WASTE MANAGEMENT IN PCFC
1. INTRODUCTION
All solid/hazardous waste generated in PCFC/Free Zone companies is to be disposed of as per PCFC/DM guidelines. Cleaner Production Waste Minimization and RRR (Reuse, Recovery and Recycle) options (see relevant EG) techniques should be adopted by all Free Zone companies.
2 WASTE CLASSIFICATION
(i) Wastes generated in PCFC are classified in to one of the following categories:
a) Hazardous Waste:
These wastes are defined as any solid, semi-solid, liquid, or contained gaseous waste, or combination of such wastes, which may because of its quantity, concentration, physical or chemical characteristics pose a hazard or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of or otherwise managed.
b) Non-hazardous Industrial Waste:
These wastes includes solid, liquid, semi-liquid or contained gaseous materials or wastes resulting from industrial, operations and sludge from industrial wastewater treatment or air pollution control facilities, provided that they are not hazardous, municipal or inert wastes as otherwise defined in PCFC Rules and Requirements (3rd Edition)/DM Technical Guidelines -TGs).
c) Domestic or Municipal Waste:
Such wastes include garbage, refuse, food waste, office waste, waste vegetation and other decomposable material resulting from operation of Labour camps/residential, commercial, municipal, industrial or establishments and from community activities.
d) Inert Waste:
Inert wastes are those wastes which are not biologically or chemically active in the natural environment, such as glass, concrete and brick materials, broken clay and manufactured rubber products.
(ii) Waste generators shall, through PCFC/DM approved laboratories, test the waste and classify their wastes according to above Section.
(iii) A hazardous waste may be reclassified provided the hazardous waste is treated in such a way that he resulting material no longer exhibits the characteristics that made it hazardous, or it is acceptably recycled.
3 WASTE DISPOSAL GUIDELINES
PCFC/Free Zone companies shall, whenever possible, use non-hazardous instead of hazardous materials. All hazardous wastes, process residues, solvents, oils, and sludge’s must be properly disposed of to DM treatment/landfill facilities. Their “Waste Disposal of Hazardous Waste Application” should be filled for PCFC/DM approval (DM-TG No. 26 refers).
The following management measures for handling hazardous wastes and materials should be implemented:
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(i) All hazardous (ignitable, reactive, flammable, radioactive, corrosive and toxic) materials must be stored in clearly labeled containers or vessels.
(ii) DM has recently issued a new Technical Guidelines #70 (October 2002 draft) on “Control and Disposal of Unwanted Merchandise “to discourage such waste disposal to their landfill. It’s Scope covers:
a. DM Guidelines for the control of unwanted merchandise which may end up as waste into any of Municipal waste treatment or landfill site.
b. Unwanted merchandise is defined, within the context of this Guideline, as any imported or locally produced product, which is unsold to and has not reached the intended end user/consumer. It may include used electronic products where efficacy has become interior to or obsolete by the availability of similar new products.
c. This Guideline shall be interpreted and enforced in parallel with DM/EPSS Technical Guideline 26 (EPSS TG 26) on the Disposal of Hazardous Wastes and the DM Policy on Imported Hazardous Wastes.
d. The primary objective of this Guideline is to provide means of controlling the waste at the point of generation and for the owner, its authorized person or party and all relevant parties to take all possible means of disposing the merchandise through beneficial means.
(iii) Storage and handling of hazardous materials must be in accordance with local regulation or international standards and appropriate to their hazard characteristics. Storage and liquid impoundment areas for fuels, raw and in process materials solvents, wastes and finished products should be designed with secondary containment (e.g., dikes and berms) to prevent spills and the contamination of soil, groundwater, etc.
(iv) Fire prevention systems and secondary containment should be provided for storage facilities, where necessary or required by regulations, to prevent fires or the release of hazardous materials to the environment.
(v) Solid/Hazardous should be stored in a designated “Solid /Hazardous Waste Facility” (see above Sections).
(vi) Transformers or equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)or PCB-contaminated oil should not be installed. Existing equipment containing PCBs or PCB-contaminated oil should be phased out and disposed of in a manner consistent with the relevant requirements.
(vii) Several chemicals classified as ozone - depleting substances (ODSs) are scheduled for phase out under Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer (see relevant EG).
(viii) Any waste generated from decontamination of sites (as per DM-TG#54) should be disposed as per DM/PCFC requirements.
(ix) All hazardous wastes generated within JAFZ shall be treated or disposed of at DM hazardous waste treatment facilities within a maximum of 180-365 days of the waste being generated, unless otherwise approved by the Authority.
4 CLEANER PRODUCTION, WASTE MINIMIZATION AND RRR OPTIONS GUIDELINES
It is emphasized to minimize the generation of waste and adopt cleaner production practices. Free Zone companies should adopt reuse, recovery or recycling (RRR) options for waste being generated (see relevant EG).
Free Zone Companies are to implement the following practices for managing solid wastes generated in the course of operating the facility:
• Recycle or reclaim materials where possible.
• If recycling or reclamation is not practical, wastes must be disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner and in compliance with DM/PCFC regulations.
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5 WASTE TRANSPORTATION GUIDELINES
(i) No wastes generated within JAFZ shall be transported outside the boundary of Dubai for disposal unless otherwise approved by DM/PCFC.
(ii) Wastes may be transported outside the boundary of Dubai for recycling, recovery or reuse provided that written approval is obtained from DM and PCFC/EHS Dept. in advance of any such waste transportation. Such approval shall also be dependent on the recycling or reuse facility receiving the waste being in compliance with DM/PCFC Regulations, guidelines or standards for transport, storage, treatment and recordkeeping for such wastes.
(iii) A transporter shall not transport hazardous or non-hazardous industrial waste from a generator unless it is accompanied by DM/PCFC approved waste application (refer to DM Tech. Guideline – 26).
(iv) The generator shall ensure that all wastes are placed in waste compatible containers that properly contain the waste to prevent any spillage or leakage during transportation from the generator’s facility.
(v) The generator shall clearly label all hazardous waste containers with the following minimum information regarding the waste to be transported:
a) Hazardous Waste b) Generator’s name c) Date of waste generation
d) Identification of the type of waste on the individual container.
(vi) The generator shall only utilize waste transporters that are registered with DM/PCFC to transport hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste to the proper waste disposal or waste treatment facilities.
(vii) All vehicles transporting hazardous wastes shall carry placards in accordance with the DM/United Nations chemical hazard classification system for the transport of dangerous goods.
(viii) All vehicles and containers used to transport waste shall be operated and maintained such that the release of liquid, litter, dust, solids or odor are prevented while in transit.
(ix) Containers of hazardous waste shall be secured during transport to prevent movement or dislodgment under normal transportation conditions.
(x) Totally enclosed compactor-type vehicles and skips shall be used for collection of municipal wastes.
Vehicles and container systems for industrial non-hazardous and hazardous wastes shall be suitable for the specific materials being transported.
(xi) In the event of an accident, spill or discharge involving hazardous waste in transit, and where the integrity of the container(s) has been compromised, transfer of the waste material shall occur using collection methods and containers compatible with the hazardous material being collected.
(xii) The transporter shall deliver the entire quantity of the waste which they accepted from a generator, or other transporter, to the designated DM treatment or disposal facility.
6. NON-HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIAL WASTE & DOMESTIC/MUNICIPAL WASTE DISPOSAL GUIDELINES
(i) All non-hazardous industrial waste and domestic/municipal waste generated within PCFC shall be disposed of at DM approved waste disposal facility.
(ii) Owners and operators of facilities that deliver municipal waste to DM Landfill shall follow DM/EPSS procedures before disposal of such materials.
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(iii) Municipal waste and non-hazardous industrial waste shall be disposed as segregated, at all times after exhausting RRR options use.
(iv) Regular disposal of non-hazardous industrial waste and municipal waste from industrial facilities shall be the responsibility of the generator.
7. INERT WASTE DISPOSAL GUIDELINES
(i) All inert waste shall be disposed of DM waste disposal facilities after exhausting RRR options use.
(ii) Owners and operators of facilities that collect and deliver inert waste to DM Landfill shall follow the DM procedures before disposal of such materials.
(iii) Construction debris and demolition waste shall be collected and removed to the designated solid waste disposal area on a regular basis. These wastes shall not be allowed to accumulate such that the material presents a safety hazard for workers or members of the public, or create a nuisance to the community.
(iv) Used garnet waste after blasting operations shall be reused/recycled to cement making/road making etc companies.
8 WASTE TRANSPORTER REGISTRATION GUIDELINES
(i) All transporters of hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste shall register with DM before transporting hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste.
(ii) The owner or operator of a waste transport shall be responsible for compliance with DM/PCFC relevant Regulations. Demonstrated failure to comply with the DM/PCFC requirements relative to waste transport and disposal may lead to Authority’s revoking the waste transport and or registration.
For more information please contact Environment, Health and Safety – Free Zone (EHS-FZ) Department on Tel# 8040275, Fax # 8817023 or P.O.Box17000, Dubai.
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