India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has reclassified highly polluting waste-to-energy (WTE) incinerators into a “blue category,” a move that eases regulatory oversight for these plants.
CPCB’s own data indicates WTE incinerators have a maximum Pollution Index score of 100/100, signifying the highest level of pollution. However, the “blue” classification exempts them from rigorous scrutiny, clearances, and public hearings, despite evidence of widespread non-compliance and generation of hazardous waste. A report by the Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) found that four Delhi WTE plants, processing thousands of tons of mixed waste daily, exhibited violations including toxic air emissions, hazardous solid waste, and water contaminants, and generated hundreds of tons of hazardous ash each day.
Source: Down To Earth