Question : E-waste Collection by Informal Sector

(a) whether the Government has achieved the e-waste collection target as per the E-Waste (Management) Rules, and if so, the details thereof;
(b) if not, the reasons therefor and the details of policy changes if any to achieve this target;
(c) whether the Government has estimated the proportion of e-waste being handled by the informal sector and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government is aware of health concerns related to e-waste faced by the informal sector and if so, the measures being implemented to address the same; and
(e) the steps being taken to reduce the presence of the informal sector and effectively regularize e-waste management or alternatively, to upskill the informal sector to manage e-waste in safe and appropriate ways?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) & (b)Under the E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016, Producers of notified electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) were given phase wise annual e-waste collection target. As per the information available with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 1,64,663 tonnes;2,24,041 tonnes and 3,54,291.22 tonnes of e-waste was collected and processed during the Financial Year (FY) 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 respectively.

The defaulting units/producers are liable to pay financial penalties under para 21(2) of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016. To ensure compliance of targets, guidelineshave been framed by CPCB.

(c) No authentic estimateis available so far regarding the proportion of e-waste being handled by informal sector.

(d) No study has been carried out so far to assess the health related issues of informal sector involved in the processing of e-waste. Under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, Department of Labour in the State or any other government agency authorised in this regard by the State Government has been assigned responsibility for ensuring safety and health of workers involved in dismantling and recycling of e-waste.

(e) Under E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, collection and processing of e-waste can be carried out only by Producers or their authorised associates/partners, authorised dismantlers, recyclers and authorised refurbisher. Following steps have been taken to curb informal collection and unscientific dismantling and recycling of e-waste:
• Under Extended Producer Responsibility Authorisation (EPRA), a producer is required to get its e-waste managed only through an authorized dismantler or recycler of e-waste.
• CPCB grants EPRA only to those producers who have set up a system of collection of e-waste through authorised entity as per the above said rules.
• An Action Plan for enforcement of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016,across the country is in place since May, 2019. The action plan is to be implemented by all the States/UTs and SPCBs/PCCs are required to submit their quarterly progress reports to CPCB to review progress. In the said action plan, checking informal traders, dismantlers, recyclers of e-waste have been taken-up as one of the action points. Drives for identification of informal activities are to be done by all the SPCBs along with district administration of the State. An e-waste Management review portal has also been developed for uploading status & progress ofe-waste action plan.
• 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 up by the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs). Seventeen SPCBs/ PCCs started the drive against informal recycling as per the aforesaid Action Plan during FY 2020-2021.
• Under the aforesaid rules, provisions have been made for recognition and registering of workers involved in dismantling and recycling of E-Waste. Under Rule 12(1) of the said rules, State Government has been entrusted with the responsibility to ensure earmarking or allocation of industrial space or shed for E-Waste dismantling and recycling in the existing and upcoming industrial park, estate and industrial clusters.

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