The Centre is not keen on framing a separate policy to manage electronic waste (e-waste) generated in the country as it believes the existing legal framework will suffice. | |
| In the wake of increasing demand from environmentalists and NGOs to come up with a comprehensive e-waste management policy, the government recently issued a set of draft guidelines which could become the guiding principle for the management of electronic waste in the country. |
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| The guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, however, recognise the enormous quantity of e-waste generated in the country and its possible ill-effects. |
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| The e-waste inventory "" based on obsolescence rate and installed base in India for 2005 "" was estimated to be around 146,180 tonnes. But it is expected to exceed 800,000 tonnes by 2012. Around 65 cities in India generate over 60 per cent of the e-waste in India, while 10 states account for 70 per cent of the e-waste. In terms of the highest e-waste generating states, Maharashtra ranks first followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. |
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| Among the top 10 cities generating e-waste, Mumbai ranks first followed by Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Surat and Nagpur. |
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| Barring two e-waste managing facilities in Chennai and Bangalore, there is no large-scale dismantling set-up in India. The recycling of e-waste is mostly done by the unorganised sector, thereby creating health hazards. |
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| But "the government feels at this point, there is no need for a separate legislation on electronic waste management. Besides, all hazardous substances have been covered by the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules 2003", according to sources close to the development. They will use the existing legislation to regulate e-waste. Parliament recently gave its assent to the changes in the hazardous wastes' rules. |
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| The government is planning to incorporate the hazardous wastes' rules within the guidelines. |
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| The Centre has also constituted a technical committee to elicit opinions of individuals, organisations and NGOs within 60 days, which will be incorporated into the final guidelines. |
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| It recently constituted a technical committee of which the Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology (MAIT) is a part. They are looking at preparing the guidelines to incorporate all the comments within 60 days. |
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| Comments have been sought from industry bodies, people, organisations and NGOs, and to make the guidelines more robust. |
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