e Waste in India : Issues and Management

What is e-Waste ?

E-Waste is any discarded electronic appliances. e-Waste is short form of Electronic Waste. e-Waste is  generating hazardous and valuable materials.

e-Waste in India :

• According to the Global E-Waste Monitor, 2017 published by UNU (United Nations University) estimated that India generates about 20 lakh ton of  e-Waste annually, nearly 82% of which is personal devices.

• Another study identified - Almost 70% of e-Waste from computer equipments and followed by

telecommunication equipment like Phone (12%), 

electrical equipment (8%) and 

medical equipment (7%) with remaining from household e-Waste.

• Three most e-Waste producing States in India - Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, respectively.

Global Concern on e Waste :

According to the Global E-Waste Monitor -

• In 2019, world generated a striking 53.6 million metric tons (Mt) of e-Waste, an average of 7.3 per kg capita.

• On average, the total weight of global electronic consumption increases annually by 2.5 Mt.

• Asia generated highest quantity of e-Waste in 2019 at 24.9 Mt, followed by the Americas (13.1 Mt) and Europe (12 Mt), while Africa and Oceania generated 2.9 Mt and 0.7 Mt, respectively.

• In per Capita e-Waste generation - Europe ranked first and Africa is last.

• It is estimated that the amount of e-Waste generated will exceed 74 Mt in 2030.

Classification of e-Waste in Three Major Heads :

1. White Goods : Household appliances

2. Brown Goods : TVs, Camcorders, Cameras; and

3. Grey Goods : Computer, Printers, fax machines, scanners etc.

Waste from the White and Brown goods is less toxic when compared to Grey goods.

What are the Issues of e-Waste in India ?

• e-Waste increases due to obsolete electronic devices. For example - 3G mobile phone replaced by 4G mobile technology and Laptop replacing PCs etc.

• Solid waste management is an already critical task in India, and e-Waste becoming more complicated challanges in India.

• By the Grey e-Waste, India facing health issues due to water contamination, air pollution and soil degradation.

• The rapid urbanisation also increase the production and consumption of electronic and electrical equipments that's resulted as e-Waste.

• India's recycling sector is still underdeveloped.

• Improper disposal of electronic products leads to the possibility of damaging the environment.

• The Components of e-devices contain lead, cadmium, mercury, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), chromium, beryllium etc., threatening to human health and the environment.

• Only 1.5% of e-Waste generated in India gets recycled. 

• Lack of awareness about e-Waste and it's recycling as well as the role of the unorganized sector are the added challenges to the problems.

e-Waste Management Rules in India :

Salient Features of the e-Waste (Management) Amendment Rules, 2018 

1. The e-waste collection targets under EPR have been revised and will be applicable from 1 October 2017. The phase-wise collection targets for e-waste in weight shall be 10% of the quantity of waste generation as indicated in the EPR Plan during 2017-18, with a 10% increase every year until 2023. After 2023 onwards, the target has been made 70% of the quantity of waste generation as indicated in the EPR Plan.

2. The quantity of e-waste collected by producers from the 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2017 shall be accounted for in the revised EPR targets until March 2018.

3. Separate e-waste collection targets have been drafted for new producers, i.e. those producers whose number of years of sales operation is less than the average lives of their products. The average lives of the products will be as per the guidelines issued by CPCB from time to time.

4. Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) shall apply to the Central Pollution Control board (CPCB) for registration to undertake activities prescribed in the Rules.

5. Under the Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) provisions, cost for sampling and testing shall be borne by the government for conducting the RoHS test. If the product does not comply with RoHS provisions, then the cost of the test will be borne by the Producers.

Note : It amended the e-Waste Management Rules, 2016.

How to reduce e-Waste ?

• It can be contained by minimising its generation.

• The product designers must ensure the longevity of the products through their' re-use, repair, and/or upgradable features.

• Focus on use of less toxic, easily recoverable, and recycle materials.

• Recovery of metals, plastics, glass and other materials reduces the magnitude of e-Waste.

• Policymakers need to address all related issues ranging from production and trade to final disposal, including technology transfers for recycling of electronic waste.

• Clear Regulation for control both exports and imports of e-Waste and ensuring their environmentally sound management should be in place.

• There is also a need to address the loopholes in the prevailing legal framework to ensure that e-Wastes from developed countries are not dumped in our country for disposal.

Recently, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has developed a guideline on uniform inventorisation of e-Waste in the country. 

As per the information available with CPCB (Centre Pollution Control Board), 69,414 Mt of e-Waste was collected, dismantled, and recycled during 2017-18. 

On 15th July, 2019, question has been raised in Rajya Sabha on pollution due to e-Waste.

Technical and policy-level interventions, proper implementation, capacity building, and increasing the public awarenesses are the need of the time. They only can convert this challenge into an opportunity and set global credible standards concerning environmental and occupational health.

Contact Authorised Recyclers : List of Government Authorised e-Waste Recyclers

List of Common e-Waste Items :

Microwaves, electric cookers, heater, fans, cell phones, smartphones, desktop computers, computer monitors, Laptops, chargers, DVD, Blu-ray players, Video game systems, Fax Machine, Remote control, drier, lamps, bulbs, massage chairs, etc.

Read Also : Plastic Waste

References 

Yojana

UNU

PIB

E-book