Centre, states asked to deal with increasing e-waste

Noting that generation of e-waste is increasing at a "staggering" pace and there is a "yawning gap" between its generation and capacity to deal with it, a parliamentary panel today urged the Centre and state authorities to take immediate remedial measures.
A parliamentary standing committee on science and technology and environment and forest also urged the Environment Ministry to bring necessary amendments in e-waste rules by incorporating best practices and incentive schemes prevailing internationally.
"The committee notes that the quantum of e-waste is not only huge but is increasing at a staggering pace and thus the issue needs to be addressed in a purposive manner and on urgent basis. There is a yawning gap between e-waste generated and the capacity to deal with it.

"The committee feels that the number of 126 e-waste recyclers/dismantlers is abysmally inadequate to treat the quantum of nearly 8 lakh tonnes of e-waste generated in the country.
"The committee recommends the central and state authorities to take immediate remedial measures to suitably and efficiently address the issue by enlarging the infrastructure in place to deal with the issue," the committee chaired by former Union minister Ashwani Kumar said.
It said that there is an immediate need to increase the number of dismantlers/recylers/collection centres especially in states generating large quantum of e-wastes.

The committee in its report also felt the need to increase the coverage of Extended Producer's Responsibility (EPR) to involve more producers in management of e-wastes.

"The committee feels that EPR has not been adequately enforced nor is the present legal and policy architecture adequate to enforce the same. Environment Ministry should immediately set in motion steps to address the issue," the committee said.
It noted that the e-waste rules are at "nascent" stage of implementation despite the fact that generation of e-waste has crossed 8 lakh tonne way back in 2012.
"The committee therefore recommends that the (environment) Ministry should bring forward necessary amendments in the e-waste rules incorporating the best practices and incentive schemes prevailing internationally for encouraging recycling," it said.