E-waste in India increasing at alarming rate: Panel

Suggests legislative and enforcement mechanism to prevent India from becoming a dumping ground of e-waste for developed nations

Noting that the volume of e-waste in the country was increasing at an alarming rate, a parliamentary panel has recommended creation of a legislative and enforcement mechanism to prevent India from becoming a dumping ground of e-waste for developed nations.

Stating that e-waste management is a huge global problem, the committee said there were numerous reports indicating that e-wastes are being shipped to developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America from developed nations under the garb of "used goods" to pass on the hazards associated with it and to "avoid" the cost of legitimate recycling.

"The committee recommends the creation of necessary legislative and enforcement mechanism to prevent the country from becoming one of the dumping grounds of e-waste for developed nations," the committee on Demands for Grants (2015-16) for Environment Ministry said.

Noting that the need to review existing legal framework is "self-evident", the committee said that a necessary policy framework and legal architecture together with effective implementation machinery need to be put in place to meet the challenges of e-waste management.

"This should be done in a time-bound manner and in consultation with domain experts and other stakeholders," the committee headed by former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar said.

It observed that given the reach of electrical and electronic equipment in remote and far flung areas of the country, the arrangements made for managing and handling e-waste are quite "inadequate".

"The committee therefore recommends that the government should take all necessary steps to strengthen and expand the network of authorised collection centres as well as registered recyclers and dismantlers in the country in a big way so as to ensure safe and scientific disposal of e-waste," it said.

It noted that e-waste, which is "most" toxic of all waste material, is increasing at an alarming rate in the country and its management and handling has become a "major" challenge.