Storage and Handling of Incinerable Hazardous Wastes:

After review of the existing guidelines of CPCB for storage of incinerable hazardous wastes, the revised guidelines for storage and handling of incinerable hazardous wastes are suggested as follows:

Storage Area (Storage Shed):

• Flammable, ignitable, reactive and non-compatible wastes should be stored separately and never should be stored in the same storage shed.
• Storage area may consist of different sheds for storing different kinds of incinerable hazardous wastes and sheds should be provided with suitable openings.
• Adequate storage capacity (i.e. 50 % of the annual capacity of the hazardous waste incinerator) should be provided in the premises.
• Storage area should be designed to withstand the load of material stocked and any damage from the material spillage.
• Storage area should be provided with the flameproof electrical fittings and it should be strictly adhered to.
• Automatic smoke, heat detection system should be provided in the sheds. Adequate fire fighting systems should be provided for the storage area, along with the areas in the facility.
• There should be at least 15 m distance between the storage sheds.
• Loading and unloading of wastes in storage sheds should only be done under the supervision of the well trained and experienced staff.
• Fire break of at least 04 meter between two blocks of stacked drums should be provided in the storage shed. One block of drum should not exceed 300 MT of waste.

Report on “Storage Time Limit for Storage of Incinerable Hazardous Wastes by the Operators of HW Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility”

• Minimum of 1 meter clear space should be left between two adjacent rows of drums in pair for inspection.
• The storage and handling should have at least two routes to escape in the event of any fire in the area.
• Doors and approaches of the storage area should be of suitable sizes for entry of fork lift and fire fighting equipment;
• The exhaust of the vehicles used for the purpose of handling, lifting and transportation within the facility such as forklifts or trucks should be fitted with the approved type of spark arrester.
• In order to have appropriate measures to prevent percolation of spills,leaks etc. to the soil and ground water, the storage area should be provided with concrete floor or steel sheet depending on the characteristics of waste
• handled and the floor must be structurally sound and chemically compatible with wastes.
• Measures should be taken to prevent entry of runoff into the storage area. The Storage area shall be designed in such a way that the floor level is at least 150 mm above the maximum flood level.
• The storage area floor should be provided with secondary containment such as proper slopes as well as collection pit so as to collect wash water and the leakages/spills etc.
• All the storage yards should be provided with proper peripheral drainage system connected with the sump so as to collect any accidental spills in roads or within the storage yards as well as accidental flow due to fire fighting.

Storage Drums/Containers:

The container shall be made or lined with the suitable material, which will not react with, or in other words compatible with the hazardous wastes proposed to be stored.

• The stacking of drums in the storage area should be restricted to three high on pallets (wooden frames). Necessary precautionary measures should be taken so as to avoid stack collapse. However, for waste having flash point
• less than 65.5 O C, the drums should not be stacked more than one height.
• No drums should be opened in the storage sheds for sampling etc. and such activity should be done in designated places out side the storage areas;
• Drums containing wastes stored in the storage area should be labeled properly indicating mainly type, quantity, characteristics, source and date of storing etc.

http://www.cpcb.nic.in/divisionsofheadoffice/hwmd/Guideline%20for%20storage%20of%20incinerable%20HW.pdf