The e-Waste (management and handling) Rules 2011 will come into effect from May 1, making it mandatory for Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to collect and dispose off e-waste in a safe manner. However, the two government institutions have not even prepared a road map for implementation of the new rules.
Huge quantity of e-waste is generated in the city every day. In the absence of a policy and lack of planning, NMC is collecting the e-waste along with garbage. Consequently, the e-waste is disposed off in an unscientific manner causing health hazards and environment pollution. In fact, proper collection of e-waste could bring in some revenue for NMC.
The Central government had taken note of increasing e-waste and come up with a law to manage it in 2011. The government has decided to implement the new rules from May 1. As per the new rules, MPCB and NMC have to ensure safe collection and disposal of the e-waste in scientific manner. Besides, MPCB has to make it mandatory for all business establishments dealing with electronic and electrical products to register within three months. The collection centres or other proper systems have to be set up for safe collection of e-waste from across the city.
Deputy director (health) Dr Milind Ganvir told TOI the process to prepare a road map will start in coming days. "A couple of NGOs including Centre for Sustainable Development have submitted a proposal to undertake the work," he said.
Regional officer of MPCB AT Fulmali could only confirm that no processes are in place as of date.
As per official sources, some urban local bodies in other states have started to sent notices to establishments to get registered under the new rules, and to establish a proper system for safe collection and disposal of e-waste.
Director of Centre for Sustainable Development Leena Buddhe said a proposal was submitted to NMC requesting for a tie-up for safe collection and disposal of e-waste. "We had undertaken a project for ragpickers, so we are well connected with them. Besides, we conducted a drive to find out the exact quantum of e-waste being generated in the city, and its disposal. A questionnaire was filled up by 103 scrap dealers, which revealed various ill-effects of e-waste. We are ready to undertake the work as a social cause. It will be very easy if NMC associates with us," she said.
Meanwhile, another NGO from the city, Vasundhara Education and Welfare Association, has also undertaken a drive to prepare a report on e-waste generated in the city. President Veena Khanorkar said, "The drive was started from January and a report is expected to be finalized by June. The government of Maharashtra has assigned us the work. A workshop will be organized in the coming days in this regard."
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* e-waste is a collective terminology for the entire stream of electronic waste generated from used TVs, computers, refrigerators, mobile phones, fax, various types of batteries, air conditioners, and other electrical equipment
* Nagpur is said to be among top 10 cities generating e-waste in India
* e-waste is a big threat to health, groundwater, soil, environment as its components have excessive lead and other toxins along with sulphuric acid, mercury of silver oxide etc
* e-waste may be recycled in scientific manner profitably, if metals and chemicals are extracted for reuse
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