MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a) & (b) Government is alive to the fact that the recycling of E-Waste is carried out in informal sector, which is illegal and a criminal offence. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has time to time advised State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) /Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) to carry out regular drives for checking E-Waste processing in informal sector and reports are obtained quarterly. Actions, such as, constitution of teams for carrying out drives, issuing of notices, closure of operation, seizing the E-Waste against the informal processing are being taken by the SPCBs/PCCs.
Seventeen SPCBs/ PCCs have started the drive during FY 2020-2021 (till second quarter).Twelve (12) SPCBs/PCCs namely, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura and West Bengal have reported that they have started the drive against informal recycling and reported that during this period no such activity was found in their States/UTs. Five (5) SPCBs/PCCs namely, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Delhi, Puducherry and Uttar Pradesh have taken action against the informal recycling. Details of actions are given at Annexure – I:
(c) The management of e-waste is regulated under the frame work of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and amendments there off. The said rules are effective from 01.10.2016 and have the following specific objectives:
(i) Extended Responsibility to producers to manage a system of E-waste collection, storage, transportation and environmentally sound dismantling and recycling through EPR Authorization (EPRA).
(ii) To promote and encourage establishment of an efficient e-waste collection mechanism.
(iii) To promote Environmentally Safe & Sound Recycling through authorized dismantlers and recyclers of e-waste.
(iv) To minimize illegal recycling / recovery operations.
(v) Reduce Hazardous substances in Electrical and Electronic components.
Under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the producers of Electrical and Electronic Equipments (EEE) listed in the Schedule-I of rules have been given responsibility of management of their products once they have attained end of life. As per the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, CPCB is issuing EPR authorization to the producers of EEE along with e-waste collection targets on annual basis. Asper the information provided by CPCB, as on date, 1704 Producers have been granted EPR Authorization. Registration to 48 Producers Responsibility Organizations (PROs) have been granted so far. 407 dismantlers/recyclers of E-Waste have authorization and their annual processing capacity is 11,10,103.22 tonne.
For enforcement of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 in the country, an action plan is in place and the same is being implemented by all SPCBs/PCCs in their respective states/UTs. SPCBs/PCCs are submitting quarterly progress report as envisaged in the Action Plan through a web portal developed for this purpose.
(d) With a view to reduce the use of hazardous substances in the manufacture of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and in their components or consumables or parts or spares following limitshave been prescribed:
i. Lead (Pb) - 0.1% by weight in homogeneous material
ii. Mercury (Hg) - 0.1% by weight in homogeneous material
iii. Cadmium (Cd) - 0.01% by weight in homogeneous material
iv. Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) - 0.1% by weight in homogeneous material
v. Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) - 0.1% by weight in homogeneous material
vi. Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)- 0.1% by weight in homogeneous material
(c) The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 sub rule 12(2) provides for recognition and registration of workers and their skill development. It also provides for monitoring and ensuring safety and health of workers involved in dismantling and recycling of e-waste.
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