Hazardous waste management in india and iraq By Peshang Hama Karim & prasad subhash sawant

1. Warsaw University of Technology
Faculty of Environmental Engineering
Environmental Protection Management
[Project]
Hazardous Waste Management in India & Iraq
Prepared by:
Peshang Hama Karim
Prasad Sawant
Supervised by:
M.Eng. Dominika Mucha
December 2018

2. 2
1.Hazardous waste: Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………. 1
2. Sources of Hazardous waste in India and Iraq ……………………………………………………….….…2
3.Problems in managing Hazardous waste and Current situation …………………………………….4
4. Key differences between Hazardous waste in India and Iraq ………………………………….…...6
5. Proposed Standard International Solutions for managing Hazardous waste …………………7
6.Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………8

3. 1
1. Introduction: Hazardous waste
1.1 Definition:
Hazardous waste is waste that has substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment.
Characteristic hazardous wastes are materials that are known or tested to exhibit one or more of the
following hazardous traits:
• Ignitability: Ignitable wastes can create fires under certain conditions, are spontaneously
combustible, or have a flash point less than 60 °C (140 °F). Examples include waste oils and used
solvents. The image 1 represents the Ignitability symbol.
Image 1: Ignitability symbol
• Reactivity: Reactive wastes are unstable under "normal" conditions. They can cause explosions,
undergo violent reactions, generate toxic fumes, gases, or vapors or explosive mixtures when
heated, compressed, or mixed with water. The image 2 represents the Reactivity symbol.
Image 2: Reactivity symbol
• Corrosivity: Corrosive wastes are acids or bases (pH less than or equal to 2, or greater than or
equal to 12.5) and/or are capable of corroding metal containers, such as storage tanks, drums, and
barrels. Battery acid is an example. The image 3 represents the Corrosivity symbol.
Image 3: Corrosivity symbol
• Toxicity: Toxic wastes are harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed (e.g., containing mercury,
lead, etc.). When toxic wastes are land disposed, contaminated liquid may leach from the waste
and pollute ground water.
Image 4: Toxicity symbol
Hazardous wastes may be found in different physical states such as gaseous, liquids, or solids. A
hazardous waste is a special type of waste because it cannot be disposed of by common means
like other by-products of our everyday lives. Depending on the physical state of the waste,
treatment and solidification processes might be required.

4. 2
Sources of hazardous waste in India and Iraq
1. India
India is a developing country, and waste from industries is a major source of hazardous waste
in developing countries, but industrial hazardous waste sources presents greater risks in
developing countries than in developed countries because of poor management and obsolete
technologies, multinational companies often set their plants in developing countries so, that
they can use technologies banned in the home country.
India Map (1)*
The major source of hazardous solid wastes in our country are industrial activities, agriculture
and Argo-industries, medical facilities, commercial centres, household and the informal
sector.
Another major contributor to Hazardous waste is waste coming from hospitals and clinics,
which consists of syringes, severed body parts, foetuses and bandages etc. These types of
waste have the ability to infect other living organisms.
The hazardous waste generated in the country per annum is estimated to be around 4.4
million tonnes while as per the estimates of Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) derived from correlating hazardous waste generation and economic
activities, nearly five million tonnes of hazardous waste are being produced in the country
annually. Out of this, 38.3% is recyclable, 4.3% is incinerable and the remaining 57.4% is
disposable in secured landfills. Thirteen States of the country (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil
Nadu, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana, Karnataka and Rajasthan) account for 97% of total hazardous waste generation.
On the other hand, states such as Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, all the North Eastern
States excepting Assam generate less than 20,000 MT per annum. Given the wide variations
in quantity and nature of waste generated across states and union territories (UTs) and
considering the wide variations in climatic as well as hydro-geological conditions in different
regions of the country, the approach to waste management must be essentially state specific.

5. 3
2.Iraq
Iraq passed through many destructive wars where the country infrastructures have
been destroyed. Consequently, various types of hazardous wastes generated from 1991 and
2003 wars are exposed in different parts of Iraq without any aspect of human
and environment considerations. Contaminants are found in the form of contaminated
rubble with depleted uranium (DU).
Iraq Map (2)*
Another source of hazardous waste is oil spill into both Dijla and Furat rivers, and finally
leading to contaminate Arabian Gulf. Iraq is famous of its Oil, but the issue is that no one
concern about the side effects of oil and its negative impact over environment.
Last source of hazardous waste is hospital wastes, which according to standards should be
incinerated, but unfortunately, they are mixed to Municipal solid waste streams and put
together into a dumping site, then eventually with the help of methane emission they are
burnt.

6. 4
Problems in managing hazardous waste and the current situation
The main roadblock encountered in management of hazardous waste in India is the lack of
education of hazardous waste among the common people. biomedical waste like syringes,
bandages soaked with blood and other bodily fluids etc., often gets mixed with solid waste
stream. Any disease-causing bacteria is present in those waste might infect the solid waste
stream and in turn infect people handling the waste.
Landfill in India (15)*
Currently most of the hazardous waste is mostly burned in an open area to get rid of the
waste.
This burning of waste is not only polluting the environment, but also could have negative
consequences on human health. “Burning roadside dumps in India can be the most toxic place
on Earth – the level of toxins in their smoke a thousand times higher than normal and it
contains a whole ‘rainbow’ of toxic substances.” As stated in article published in the journal
Atmospheric Environment. Sometimes the waste which has recyclable value is also landfilled
with other non-recyclable waste due to the ignorance about waste management.

7. 5
Many factors can be mentioned about the problems of managing those kinds of hazardous
wastes in Iraq, but in fact, most of the rate of generation of Hazardous waste was greatly
increased during previous wars. There was a huge loss of life and property, people of Iraq
were more concerned about their life and waste management was largely ignored. During the
war, the hazardous waste was mixed with other waste streams. People were not educated
about hazardous waste. If not so, they wouldn't have mixed it for decades. The major
problem about hospital waste is that there is not any incineration plant that burn all hospital
wastes. Last problem is that foreigner companies deal with oil in Iraq and there is not any
third-party work quality control which could control their work and not let them pollute Iraq’s
Environment. But since the war has ended, now people started to realize the importance of
managing hazardous waste.
Destroyed city of Mosul (4)*

8. 6
Key differences between hazardous wastes in India and Iraq
After studies upon key frames of hazardous waste sources in Iraq and India, we can conclude that
most of the sources are similar like having biomedical hazardous waste, but according to geographical
location of both country there some extra sources that are in Iraq, but not in India. Oil spill and
contaminated rubble with depleted uranium is two examples of this point. Another point is that India
is an industrial country, but Iraq is not, so we can have some Hazardous wastes of Industrial origin in
India that are comparatively less in Iraq.
Oil Spill inside Mosul City (5)*
Oil Spill with depleted Uranium while Gulf War (6)*
Hospital Waste throwed to dumping site (7)* & (14)*

9. 7
Standard International Solutions
Solutions on governmental level:
Government agencies should take actions against companies which do not dispose off the
Hazardous waste in a safe manner. Action could vary depending on the nature of the
offence. For example, NGT (National Green Tribunal) imposed a fine up to Rs. 25000/- for
burning of wastes in open throughout India.
Solutions on Institutional level:
Hospitals:
Hospitals should be able to differentiate hazardous waste from non-Hazardous waste,
collect them separately. It should be made sure that fluorescent bulbs and mercury
thermometers do not get into common waste stream. Staff should be trained to manage
hazardous waste.
Industries:
Best Available Techniques (BAT) should be used so technique with produced no or at least
minimum hazardous waste should be considered along with other parameters.
Biological treatment:
For PAH (Polyaromatic hydrocarbon) degradation by bacteria, Chromium (IV) degradation
by bacteria with the help of organic substances (molasses or oils).
Chemical treatment:
Destruction or change of a hazardous compound by a chemical reaction, e.g. reduction of
chromium (VI) or oxidation of cyanide
Co-processing (3):
Industrial by products and other waste materials which cannot be recycled, can sometimes
be used as a fuel to produce a finished product.
Solution on Individual level:
Common public must be educated that waste such old or broken mercury thermometers,
blood soaked infected bandages should not be put into solid waste.

10. 8
Conclusion
After comparing hazardous waste types, sources composition, management and treatment
we conclude that even if there is variation in the Hazardous waste types in India and Iraq.
The treatment methods adopted are virtually same. However, the responsible
departments of both countries should work on the strict application of treatment
methods. Some immediate actions must be done before any more catastrophic disasters
happen in corresponding 2 countries:
- Immediate incineration plant is needed for burning hospital wastes in Iraq.
- NGO ‘s should collaborate with government in educating children for increasing social
conciseness about this serious issue and how to protect society.
- A new law should be directed for protecting environment with an international standard
and be implemented directly.
- “Polluters should pay” must be the title of work in both countries. This will reduce
polluting the environment.
- While making contract with private companies, the government should also make a
statement in the contract that the company should take into consideration no to pollute
environment and should work in such a way that it is environmentally friendly.
Semi-automatic Incineration plant (8)*

11. 9
References:
1- http://www.toptourguide.com/toptour-indiamap.htm
2- http://www.ig-intergroup.com/iraq-map/
3- https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Asia-s-waste-management-failures-reach-crisis-levels
4- https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2017/07/15/liberation-from-militants-leaves-
devastation-in-mosul/
5- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3765018/Oil-fires-cast-black-cloud-Iraqi-town-
retaken-Islamic-State.html
6- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/154881674665646162/?lp=true
7- https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/270717/hyderabad-10-tonne-
biomedical-waste-found.html
8- http://www.kalpvruksh.com/emission_standards.htm
9- https://www.global-chemicals-waste-
platform.net/fileadmin/files/Toolkit_Spanish/Manual_and_Menu_Overview__all_modules_in_one_p
df__EN_SP/Manual_on_Industrial_Hazardous_Waste_Management_for_authorities_in_Low_and_Mi
ddle_Income_Economies.pdf
10-https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/iraq-s-hazardous-waste-a-health-risk-un-1.555926
11-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276049246_Suggested_landfill_sites_for_hazardous_
waste_in_Iraq
12-https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10643380701590356
13-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323028874_Hazardous_Waste_Management_in_Indi
a_-_A_Review
14-https://www.stripes.com/news/soldier-tackling-problem-of-hospital-waste-disposal-1.6376
15-https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/consider-other-side-of-adani-
argument/3191658/
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