IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
THE LEGISLATION
The E-Waste (Management &Handling) Rules,2011 advocates
extended producer responsibility(EPR),putting the responsibility of disposing a
product on its original producer, no matter how many times the product changed
hands. According to the guidelines, all manufacturers of electronics,
distributors, bulk consumers and enterprises are liable to set up waste
collection centers. States pollution regulatory bodies are tasked with ensuring
that norms are followed. According to rules, states pollution control boards
were required to undertake inventorisation of e-waste.
E-WASTE SCARE
·
A united nations Environment
programme report, ‘Recycling from e-waste to resources’, predicted that by
2020,india’s e-waste from old computers will jump 500% from what it was in
2007.
·
An ASSOCHAM study released
last year said that barely 4.5% of india’s e-waste gets recycled. Growing at a
compounded annual growth rate of about 20% , India generates more than 4.4 lakh
tons of e-waste.
·
2010 report by the centre
for science and environment said India generates 3,50,000tonnes of electronics
waste every year and imports another 50,000 tonnes. Only 19,000 tonnes of this
is recycled.
·
The western region generates
1/3rd of e-waste in India, with Mumbai topping the list with the
maximum e-waste generated (around 10%).
·
As per country level Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment assessment study. Mumbai and pune falls
under the top ten cities that are generating maximum quantities and Mumbai
alone generates maximum among all.
·
The annual report of MoEF
released in mid-2012 said that India would have generated a 8 lakh tones of
e-waste up eight times in the past seven years by December 2012.
HARMFUL ELEMENTS
·
E-waste Contains toxic substances
like lead and cadmium in circuit boards; lead oxide and cadmium in moniter
cathode ray tubes; mercury in switches and flats screen monitors; cadmium in
computer batteries; polychlorinated biphenyls(pcbs) in older capacitors and
transformers; and brominated flame retardents on PCB, plastic casing, cables
and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cable insulation that release highly toxic dioxins
and furans when burned to retrieve copper from the wire.
·
Antimony(Sb)- Exposure to high levels
can lead to severe skin problems
·
Cadmium(Cd)- Long term exposure can
damage the kidneys and bone structure.
·
Lead(Pb)- When built up, can have
irreversible effects on the nervous system, particularly in children.
·
Polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs)-
They can cause suppression of the immune system, liver damage, damage to the
nervous system and reproductive organs and behavioral changes.
·
Triphenylphosphate(TPP)-It is a strong inhibiter of key enzyme system in blood.
·
Mercury-It can damage the brain and kidneys ,as
well as fetuses.
-REPORT ON ASSESSMENT OF ELECTRONIC WASTES
CASE STUDY
Mumbai is sitting on a time bomb. Last few years have
pegged the city as the country’s largest generator of electronic
waste(e-waste). Making its way through the un-organised network of kabadiwallahs
this waste lies in an evergrowing pile at deonar land-fill. Unknown to many, this e-waste has serious environmental
implications, its toxic lead, cadmium, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) releasing toxins slowly into
groundwater and, when incinerated, into the air.
In 2011, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) introduced the E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, which put the onus of proper disposal of e-waste on producers and consumers. The rules hope to curb the dangerous increase in e-waste generation and answer a critical question: How do we protect ourselves from the 8 lakh tonnes of e-waste generated in India annually?
In 2011, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) introduced the E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, which put the onus of proper disposal of e-waste on producers and consumers. The rules hope to curb the dangerous increase in e-waste generation and answer a critical question: How do we protect ourselves from the 8 lakh tonnes of e-waste generated in India annually?
The Players
According
to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) records, India has 71 registered
recycling centres meant to do just that. Mumbai has 17 dismantlers/ recyclers
listed on the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) site.
The e-waste recycling process at companies is similar. For instance, say a laptop has been given away to be recycled. Its parts are checked to see if they can be refurbished and reused. Unusable parts are dismantled and segregated — ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastic, glass, paper.
The difference between recycling and dismantling companies lies at this end of e-waste processing - recyclers are able to reuse the materials obtained, dismantlers have to send them to recycling companies. The collected hazardous waste is then sent to a government hazardous waste treatment facility. Precious metals recovered are sold in the commodities market. Delhi-basedAttero is the only company in India that can extract precious metals from e-waste.
“E-waste is the richest waste available at our disposal, yet not many have even heard of it,” says BK Soni, who is part of a seven-member team set up by the MPCB to look into waste management. Soni is also the founder of Ecoreco, an eco-recycling company that started handling e-waste in 2007. “Everything is done in an eco-friendly manner, without the use of chemicals or incinerators,” says Soni. Ecoreco, whose focus is corporates and has a client list that includes Infosys, Mahindra, and Wipro, recycles about 4,000 metric tonnes of e-waste every year at its factory in Vasai.
In 2010, Karan Thakkar registered his company EcoCentric as a dismantler. His company has two e-waste collection bins at Express Towers at Nariman Point and NM College, Vile Parle. “I want to focus on the first layer of e-waste disposal which is collection and the one area that is solely lacking,” says Thakkar, who hopes to introduce collection points across the country. EcoCentric also focuses on corporates and has seen a four-fold increase in the number of corporates approaching them, ever since the E-waste Rules, 2011 got implemented in 2012.
One of the biggest fears people have about getting their e-waste recycled is disposal of data. “We use a degausser which erases the magnetic field (information) stored on a magnetic drive,” says Gaurav Mardia, founder of E-incarnation Recycling. Other companies use a software, or a hammer or shredder to destroy the magnetic drive. Mardia’s company has managed to dismantle 300 tonnes of e-waste at his Tarapur factory. “Ninety-nine per cent of the e-waste that comes in can be converted to raw material,” he adds.
The e-waste recycling process at companies is similar. For instance, say a laptop has been given away to be recycled. Its parts are checked to see if they can be refurbished and reused. Unusable parts are dismantled and segregated — ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastic, glass, paper.
The difference between recycling and dismantling companies lies at this end of e-waste processing - recyclers are able to reuse the materials obtained, dismantlers have to send them to recycling companies. The collected hazardous waste is then sent to a government hazardous waste treatment facility. Precious metals recovered are sold in the commodities market. Delhi-basedAttero is the only company in India that can extract precious metals from e-waste.
“E-waste is the richest waste available at our disposal, yet not many have even heard of it,” says BK Soni, who is part of a seven-member team set up by the MPCB to look into waste management. Soni is also the founder of Ecoreco, an eco-recycling company that started handling e-waste in 2007. “Everything is done in an eco-friendly manner, without the use of chemicals or incinerators,” says Soni. Ecoreco, whose focus is corporates and has a client list that includes Infosys, Mahindra, and Wipro, recycles about 4,000 metric tonnes of e-waste every year at its factory in Vasai.
In 2010, Karan Thakkar registered his company EcoCentric as a dismantler. His company has two e-waste collection bins at Express Towers at Nariman Point and NM College, Vile Parle. “I want to focus on the first layer of e-waste disposal which is collection and the one area that is solely lacking,” says Thakkar, who hopes to introduce collection points across the country. EcoCentric also focuses on corporates and has seen a four-fold increase in the number of corporates approaching them, ever since the E-waste Rules, 2011 got implemented in 2012.
One of the biggest fears people have about getting their e-waste recycled is disposal of data. “We use a degausser which erases the magnetic field (information) stored on a magnetic drive,” says Gaurav Mardia, founder of E-incarnation Recycling. Other companies use a software, or a hammer or shredder to destroy the magnetic drive. Mardia’s company has managed to dismantle 300 tonnes of e-waste at his Tarapur factory. “Ninety-nine per cent of the e-waste that comes in can be converted to raw material,” he adds.
Problems
The main challenge is to responsible e-waste management is two-fold: rules and guidelines are lacking, and awareness is missing too.
“There’s been no national survey to check on progress. There are no national registries so it is difficult to hold producers accountable so how can they be fined? There is no sense on who are the players, what are the quantities being sold. We need a system to move waste in an efficient manner,” says Satish Sinha, associate director at Toxics Link, an environmental NGO.
Sinha and his team were responsible for pushing for the e-waste legislation. The rules have serious loopholes: they fail to prevent other countries dumping their e-waste in India, they don’t include details of environment-friendly technology to be used while disposing of e-waste, they do not mention the number of collection points, number of authorised recyclers required in cities or the amount of waste to be collected and disposed. A study conducted by Toxics Link, ‘E-waste Management in India - Role of State Agencies’ , found that most states have failed to implement the e-waste rules. In addition, there’s an absence of any public information related to e-waste on the websites of most (15 of the 35) pollution controls boards. Few companies have been given permission to recycle and the market has more informal than formal players.Most people aren’t aware of e-waste facilities and even if they are, they aren’t convinced enough to use their services. The kabadiwallah, after all, gives more money per item.
In the case of e-waste recycling companies, most can’t afford to pay. EcoCentric offers around Rs10 per kg, E-incarnation has free pick-ups but doesn’t pay.
Ecoreco pays depending on the quantity, quality and distance. As picking up the e-waste and transferring it to a factory is a huge cost, these companies naturally prefer corporate clients who give in bulk and are usually based in one location.
The need of the hour is devising means of getting the public interested in e-waste recycling. Companies such as Attero have incentives to engage consumers in handling their e-waste and are working with schools, NGOs and colleges. “Consumers are getting more aware but it is happening very slowly,” says Rohan Gupta, COO, Attero.
“The government can’t do everything,” says Soni. “The change has to come at the top. People need to start worrying about the environment.”
The main challenge is to responsible e-waste management is two-fold: rules and guidelines are lacking, and awareness is missing too.
“There’s been no national survey to check on progress. There are no national registries so it is difficult to hold producers accountable so how can they be fined? There is no sense on who are the players, what are the quantities being sold. We need a system to move waste in an efficient manner,” says Satish Sinha, associate director at Toxics Link, an environmental NGO.
Sinha and his team were responsible for pushing for the e-waste legislation. The rules have serious loopholes: they fail to prevent other countries dumping their e-waste in India, they don’t include details of environment-friendly technology to be used while disposing of e-waste, they do not mention the number of collection points, number of authorised recyclers required in cities or the amount of waste to be collected and disposed. A study conducted by Toxics Link, ‘E-waste Management in India - Role of State Agencies’ , found that most states have failed to implement the e-waste rules. In addition, there’s an absence of any public information related to e-waste on the websites of most (15 of the 35) pollution controls boards. Few companies have been given permission to recycle and the market has more informal than formal players.Most people aren’t aware of e-waste facilities and even if they are, they aren’t convinced enough to use their services. The kabadiwallah, after all, gives more money per item.
In the case of e-waste recycling companies, most can’t afford to pay. EcoCentric offers around Rs10 per kg, E-incarnation has free pick-ups but doesn’t pay.
Ecoreco pays depending on the quantity, quality and distance. As picking up the e-waste and transferring it to a factory is a huge cost, these companies naturally prefer corporate clients who give in bulk and are usually based in one location.
The need of the hour is devising means of getting the public interested in e-waste recycling. Companies such as Attero have incentives to engage consumers in handling their e-waste and are working with schools, NGOs and colleges. “Consumers are getting more aware but it is happening very slowly,” says Rohan Gupta, COO, Attero.
“The government can’t do everything,” says Soni. “The change has to come at the top. People need to start worrying about the environment.”
Recent- There is the current news that in china for recycling e-waste they have kept ATM like machine where
people can give there mobiles phones instead of money. So its very useful in
india as you know some manufactures have reduced the price of mobile phones
drastically so in general generating more e-waste. Because there value
decreases by time. So in the near future it will be the need of an hour.
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Superb and really very good informative blog. We have one of the prominent E-waste recycling company in Mumbai.
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