Question : Disposal of e-Waste

(a) whether the country’s economic growth, rise in per capita income, and technological innovations coupled with high obsolescence rate of electronic and electrical equipments including computers has resulted in increase in the rate of generation of e-waste;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the quantum of e-wastes generated during the last three years, State/UT-wise;
(c) whether the Government has any plan for safe disposal of e-wastes and if so, the details thereof along with the details of installed recycling/dismantling facilities operating in the country, Statewise;
(d) whether the Government has comprehensively revised and notified a new e-Waste (Management) Rules in March, 2016 in order to ensure safe disposal of e-waste, if so, the details thereof along with the proposal, if any, to include e-waste disposal as part of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan;
(e) whether the Government penalizes the States/UTs to compensate against generating more e-waste, if so, the details thereof along with the other steps taken by the Government for reduction in e-waste generation and strict compliance of e-waste (Management) Rules in various States/ UTs; and
(f) the steps taken for e-waste dismantling and recycling facilities and to undertake industrial skill development and measures for safety and health of workers engaged in such activities?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) and (b) The country’s economic growth with rise in per capita income and technological innovations coupled with high obsolescence rate of electronic and electrical equipment are leading to increase in the rate of generation of e-waste. No comprehensive inventorization of e-waste generation in the country has been done. However, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2005 estimated 1.47 lakh ton of e-waste in the country, and simultaneously had projected 8.0 lakh ton of e-waste generation in the year 2010. As per the United Nations University report, “The Global E-Waste Monitor 2014”, 17 lakh ton of e-waste were generated in the country in 2014.

(c) There are 178 dismantling/recycling units with a capacity of 441085.6 metric tonnes per annum. The State-wise details of installed recycling/dismantling facilities operating in the country is given at annexure-1.

(d) The Government has comprehensively revised e-waste (Management & handling) Rules, 2011, and notified E-Waste (Management) Rules in March, 2016. These Rules have provisions for the extended producers responsibility for collection and channelization of e-waste from consumers to authorised dismantlers and recyclers; responsibility of bulk consumers of electronic products for its safe disposal; responsibility of manufacturers generating electronic e-waste to channelize it for recycling and disposal; responsibilities of collection centres, dealers, refurnishers, bulk consumers, dismantlers, recyclers and State Governments. The Rules also provide for reduction in hazardous substances in manufacturing of electric and electronic equipments and their components, spares or parts. The Rules also emphasise safe transportation of e-waste and accident reporting by e-waste handlers. The Rules have provisions for simplified permission procedures for setting up of dismantling and recycling facilities through single authorisation based on Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board. There is no proposal to include e-waste management within the mandate of Swachh Bharat Mission.

(e) and (f): As per the provisions of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 rules State Government has been assigned the responsibility for environmentally sound management of e-waste. State Government through its Department of Industry or any other agency has to earmark or allocate industrial space or shed for e-waste dismantling and recycling in the existing and upcoming industrial park, estate and industrial clusters and ensure recognition and registration of workers involved in dismantling and recycling of e-waste. The State Government also has to undertake industrial skill development activities for the workers involved in the dismantling and recycling and ensure safety and health of the workers in dismantling and recycling of e-waste. There is no provision to penalise the state/UTs to compensate against generating more e-waste. Further, for resource recovery through recycling, the Ministry is coordinating with Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology, which has already undertaken initiatives such as Research and Development programmes for recycling technology for extraction of precious metals, plastics and glass, up-scaling innovative technologies, demonstrations through pilot plants and technology transfer.


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