Waste Management (CHE482)

Lecture 1 (2024-02-13)

Dr. Muhamad Imran Rafiq

Department of Chemical Engineering
COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI),
Lahore Campus
 Environmental Laws and Regulations of Pakistan

Environmental law is the collection of laws, regulations, agreements

and common laws that governs how humans interact with their
environment.
What do environmental laws regulate?

Air Quality: protect the air from pollution

Water Quality: protect water from pollution.

Waste Management: Municipal waste, hazardous substances and

nuclear waste all fall in the category of waste management

Contaminants Cleanup: Contaminant cleanup deals with addressing

pollution after it happens. Laws may include protocols for cleanup as
well as civil and criminal punishment for polluters.
Chemical Safety: Chemical safety regulations manage things like
pesticide use and chemicals in products like plastic bottles.
 Laws in Pakistan Relating to Waste Management (CHE 482)
Environmental Law

The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997

Establishment of:

Environmental Protection Council

Environmental Protection Agency

1. The Hospital Waste Management Rules, 2005

Rules & Regulations

1. National Environmental Quality Standards( self-monitoring &

reporting by industry) Rules, 2001
2. Environmental Samples Rules , 2001
3. Hazardous Substances Rules,2003
4. Hospital Waste Management Rules,2000
Environmental Institutions
Ministry of climate change, Ministry of Environment; Pakistan
Environmental Protection Council (PEPC); Pakistan
Environmental Protection Agency; Provincial EPAs.
 Laws in Pakistan: Water
Environmental Law
Key Issues:
Trade Effluents; Ground Water Contamination; Wastewater Treatment;
Cleaning of Rivers; Water quality Management;
Key Legislation:
Environmental Protection Ordinance (PEPO), 1983; Pakistan
Environment Protection Act, 1997; Environmental Quality Standards;
The Canal and Drainage Act, 1873; Water Management and Water
Users Associations Ordinance, 1981; The Punjab Local Government
Ordinance, 1979; Balochistan Ground Water Rights Administration
Ordinance, 1978

Key Institutions:
Ministry of Environment; Pakistan Environmental Protection Council
(PEPC); Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency; Provincial EPA’s;
Environmental Tribunals
Key Legislation (Water)
(1) The Pakistan Penal Code, 1860: Section 277 - Fouling water of
public spring or reservoir
Whoever voluntarily corrupts or fouls the water of any public spring or
reservoir, so as to render it less fit for the purposes for which it is
ordinarily used, shall be punished with imprisonment of either
description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine
which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
 Laws in Pakistan:
Water

• Key Legislation (Water)

• (2) The Canal and Drainage Act, 1873

• Section 20 B - Cutting of supply for any land not being irrigated at site
• Termination of water supply for a land which cannot be used for agriculture or has become non-irrigable
• Requires a 14 days notice to the landowners and the persons responsible for the maintenance of the watercourse through which such supply
is conveyed. Purpose is to show cause why such supply should not be cut off.
• Section 55 - Power to prohibit obstructions or order their removal
• Provincial Government can do it buy a notification published in the official Gazette, prohibit, within limits to be defined in such notification,
the formation of any obstruction, or may within such limits, order the removal or other modification of such obstruction.
• Section 56 - Power to remove obstructions after prohibition
• The Divisional Canal Officer, or other person authorized by the Provincial Government in that behalf, may, after such publication issue an
order to the person causing or having control over any such obstruction to remove or modify the same within a time to be fixed in the order.
• Section 70 - Offences under Act
• Corrupts or fouls the water of any canal so as to render it less fit for the purpose for which it is ordinarily used;
• Shall be liable, on conviction before a Magistrate of such class as the Provincial Government directs in this behalf, to a fine not exceeding
two hundred rupees or to imprisonment not exceeding three months or both.
 Laws in Pakistan: Water
• Key Legislation (Water)

• (3) On-Farm Water Management and Water Users' Associations Ordinance, 1981

• Section 3:
• Where the irrigators of a watercourse jointly responsible with others for the construction, maintenance or
improvement of a watercourse or jointly making use of a watercourse with others, have formed themselves
into an Association and the same is registered with the Field Officer under the provisions of the Ordinance.
• Filed officer shall provide an opportunity to the Association to carry out the job of reconstruction,
maintenance or improvement of the watercourse.
• Section 5 - Field Officer to check maintenance of watercourse
• time to time spot-inspections of the watercourse to make sure that watercourse is being maintained and may
issue directions for the proper maintenance of a watercourse if considered necessary.
• Section 6 - Formation and registration of association
• Where the majority of the irrigators of a watercourse agree to associate in the work of reconstruction,
maintenance or improvement of the watercourse, they may form an Association to be known as Water Users'
Association.
 Laws in Pakistan: Water
Key Legislation (Water)

(4) The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997

National Quality Standards

• Discharges or emissions in excess of the National Quality Standards or other standards established by
Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where ambient conditions so require, has been
prohibited.
NOTE
• Environmental impact assessment (EIA) was first introduced in Pakistan based on the Environmental
Protection Ordinance 1983.

• The EIA process was further strengthened under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, which
became operational under EIA Regulations 2000.
Further Reading

NEQS for Municipal and Liquid Industrial Effluents (PDF Provided)

• Biological oxygen demand (BOD): BOD is a measure of the amount of oxygen required to remove waste
organic matter from water in the process of decomposition by aerobic bacteria (those bacteria that live
only in an environment containing oxygen)

• Chemical oxygen demand (COD): COD estimates oxygen depletion from water due to bacterial
activity.
 Water Pollution and Control
Types of Water Pollution

i. Physical Pollution -This pollution includes the physical characteristics like color, taste, silt content,
turbidity, temperature, etc.

ii. Chemical Pollution - This type of pollution covers the presence of chemical compounds such as acids,
gases, alkalis and salts.

iii. Biological Pollution - Biological pollution is due to the presence of microorganisms in the water.

Causes of Water Pollution

• Disposal of untreated municipal liquid waste

• Leaking sewerage lines
• Industrial waste water

Effects of Water Pollution

• Drinking water contamination

• Pollution of Water Bodies i.e., River Ravi, Hudiara drain, Lahore Branch Canal
• Sub-soil water pollution, Loss of aquatic life
• Crop damages, Heavy metals in food chain
• Increased rate of water borne diseases
 • Control of Water Pollution

• Treatment plants for municipal and & industrial effluents

before disposal to water bodies
Water • Adequate collection, recycling and disposal
Pollution and
• Application of “Clean Technology” at the industrial units
Control
• Segregate sewage lines to avoid mixing with drinking water
supply

• Fitter plants for clean drinking water

• Application of 3R formulas i.e. Reduce, Reuse, and

Recycle
 Solid Waste Pollution and Control
Solid Waste

Solid waste includes solids or semisolids, non soluble materials (including gases and liquids in containers) such as
agricultural refuse, demolition waste, industrial waste, mining residues, municipal garbage, and sewage sludge.

Types
I. Municipal solid waste,
II. Industrial waste
III. Agricultural waste
IV. Hazardous waste

Main Composition
The solid waste composition varies from region to region and time to time.
• Biodegradable waste i.e., could be decomposed naturally such as food and kitchen waste, green waste, paper,
etc.
• Recyclable material i.e., could be recycled again and again; such as paper, glass, bottles, cans, metals, certain
plastics ,fabrics, clothes, batteries etc.
• Inert waste i.e., not liable to decompose; such as construction and demolition waste, dirt, rocks, debris, etc.
• Electrical and electronic waste (WEEE); such as electrical appliances, TVs, computers, screens, etc.
• Composite wastes; such as waste clothing, Tetra Packs, waste plastic, etc.
• Domestic hazardous waste & toxic waste medication; such as paints, chemicals, light bulbs, fluorescent tubes,
spray cans, fertilizer and pesticide containers, shoe polish, etc.
 Solid Waste Pollution and Control
Solid Waste Generation in Pakistan

Solid waste generation in Pakistan ranges between 0.283 to 0.612 kg/capita/day

the waste generation growth rate is 2.4% per year.
Solid domestic waste is typically dumped on low-lying land.

Issues associated with solid waste management in Pakistan

• There is no proper waste collection system

• Waste is dumped on the streets
• Different types of waste are not collected separately
• There are no controlled sanitary landfill sites
• Citizens are not aware of the relationship between ways of disposing off waste and the resulting
environmental and public health problems

Legislation

• Environmental legislation is still not well developed in Pakistan especially in comparison to the
developed world.
• For example, there are no National Quality Standards for SWM.
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