Rules 16 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rules 16 to 19 follow hazardous waste from the facility that receives it to the road it travels on. Rule 16 deals with treatment, storage and disposal facilities, rule 17 with packaging and labels, rule 18 with transport, intimations and no objection certificates, and rule 19 with the seven-copy manifest in Form 10 for waste moving within the country.
These Rules are current as amended up to G.S.R. 636(E) dated 16 July 2026 (Chapter VIII on non-ferrous metal scrap in force from 1 April 2026). Later amendments, CPCB guidelines and State Board orders should be checked. If you are setting up movement documentation or a facility file, see our compliance documentation service.
A facility operator designs the facility as per CPCB technical guidelines and obtains State Board approval for design and layout (rule 16). Waste is packaged for safe handling and labelled in Form 8 (rule 17). The occupier gives the transporter Form 9 information (rule 18). Every movement within the country needs a manifest in Form 10, prepared in seven copies (rule 19). Part D Schedule III wastes are outside rule 19.
Rule 16: treatment, storage and disposal facilities
| Sub-rule | Provision |
|---|---|
| 16(1) | The State Government, occupier, operator of a facility or any association of occupiers is responsible, individually or jointly or severally, for identification of sites for establishing the facility in the State |
| 16(2) | The operator of a common facility or occupier of a captive facility designs and sets up the facility as per CPCB technical guidelines and obtains State Board approval for design and layout |
| 16(3) | The State Board monitors the setting up and operation of common or captive facilities regularly |
| 16(4) | The operator or occupier is responsible for safe and environmentally sound operation, closure and post-closure, per CPCB guidelines or SOPs |
| 16(5) | Records of wastes handled are kept in Form 3 |
| 16(6) | An annual return in Form 4 goes to the State Board on or before 30 June following the financial year |
"Common" and "captive" facilities are defined in rule 3, explained in rules 1 to 3. The approval of design and layout under rule 16(2) is separate from the authorisation under rule 6; see rules 6 and 7.
Rule 17: packaging and labelling
Any occupier handling hazardous or other wastes and any operator of a treatment, storage and disposal facility "shall ensure" that the wastes are packaged in a manner suitable for safe handling, storage and transport as per CPCB guidelines. The labelling "shall be done as per Form 8". The label shall be of non-washable material, weather proof and easily visible (rule 17(2)). A label that fades or peels is therefore a non-compliance, not a cosmetic issue.
Rule 18: transport
Rule 18 has seven sub-rules.
- 18(1): transport shall be in accordance with the Rules, the rules made under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and CPCB guidelines.
- 18(2): the occupier gives the transporter information in Form 9 on the hazardous nature of the wastes and the measures to be taken in an emergency, and labels containers as per Form 8.
- 18(3): for transport for final disposal to a facility in another State, the sender obtains a No Objection Certificate from the State Boards of both States.
- 18(4): for transport for recycling or utilisation including co-processing, the sender intimates both State Boards before handing the waste to the transporter.
- 18(5): for transit through a State other than the States of origin and destination, the sender gives prior intimation to the Board of the transit State before handing over.
- 18(6): the responsibility of safe transport is on the sender or the receiver, whoever arranges the transport and has the necessary authorisation for transport from the concerned State Board, and "this responsibility should be clearly indicated in the manifest".
- 18(7): the authorisation for transport is obtained by the sender or by the receiver on whose behalf the transport is arranged.
| Movement | What the sender must do |
|---|---|
| For final disposal to another State | No Objection Certificate from the Boards of both States |
| For recycling or utilisation, including co-processing | Intimate both State Boards before handing over |
| Through a transit State | Prior intimation to the transit State's Board |
| Any transport | Form 9 to the transporter; labels per Form 8 |
The difference between the first two rows matters. Disposal across a State border needs an NOC; recycling or co-processing needs only intimation to both Boards.
Rule 19: the manifest (movement document)
Rule 19 applies to hazardous and other waste "to be used within the country only". The sender prepares seven copies of the manifest in Form 10, all signed by the sender, with colour codes.
| Copy | Colour | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White | Forwarded by the sender to the State Board after signing all seven |
| 2 | Yellow | Retained by the sender after the transporter signs; the other five go with the transporter |
| 3 | Pink | Retained by the receiver (actual user or facility operator) after receiving the waste |
| 4 | Orange | Handed to the transporter by the receiver after accepting the waste |
| 5 | Green | Sent by the receiver to the receiver's State Board |
| 6 | Blue | Sent by the receiver to the sender |
| 7 | Grey | Sent by the receiver to the State Board of the sender, where the sender is in another State |
The other sub-rules:
- 19(2): the sender forwards copy 1 to the Board and, where waste is likely to pass through a transit State, intimates the Boards of the transit States.
- 19(3): no transporter shall accept waste unless it is accompanied by signed copies 3 to 7.
- 19(4): the transporter submits copies 3 to 7, duly signed with date, to the receiver with the consignment.
- 19(5): after acceptance, the receiver hands copy 4 to the transporter, sends copy 5 to its own Board and copy 6 to the sender, and retains copy 3.
- 19(6): copy 7 goes to the sender's Board only if the sender is in another State.
- 19(7): the rule does not apply to other wastes listed in Part D of Schedule III.
The manifest closes the loop: copy 6 returning to the sender proves the waste reached the receiver. A sender who never receives copy 6 has an open consignment to chase, and the Board holds copies 1 and 5 to cross-check.
A movement checklist
- Confirm the receiver's authorisation and the transporter's authorisation for transport.
- Label containers in Form 8, with durable, visible labels.
- Give the driver Form 9 with emergency measures.
- Obtain the NOC or give the intimations that rule 18 requires for your route and purpose.
- Prepare and sign seven manifest copies, and forward copy 1 to the Board.
- Track copy 6: record its return and follow up if it does not arrive.
- Keep Form 3 records and file Form 4.
Example
Indore Pharma Intermediates Private Limited sends solvent still-bottoms by road for incineration at a common facility in a neighbouring State. The sender obtains a No Objection Certificate from the Boards of both States, labels drums in Form 8 with weather-proof labels and gives the driver Form 9. It prepares seven copies of Form 10, forwards the white copy to its Board, keeps the yellow copy and hands the rest to the transporter. The facility retains pink, returns orange, sends green to its Board, blue to the company and grey to the company's Board. The company files blue with its Form 3 record.
Need help with the manifest and transport file?
Most inspection findings on movement relate to missing copies, labels or intimations. Our compliance documentation team can help you build a dispatch checklist, a manifest tracker and the facility approval file.
Key takeaways
- Facility design and layout need State Board approval, following CPCB technical guidelines.
- Packaging must be suitable for safe handling; labels follow Form 8 and must be durable and visible.
- Transport needs Form 9 information; inter-State disposal needs NOCs from both Boards; recycling or utilisation needs intimation to both Boards.
- The manifest in Form 10 has seven coloured copies, and the transporter cannot accept waste without copies 3 to 7.
- Part D Schedule III wastes are outside rule 19.
Read next
- Rules 20-24: records, returns, accidents, liability and appeal
- Rules 8-10: storage, utilisation and SOPs
- Rules 6 and 7: authorisation, Form 1 and cancellation
- Licenses and registrations required for a waste management company
Disclaimer: Based on the environment rules, guidelines and notifications named above as published in the Gazette of India, read with every amendment notified up to 3 October 2026 that the article names (consolidated reading texts from the CPCB 2021 compilation and the Goa State Pollution Control Board 2025 compilation were checked against the amending notifications), as consulted on 3 October 2026. Later amendments, CPCB guidelines, State Board orders and fees should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.