specialized equipment;
+ Have an environmental management plan including pollution control and waste management; labor safety, labor hygiene; prevention and response to environmental incidents; annual training and periodic training; environmental monitoring program; assessment of hazardous waste treatment effectiveness; pollution treatment plan, environmental improvement after completion of activities;
+ Environmental protection deposit as prescribed in Article 137 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 in case of waste burial activities.
- The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgates criteria on hazardous waste treatment technology; guides the implementation of Point g, Clause 3, Article 84 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020.
- Provincial People's Committees organize the implementation of planning with contents on hazardous waste treatment; do not restrict the collection of hazardous waste arising in other provincial administrative units for treatment at facilities providing hazardous waste treatment services in the area.

5. Conclusion

Hazardous waste management is an important task to protect the environment and human health. By strictly implementing the collection, storage and treatment measures in accordance with regulations, you not only ensure a clean living environment but also contribute to sustainable development. Follow now Green In to learn more new and useful things!