Govt comes up with draft on e-waste

With more than 25 crore mobile phones being discarded by users each year, the Union Environment Ministry has come up with a new draft plan that would suggest how best the electronic waste (e-waste) can be disposed off.
One of the key features of the draft E-waste (Management) Rules 2015 is to financially reward the user, if the person deposits the equipment with a designated e-waste collection centres. Setting up the collection centres would be responsibility of manufacturers.

“A portion of the selling price will be retained by the producer and will be refundable to the consumer once the end of life products are channelised in the prescribed method,” according to the draft, which are open to public comments till July 31.

Though there is hardly any data on the quantity of e-waste generated in India, a decade-old study by the Central Pollution Control Board estimated generation of 1.47 lakh tonnes of e-waste in 2005, which was to increase to 8 lakh tonnes by 2012. The rising trend continues. More than 70 per cent of the waste is generated in 10 states – Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, 
Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. There are  23 e-waste recycling units having the total capacity of 90,000 tonnes per year.

Sixty five cities generate more than 60 per cent of the total e-waste in India, says a 2011 report prepared by the Rajya Sabha. 

Among the top ten cities generating e-waste, Mumbai ranks first followed by Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Surat and Nagpur.

Attero organizes E-waste collection drive in Delhi and Noida

Attero, India’s largest electronic asset management company in an effort to address the ever growing e-waste problem organized an e-waste collection drive in the Delhi-NCR region, in December. The e-waste collection drive which was held in the first week of December was organized at various societies including Vasant Apartment, Usma Urja Apartment (Sector 62, Noida), Swarnim Vihar, Green View Apartment, and Vivek Vihar (Sector 82, Noida). In Delhi too, the collection drive was conducted in the Arya Nagar Apartments, Sita Ram Apartment, Bharat Apartment, Himvarsha Apartment, Balco Market area in IP Extension and several other housing societies. An overwhelming number of people participated in the collection drive with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm.

This unique initiative to keep cities free from the menace E-waste is a part of the ‘Clean-e-India’ campaign, a joint effort by Attero and the International Finance Corporation to curb unregulated and improper disposal of old electronics. Since there has been a massive increase in the usage of electronic consumer durables in India the problem of disposing off old unwanted gadgets and appliances has become a grave concern for the general masses as well as for the environment. 

Karnataka to regulate e-waste disposal

Bangalore, Nov 13 (IANS) Karnataka plans to regulate disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) generated by the increasing use of information and communication gadgets in formal and informal sectors, a senior official said Wednesday.

"We are keen to put in place regulations for handling and disposing mounting e-waste across the state. Stakeholders should develop an ecosystem to generate wealth through e-waste," state environment secretary N. Sivasailam said at a seminar here.

Stressing on the need to develop sustainable business models to deal with e-waste, Sivasailam said proper systems had to be put in place to ensure systematic development of the e-waste industry.

"It is important to have a protocol in place to operate e-waste processing units. The protocol can be modified at periodic intervals based on feedback from stakeholders," the secretary told the seminar, organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham).

Assocham southern regional council co-chairman J. Crasta said a whopping 800,000 tonnes of e-waste was generated across India in 2012, reflecting a cumulative average growth rate of 27 percent since 2005.

"Mumbai along with Navi Mumbai is the highest generators of e-waste, followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) and Bangalore," he said.

Expressing concern over the growing e-waste processing in the informal sector leading to environmental and health hazards, Crasta called for efforts to increase share of the formal sector to make best use of it and generate employment opportunities.

"There is an urgent need to create awareness for scientific disposal of e-waste so as to reduce its menace on society," Crasta said.

Nagpur wasting time in race to manage e-waste

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."

BOX

* 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

4 tonnes of e-waste collected in 3 days in Vadodra

To tackle the growing peril of electronic waste (e-waste) in the state and disposing it of scientifically, Baroda IT Association (BITA) organised a three-day IT exhibition in Vadodara from February 17-19. The event was held in collaboration with EcoSarjan, anAhmedabad-based non-government organisation (NGO).

"We collected nearly three tonnes of e-waste in first two days itself, which increased to four by the end of the third day," said Dipan Shah, director - EcoSarjan.

"This waste has already reached Ecoli Waste Management Pvt Ltd where it will be disposed as per Gujarat Pollution Control Norms," he added. The e-waste includes CPUs, cellphones, landline devices, modems, old typewriters, USB drives, tube lights and many more such electronic appliances now out of use.

Shah, and his partner organisation BITA, came up with an innovative idea to ensure more participation in the programme.

"We had promised cash vouchers to those who deposited their e-waste with the centre. These vouchers could be redeemed at the exhibition to buy a new electronic product," said Shah.

"Almost Rs1.4 lakh were given in vouchers in exchange ofe-waste. The amounts decided were based on type and condition of e-waste brought in," he added.

Shah, post this e-waste drive, has started receiving an increased number of calls from corporate houses, retailers and individuals who want their out-of-use electronics disposed. As per his estimates, this response will help collect three times the e-waste collected during the exhibition.

"We will organise one-day camps every week evaluate e-waste collected. This waste will be sorted and sent to the disposal plant. The exercise will continue till the time we have a permanent collection centre inVadodara," informed Shah.

"Similar camps are being planned for Ahmedabad as well," he added.GPCB and Vadodara Municipal Sewa Sadan (VMSS) support this drive.

Shah, to boost his endeavour, has now joined Federation of IT Associations of Gujarat (FITA) of which BITA is also a part.

Shah said, "Our work is to replicate collection centre at all IT exhibitions in Gujarat. We will also extend productive life of computer systems, wherein we collect and refurbish them and deliver the same for free to those who require them."

The Society for Environment Protection (SEP) through its EcoSarjanproject has been working on the issue of E-waste since 2009. It has evolved a comprehensive plan for E-waste awareness and management campaign for Gujarat.

Chennai sits on a growing e-waste pile

A Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) recommendation to set up e-waste collection centres is gathering dust. Corporation sources say many people refuse to leave their products for free at such centres. The city annually generates more than 30,000 tonnes of e-waste, and it is growing. By 2030, this is projected to touch two lakh tonnes.

Environmentalists and social activists fear that free distribution of television and laptops will add to the e-waste heap. Lead and other toxic substances in e-waste pose health hazards. Most of the e-waste from smaller computer firms ends up in landfills. With the share of e-waste in dump sites like Kodungaiyur and Perungudi growing over the years, environmentalists thought the proposed collection centers in 15 zones would reduce the burden of the dump sites, but the idea doesn't seem viable.

"It looks tough because people don't part with e-waste for free," said a senior corporation official. The e-waste inventory prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board in 2005 put the annual e-waste generation across the country at 1.46 lakh tones. In Chennai, personal computers, televisions and mobile phones contribute 26,183 tonnes to the e-waste heap. Chennai does not have government-run recycling plants or collection centres for e-waste, but a private recycling plant at Urappakkam handles e-waste from the Madras Export Promotion Zone (MEPZ).

"Ideally there should be one collection centre per zone," said a senior official of TNCB. Corporation commissioner P W C Davidar said the civic body is focusing on solid waste segregation. "After thorough discussions with other officials, the decision of e-waste collection centers would be finalized," he said.

Arun Senthilram of Toxics Link, who is also a member of the state e-waste policy drafting committee, said the panel is involved in a detailed study of e-waste in the city. "Maybe paying a nominal amount would encourage people to deposit e-waste at the collection centres," he said.

Infrastructure Management and Advisory Services, a consultant appointed by the corporation in 2008 has recommended a ban on dumping e-waste in landfills. According to its report, e-waste treatment in the city was being carried out in an unregulated environment with no control on emissions- generation of mixed e-waste fractions along with hazardous waste after dismantling, generation of effluents during metal extraction, emissions due to burning of printed circuit board and resultant air pollution.

e-waste supply chain management in India

India is at crossroads with tremendous growth in the electronics industry but also faces the exponential growth of electronic waste (e-waste). India generates about 400,000 tonnes of waste annually which is increasing at the rate of 10-15% and 70% of which comes from government institutions and business houses. High obsolescence of electronic products and the necessity for supporting upgrades compound this problem.
Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules 2, 2008, currently covers the management of e-waste in India. However it does not mention guidelines to handle e-waste differently from any other electrical waste. Government has issued a voluntary guideline to demarcate IT products from other electrical products but it is insufficient to initiate actions from enterprises. Therefore, a set draft rules were prepared and submitted to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).