Types of Hazardous Waste

👷 From a Senior Environmental Consultant to the New Joinee – Let’s Break It Down

👋 Welcome to the Real World of Waste

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most common types of hazardous waste in India with real examples from our 25+ years of experience.

If you’ve just joined the EHS department, welcome to the world of registers, returns, and real problems. One thing you’ll deal with every single year is hazardous waste — understanding it, classifying it, and filing the return (Form IV) correctly. These types of hazardous waste are common in Indian industries.

But before we get into forms, let’s start at the beginning:

💬 “Not all waste is garbage. Some of it can get you fined, shut down, or worse — harm people and the environment.”

That’s where hazardous waste classification comes in.

And after helping 500+ companies manage their pollution compliance over the last 25 years, here’s what we’ve learned — most mistakes happen not because people are careless, but because they didn’t understand what hazardous waste really is.

🧠 What Exactly Is Hazardous Waste?

Think of it like this:

• If the waste can catch fire, corrode metal, cause infection, or harm humans or nature, it’s probably hazardous.

According to Indian rules (Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016), hazardous waste is:

“Any waste which by reason of its physical, chemical, reactive, toxic, flammable, explosive or corrosive characteristics causes danger or is likely to cause danger to health or environment.”

In simpler words: If it’s risky, it’s hazardous.

🔥 The 4 Main Types of Hazardous Waste (Think: FIRE)

Let’s make it easy to remember. Use the acronym F.I.R.E.

You might have all 4 types inside your industry, even if you’re not aware of it.

🏭 Real Examples From Indian Industries

Here’s a sample of wastes we’ve audited across sectors:

⚠️ Mistakes We’ve Seen (Don’t Repeat These)

❌ “We thought it’s just oily cotton — not hazardous.”

👉 Nope. Oily cotton is listed under Schedule I. Always check CPCB’s classification list.

❌ “We reused solvent barrels. So, it’s not waste.”

👉 Even if you reused them, if they were contaminated and discarded later — that’s hazardous waste.

❌ “The transporter said he’ll dispose it safely.”

👉 Sorry, but you are responsible till it reaches a certified disposal facility. Always verify transporter authorization and disposal manifest.

✅ Best Practice: Maintain a Monthly Hazardous Waste Tracker

Columns: Waste type | Quantity generated | Quantity disposed | Disposal agency | Manifest No.

This small Excel sheet will save your life in audit season.

Read more about How to fill Environmental Statement step by step guide

🧾 Schedule I: Common Hazardous Wastes You Should Know (India Specific)

If you’re filing the Annual Return (Form IV), this is the list that matters the most.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has notified Schedule I under the Hazardous & Other Wastes Rules, 2016 — this lists waste streams with specific codes. You need to match your waste against these to report accurately.

Below are some commonly encountered Types of hazardous wastes, especially in SME sectors:

🧠 Pro Tip from the Field:
Even small industries — like furniture painting units or printing presses — often don’t realize they’re generating 12.2 (paint waste) or 5.1 (oil). And yes, used paint thinner is hazardous.

🧃 Wait… What About Non-Hazardous & Ewaste?

Good question, Junior!

Let’s break this down:

🟢 Non-Hazardous Waste

• Things like food waste, broken glass (non-contaminated), packaging material, etc.
• No need to report in Form IV, but you still track under Solid Waste Rules.

Read more about What is Solid Waste?

💻 Ewaste

• Comes under the E-Waste Management Rules
• Includes discarded electronics: computers, printers, cables, etc.
• Must be disposed of via an authorized Ewaste handler — not in scrap!

🧯 Some Real-Life Incidents You Should Know

📍Incident 1: Oily Rags Fire – Vasai Factory, 2019

A small auto-part factory stored oily cotton rags in a metal box. One night, spontaneous combustion started a fire. The factory didn’t have a manifest for those rags, and faced a fine from SPCB.

🔍 Lesson: Oily cotton is hazardous waste. Store and dispose it as per norms.

📍Incident 2: Fake Manifest – Bhiwandi, 2021

A transporter forged hazardous waste manifest documents and dumped chrome sludge in a nullah. The factory didn’t cross-check. SPCB traced the barcode, fined the company ₹5 lakhs.

🔍 Lesson: Responsibility lies with generator — always validate transporter’s TSDF license and manifest tracking.

📍Incident 3: Paint Waste in Municipal Bin – Pune, 2023

Paint booth cleaning sludge was disposed of in a regular BMC bin. Local kids playing nearby got skin rashes. News broke out. The industry was issued a show-cause notice.

🔍 Lesson: What goes in a municipal bin can come back as a legal case.

✅ Best Practices Checklist (Types of Hazardous Waste – Classification)

🧪 How to Identify Types of Hazardous Waste Without Lab Testing

(When You’re in the Field Without a Report)

As a junior EHS professional, you won’t always have the luxury of immediate lab results. But you still need to flag risky wastes confidently during audits or rounds.

Here’s how the pros at Perfect Pollucon Services do it in the field.

🧠 1. Use the “Smell–Touch–Source” Method (Safely!)

We don’t mean literally touching waste bare-handed. But use your senses + source knowledge:

🧠 Tip: If you’re unsure, label it “suspected hazardous” and store it in a separate zone until tested.

🧾 2. Check If the Waste Is Listed in Schedule I

Most hazardous wastes in India are covered under Schedule I of the 2016 Rules.

Keep a printed + bookmarked copy of Schedule I on your desk. It’s your bible.

✅ If the waste is listed by code and category — it’s definitely hazardous.
❓ If not listed — it could still be hazardous under Schedule II (based on concentration of heavy metals, pH, reactivity etc.)

🧰 3. Ask Yourself These 5 Quick Questions (Perfect Pollucon Services On-Site Test)

✔ Is it corrosive? (acidic or alkaline)
✔ Is it flammable or explosive?
✔ Is it reactive with air/water?
✔ Does it contain metals like Pb, Hg, Cr, Cd?
✔ Is it coming from a process that generates hazardous waste?

If you say “Yes” to even two of these — flag it and do not treat as general waste.

📂 What Documentation Does SPCB Expect?

When it comes to hazardous waste, regulators look for:

💡 Smart Tip: Create a digital folder named:

Hazardous_Waste_2024 > 1_Manifest > 2_LabReports > 3_Form_IV

You’ll thank yourself during audit season.

🔧 How Perfect Pollucon Services Helps You Stay Safe

Here’s how our 25+ years of experience adds value:

✅ On-site Waste Identification
We help classify waste during walkthroughs — no guessing.

✅ Manifest Management
We guide your team in filling and tracking manifests, step-by-step.

✅ Lab Testing & Documentation
Through partner labs, we get your waste tested and aligned with Schedule I/II.

✅ TSDF Co-ordination
We handle transporter authorization checks and disposal appointments, so you don’t run around last minute.

📄 How to File Form IV: A Senior’s Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Form IV is your final summary of hazardous waste generated, stored, transported, and disposed between 1st April to 31st March.
It must be submitted to the State Pollution Control Board (like SPCB) by 30th June every year.

Many juniors get nervous about this form. But if you’ve tracked everything monthly — this is just consolidation.

Learn How to fill Form IV Hazardous Waste Return: Step-by-Step Guide

🧾 Where to Download Form IV

You can find the official format on CPCB’s website:
🔗 Download Form IV from CPCB

✍️ Section-Wise Breakdown (with pro tips)

Part A – General Details

✅ Tip: Don’t mix billing office and manufacturing site — only the unit generating hazardous waste should be mentioned.

Part B – Waste Handling Summary

✅ Tip: Use Schedule I codes (e.g., 5.1 for spent oil, 34.3 for ETP sludge)
🧠 Insight: Don’t over-report utilization without proof like recycler certificates.

Part C – Authorized Disposal Details

Here you mention:

• TSDF Name + Address
• Quantity sent (per manifest)
• Mode of transport (truck no. etc.)
• Copy of manifest used

✅ Tip: Match this with your manifest logbook.
Mismatch = red flag during SPCB inspections.

Part D – Accidents (If Any)

Even if no accident occurred, mention “No incidents reported during FY”
This shows attentiveness.

If any spills/fire/mix-ups happened, describe briefly and steps taken.

💡 Bonus Perfect Pollucon Services Tips to Avoid Mistakes:

📦 How to Submit Form IV (SPCB Guidelines – All States)

As of 2024, many SPCBs including SPCB accept:

✅ Hard copy submission at regional/sub-regional office
✅ Email submission (only from registered industry email ID)
✅ Some boards require online upload via E-Waste or HWMS Portal

🧠 Confirm with your regional officer what’s accepted in your zone.

✅ Pro Tip:
Keep a “Form IV Pack” every year containing:

• Signed Form IV (hard + soft copy)
• All manifest copies
• Waste test reports (if not Schedule I listed)
• Proof of TSDF coordination

This keeps your unit audit-ready.

⚖️ How to Calculate Hazardous Waste Quantities Accurately

When it comes to Form IV and compliance audits, regulators want to see not just what waste you generated, but how you arrived at those numbers.

Here’s the senior-to-junior way to do it right 👇

🧪 Common Ways to Track Quantities

🧠 Pro Tip: Keep a simple Excel where every month you log:
“Type → Quantity → Manifest No. → TSDF Date”

🧱 Approximate Weights of Common Waste (Use With Caution)

📏 These are for reference only — always use actual weighments when possible.

🚨 Top 7 Red Flags SPCB Officers Catch (and How to Avoid Them)

Over 25+ years, we’ve attended hundreds of inspections. These are the most common issues they raise 👇

🧰 Tools & Templates to Automate the Process

Here’s what the senior team at Perfect Pollucon Services recommends to all clients and junior officers:

✅ Monthly Hazardous Waste Tracker (Excel)

• Columns: Type, Category, Qty Generated, Qty Disposed, TSDF name, Manifest No., Remarks

✅ Form IV Annual Return Template (Pre-filled)

• Keep one editable version with formulas — only paste numbers monthly

✅ Label Generator (Manual or Tool)

• For pasting on each container with date, name, waste code, emergency contact

✅ Google Drive Folder Structure:

CopyEditHaz_Waste_2024/
├── 01_Manifest
├── 02_Form_IV
├── 03_Lab_Reports
├── 04_TSDF_Proof

✅ Automated Reminder

• Set a calendar event in March: “Start Form IV reconciliation this week.”

💡 Final Words from a Senior

Hazardous waste management is the one area where even minor negligence has major consequences.
If you want to be seen as a solid EHS officer, take this more seriously than anything else. It’s not just paperwork — it’s public safety.

✅ Reviewed by Our Expert Leadership Team

This service offering is created and reviewed by our senior team of environmental professionals with 10–40 years of experience in pollution control, regulatory compliance, and monitoring services.

Tanaji S. Gajare

Founder & Chairman
40+ years in air & water monitoring, sustainability leadership

Anil Shelke

Executive Director
30+ years in compliance, audits, and ETP/STP operations

Kunal Gajare

Chief Sustainability Officer
10+ years in stack monitoring, MPCB/MoEF clearances, EIA