E-Waste Generation Five Times of
Collection in Official Channel
The percentage of e-waste collected, dismantled
& recycled/ disposed out of the total e-waste generated in the country from
twenty-one (21) types of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) notified Under
the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 during the last three years is given below:
|
Financial Year |
Generation |
Quantity of e-waste
collected, dismantled & recycled / disposed |
|
|
(Tonnes) |
(Tonnes) |
|
2017-18 |
7,08,445.00 |
69,414.0 |
|
2018-19 |
7,71,215.00 |
1,64,663.0 |
|
2019-20 |
10,14,961.21 |
2,24,041.0 |
The input data of e-waste generated is collated
on national level only.
Ministry has notified E-Waste (Management) Rules,
2016 which were further amended in 2018for management of electronic waste generated
due to discarding of electronic equipment by the consumers. The rules came into
force since 1st October, 2016and have the following specific objectives:
·
Extended Responsibility to
producers to manage a system of E-waste collection, storage, transportation and
environmentally sound dismantling and recycling through EPR Authorization (EPRA).
·
To promote and encourage establishment
of an efficient e-waste collection mechanism.
·
To promote environmentally
safe and sound recycling through authorized dismantlers and recyclers of e-waste.
·
To minimize illegal recycling
/ recovery operations.
·
Reduce hazardous substances
in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE).
The EEE after their useful life when they become
e-waste, may not cause any harm to health and environment if it is stored safely.
However, if un-scientific and crude methods are used for processing for retrieval
of useful components or material or if the material is disposed in open, then it
may cause health risks and damage to environment. Under the E-Waste (Management)
Rules, 2016, collection and processing of e-waste can be carried out only by Producers
or their authorised associates/ partners, authorised dismantlers, recyclers and authorised
refurbisher. Non-compliance of the E-Waste (Management)
Rules, 2016 may lead to adverse impact on environment and human health. Following
steps have been taken to curb informal collection and unscientific dismantling and
recycling of e-waste:
·
Under EPRA, a producer is
required to get its e-waste managed only through an authorized dismantler or recycler
of e-waste.
·
Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB) grants EPRA only to those producers who have set up a system of collection
of e-waste through authorised entity as per the above
said rules.
·
An Action Plan for enforcement
of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, across the country is in place since May, 2019. The action plan is to be implemented by all the
States/UTs and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees
(PCCs) are required to submit their quarterly progress reports to CPCB to review
progress. In the said action plan, checking informal traders, dismantlers, recyclers
of e-waste have been taken-up as one of the action points. Drives for identification
of informal activities are to be done by all the SPCBs along with district administration
of the State. An e-waste management review portal has also been developed for uploading
status & progress of e-waste action plan.
·
Actions, such as, constitution
of teams for carrying out drives, issuing of notices, closure of operation, seizing
the E-Waste against the informal processing are being taken up by the SPCBs/PCCs.
Seventeen SPCBs/ PCCs started the drive against informal recycling as per the aforesaid
Action Plan during Financial Year 2020-2021.
·
Under the aforesaid rules,
provisions have been made for recognition and registering of workers involved in
dismantling and recycling of E-Waste. Under Rule 12(1) of the said rules, State
Government has been entrusted with the responsibility to ensure earmarking or allocation
of industrial space or shed for E-Waste dismantling and recycling in the existing
and upcoming industrial park, estate and industrial clusters.
This information was given by the Minister of State
for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written
reply in Rajya Sabha on 7 April, 202.