Hazardous Wastes

• Hazardous Waste

  Waste with properties that makes it potentially dangerous or harmful to human health or the environment
• Waste


  Anything that is no longer needed, unwanted or unusable material, any substance which is discarded after using
• Characteristics of Hazardous Waste


  • Corrosivity
  • Reactivity
  • Ignitability
  • Toxicity
• Corrosivity


  Wastes which have a pH≥2.0 or pH≤12.5, strong acids, strong bases, materials that can corrode metal containers
• Reactivity

  Wastes that are unstable in normal conditions, substances that undergo violent chemical change
• Ignitability


  Wastes that can create fires under certain conditions, are spontaneously combustible, or have a flash point less than 60 °C
• Toxicity


  Wastes that are harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed, can contaminate groundwater
• Types of Hazardous Waste

  • Designated Waste (Listed Waste)
  • Characteristic Waste
• Listed Wastes


  • F-list (wastes from common manufacturing and industrial processes)
  • K-list (wastes from specific industries)
  • P- and U-lists (wastes from commercial chemical products)
• Categories of Hazardous Waste

  • F-type Wastes (non-specific wastes)
  • K-list (source-specific wastes)
  • P-type acute hazardous wastes
  • U-Type miscellaneous hazardous wastes
• Sources of Hazardous Waste

  • Byproducts of industrial, domestic activities
  • Mining sites and mineral processing sites
  • Agricultural facilities and research laboratories
  • Agricultural land and agroindustry
  • Contaminated sites and building materials
• Common Hazardous Waste


  • Waste oil and fuel
  • Solvents and thinners
  • Toxic and flammable paint wastes
  • Chlorinated solvents, heavy metals
  • Perchlorates and peroxides
  • Radioactive waste
• Effects of Hazardous Waste


  • Chemical poisoning through chemical inhalation
  • Uncollected waste can obstruct the storm water runoff resulting in flood
  • Low birth weight
  • Cancer
  • Congenital malformations
  • Neurological disease
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Increase in hospitalization of diabetic residents living near hazard waste sites
  • Mercury toxicity from eating fish with high levels of mercury
  • Waste breaks down in landfills to form methane, a potent greenhouse gas
  • Change in climate and destruction of ozone layer due to waste biodegradable
  • Littering, due to waste pollutions, illegal dumping
  • Leaching: is a process by which solid waste enter soil and ground water and contaminating them
• Waste Management Hierarchy


  • Waste prevention (source reduction)
  • Waste minimisation
  • Reuse
  • Recycling
  • Energy Recovery
  • Disposal
• Cradle-to-Grave Concept


  The environmental impact created by products or activities from the beginning of its life cycle to its end or disposal
• Hazardous Waste Manifest System

  EPA's system to track hazardous waste from generator to disposal facility, using a Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest form
• Republic Act No. 6969 is an act to control toxic substances and hazardous and nuclear wastes, providing penalties for violations thereof, and for other purposes
• RA 6969 was enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines, approved on October 26, 1990
• Objectives of RA 6969

  • To keep an inventory of chemicals
  • To monitor or regulate the importation, manufacture, processing, handling, storage, transportation, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures
  • To inform and educate the populace regarding the hazards and risks
  • To prevent the entry, even in transit, as well as the keeping or storage and disposal of hazardous and nuclear wastes into the country
• Definitions in RA 6969

  • Chemical substance
  • Chemical mixture
  • Process
  • Importation
  • Manufacture
  • Unreasonable risk
• Preparation


  In the same form or physical state or in a different form or physical state from that which it was received by the person so preparing such substance or mixture; or as part of an article containing a chemical substance or mixture
• Importation

  The entry of a product or substance into the Philippines (through the seaports or airports of entry) after having been properly cleared through or still remaining under customs control, the product or substance of which is intended for direct consumption, merchandising, warehousing, or for further processing
• Manufacture


  The mechanical or chemical transformation of substances into new products whether work is performed by power-driven machines or by hand, whether it is done in a factory or in the worker's home, and whether the products are sold at wholesale or retail
• Unreasonable risk


  Expected frequency of undesirable effects or adverse responses arising from a given exposure to a substance
• Hazardous substances


  • Short-term acute hazards, such as acute toxicity by ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption, corrosivity or other skin or eye contact hazards or the risk of fire or explosion; or Long-term environmental hazards, including chronic toxicity upon repeated exposure, carcinogenicity (which may in some cases result from acute exposure but with a long latent period), resistance to detoxification process such as biodegradation, the potential to pollute underground or surface waters, or aesthetically objectionable properties such as offensive odors
• Hazardous wastes


  Substances that are without any safe commercial, industrial, agricultural or economic usage and are shipped, transported or brought from the country of origin for dumping or disposal into or in transit through any part of the territory of the Philippines
• Nuclear Wastes

  Hazardous wastes made radioactive by exposure to the radiation incidental to the production or utilization of nuclear fuels but does not include nuclear fuel, or radioisotopes which have reached the final stage of fabrication so as to be usable for any scientific, medical, agricultural, commercial, or industrial purpose
• Functions, Powers and Responsibilities of the DENR

  • Keep an updated inventory of chemicals
  • Require chemical substances and mixtures that present unreasonable risk or injury to be tested before manufacture or import
  • Require chemical substances and mixtures currently being manufactured or processed to be tested if they pose unreasonable risk
  • Evaluate characteristics of tested chemicals to determine toxicity and environmental effects
  • Enter into contracts and make grants for research, development, and monitoring
  • Conduct inspections of establishments manufacturing, processing, storing or holding chemicals
  • Confiscate or impound chemicals not meeting standards
  • Monitor and prevent entry and disposal of hazardous and nuclear wastes
  • Subpoena witnesses and documents
  • Call on government agencies for assistance
  • Disseminate information and conduct educational campaigns
  • Exercise other necessary powers and functions
• Before any new chemical substance or mixture can be manufactured, processed or imported for the first time, the manufacturer, processor or importer shall submit information on the name, chemical identity, molecular structure, proposed use, estimated amount, processing and disposal, and any test data
• Chemicals Subject to Testing

  • There is a reason to believe the chemical may present unreasonable risk or there may be substantial exposure
  • There are insufficient data and experience to determine or predict health and environmental effects
  • Testing is necessary to develop such data
• Action by the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources

  1. Decide within 90 days whether to regulate or prohibit importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use or disposal

  2. May extend the 90-day pre-manufacture period for justifiable reasons
• Chemical Substances Exempt from Pre-Manufacture Notification

  • Included in inventory of existing chemicals
  • Produced in small quantities solely for experimental or research and development purposes
  • Will not present an unreasonable risk to health and environment
  • Exist temporarily with no human or environmental exposure
• The public shall have access to records, reports, or information concerning chemical substances and mixtures including safety data, emission or discharge data, and such documents shall be available for inspection or reproduction during normal business hours
• Prohibited Acts

  • Knowingly use a chemical substance or mixture imported, manufactured, processed or distributed in violation of the Act
  • Failure or refusal to submit reports, notices, information, or permit inspections as required
  • Failure or refusal to comply with pre-manufacture and pre-importation requirements
  • Cause, aid or facilitate storage, importation, or bringing of hazardous and nuclear wastes into the Philippines
• Criminal Offenses and Penalties

  • Imprisonment of 6 months and 1 day to 6 years and 1 day, and fine of P600 to P4,000 for violations of Section 13(a) to (c)
  • Imprisonment of 12 years and 1 day to 20 years for violation of Section 13(d)
  • Confiscation and forfeiture of proceeds and instruments of unlawful acts
  • Obligation to transport or send back prohibited hazardous or nuclear wastes
• Administrative Fines

  The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources is authorized to impose a fine of not less than P10,000 but not more than P50,000 for any violation of the Act or implementing rules and regulations
• The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in coordination with the Inter-Agency Technical Advisory Council, shall prepare and publish the rules and regulations implementing this Act within 6 months from the date of its effectivity
• Such amount as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Act is hereby annually appropriated and included in the budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
• All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders and issuances, and rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly
• This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation