With over one billion mobile phone subscribers, India is the fifth largest e-waste generator in the world. Eradicating lack of awareness for disposal and waste collection targets by the Government and the private sector is the need of hour
The National Democratic Alliance Government’s slew of ambitious campaigns such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Make in India campaign, smart cities project, digital India campaign and the Zero Defect Zero Effect policy that aspires to leave zero effect on the environment have all strived hard to bring about a quantum change and assisted in India’s new found progress.
However, these projects are yet to stem the glaring gaps in the management of environmentally hazardous e-waste, this is reflected in the fact that India generates an estimated 1.7 million tonne per annum (TPA) of e-waste constituting mobiles, laptops and computers but recycles about 4,62,896 TPA only. This possesses great threat not just to the environment but also to the human health.
The dismal part is that e-waste inventory and accountability has been completed by only five States — Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Madhya Pradesh. This is not only slow progress but also shows the apathy of other State Governments in according importance to the handling and proper disposal of e-waste and other hazardous materials.
According to a Parliament report, 10 States contribute 70 per cent of the total e-waste generated in the country while 65 cities generate more than 60 per cent of the total e-waste in India. Government, public and private sectors account for almost 70 per cent of the total e-waste generation.
Given the humongous quantum of e-waste present at any time, a preparation of inventory levels across the States can be a very good beginning point for handling e-waste. This will not only help in getting a grip on the problem but also put an end to e-waste playing havoc with the environment and human health containing toxic substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, gases and heavy metals which can pose serious threat to both humans and the environment.
Today nearly 50 per cent of the e-waste collected is dumped unscientifically, in addition to this, 2,59,000 tonne of plastic waste, which is generated every day. Compared to this, only 14 States and Union Territories have banned plastic carry bags. This is further exacerbating an already dangerous problem.
One of the major impediments in tackling this vexing issue of e-waste is the lack of awareness in the general public regarding the same. According to a survey — ‘what India knows about e-waste’ conducted across five metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai by an NGO, Toxics link, revealed that most people were unaware about electronic waste and the proper means to dispose it.
The general public of cities such as Delhi and Kolkata, which also happen to be the biggest contributors to e-waste, seem to have particularly the worst awareness levels as per the study.
To make matters worse, nearly 90 per cent of the citizens of metropolitan cities are also unaware of the legal framework pertaining to e-waste disposal and do not know the environmental and health impacts of its improper disposal.
According to e-waste rules 2011, electronic waste should only be disposed to authorised agencies, but even the educated sections of the metro’s dispose the e-waste to a kabadiwala not only breaking the rules but also endangering the life of the person buying the waste. If this is the condition of the metropolitans then the situation in smaller towns and cities must be even worse.
The fight to contain and control e-waste can be successful, provided it is handled segment wise. According to a KPMG report, e-waste generation from one segment alone needs better handling
in India. With over one billion mobile phone subscribers, 12 per cent of the e-waste is accounted for by the telecom sector.
As 25 per cent of the devices end up as e-waste each year, collection targets need to be put in place so that the waste is properly captured and scientifically disposed. In addition to this imports of e-waste taking place from other parts of the world to India, it needs to be stopped altogether with immediate effect.
India is already the fifth largest generator of e-waste in the world. According to an Assocham report, e-waste in India is likely to grow to 5.2 million tonne by 2020 at the predicted annual compounded growth of 30 per cent. Before India gets the dubious distinction of reaching the number one position of e-waste generator, efforts must be made to rapidly increase the awareness levels ensuring proper implementation of e-waste norms to contain the problem.
(The writer is an environmental journalist)