Question : Generation of Information Technology Waste

(a) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that India generate the highest amount of Information Technology waste globally and if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons for the same;
(b) the quantum of I.T. waste generated in the country during each of the last three years including the current year;
(c) whether as per the aforementioned study, I.T. waste generation in India would be doubled by year 2050, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has developed any mechanism to address the said problem and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for recycling of IT waste in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) As per the information available with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),no such study claiming that India generates the highest amount of Information Technology waste globally is available.

(b) Based on available data,CPCB has estimated the generation of e-waste at the national levelon the basis of sales data of 21 types of notified Electrical & Electronic Equipment (EEE). The estimated generation of e-waste during Financial Year (FY) 2017-2018, FY 2018-2019 & FY 2019-2020 is given below:

? For FY 2017-18, the estimated generation of e-waste is 7,08,445 tonnes for 21 types of EEE. This is based on the sales data of 244 producers.
? For FY 2018-2019, the estimated generation of e-waste is 7,71,215 tonnes for 21 type of EEE. This is based on the sales data of 1168 producers
? For FY 2019-2020, the estimated generation of e-waste is10,14,961.2 tonnefor 21 types of EEE. This is based on the sales data of 1380 producers.

(c) Does not arise in view of answer (a) above.

(d) &(e) For disposal of E-waste in an environmentally sound manner, Government has notified E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016. The regulations intend at taking all steps required to ensure that e-waste is managed in a manner which shall protect health and environment against any adverse effects, which may result from such e-waste. The said rules are effective from 01.10.2016and have the following specific objectives:

• Extended Responsibility to producers to manage a system of E-waste collection and channelization through EPR Authorization.
• To promote and encourage establishment of an efficient e-waste collection mechanism
• Promote Environmentally Safe & Sound Recycling by channelizing E-waste to authorized dismantlers and recyclers of e-waste
• To minimize illegal recycling / recovery operations
• Reduce Hazardous substances in Electrical and Electronic components

Under the said rules, Producers of EEE have been given responsibility under the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for collection and environmentally sound management of e-waste and for creating awareness among consumers - retail and bulk. The said rules have provisions for environmentally sound collection, transportation, storage, dismantling and recycling of e-waste. In the rules, roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders have been clearly defined. Under EPR, producers have to obtain Extended Producer Responsibility Authorization (EPRA). In the EPRA, the producer’s e-waste collection targets are mentioned which is based either on their generation or on their sale of EEE.

For recycling of E-Waste including Information Technology waste, as per the information available with CPCB, 312 e-waste dismantlers/ recyclers have been granted authorization in 18 States. These authorised dismantlers and recyclers have capacity of 7,82,080.62 MTPA. In the said rules, all authorized dismantlers/ recyclers are required to maintain data on E-waste processed by them and subsequently submit annual report to respective State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) for their assessment & verification. The SPCBs/PCCSs also has to continuously verify the dismantlers and recyclers of e-waste through random inspections.



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