(a) the quantum of e-waste generated in the country and the quantum of e-waste imported
into the country through legitimate and illegitimate channels during each of the last three years;
(b) the percentage of e-waste recycled in the formal and informal sectors, respectively; and
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to address the problem of e-waste?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to Parts (a) to (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 469
for answer on 29th April, 2013 regarding “Check on e-waste†raised by Shri Nikhil Kumar
Choudhary and Shri Nishikant Dubey
(a): Based on a survey carried out by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 1,46,800
Metric Tonne (MT) of e-waste was generated in the country during the year 2005. During the
last three years, no permission was granted by the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF)
for import of e-waste into the country for recycling or re-processing.
(b): As per the information received from CPCB, 102 recyclers/dismantlers have been granted
registration by different State Pollution Control Boards/ Pollution Control Committees for
recycling/dismantling of e-waste having registered capacity of 3,16,217 Metric Tonne per Annum
(MTA). These dismantlers and recyclers have environmentally sound recycling/dismantling
facilities for e-waste recycling.
(c): MoEF has notified e-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011. These Rules have come
in to force from 1st may 2012 and are applicable to the e-waste, generated from IT and
telecommunication equipment and Consumer electrical and electronics, i.e., Television sets
(including LCD & LED), Refrigerators, Washing machine and Air-conditioners. These rules apply
to every producer, consumer or bulk consumer involved in the manufacture, sale, purchase and
processing of electrical and electronic equipment or components as specified in Schedule-I
under the Rules, collection centre, dismantler and recycler of e-waste. The concept of
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has been enshrined in these Rules. The producers are
required to collect e-waste generated from their end of life equipment in line with this
principle.
Import/export of hazardous waste including e-waste is regulated under Hazardous Waste
(Management, Handling and Transboundary Movements) Rules, 2008. As per the Hazardous Wastes
(Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008, import of e-waste for disposal
is not permitted. MoEF has also published guidelines for environmentally sound management of
e-waste and for implementation of e-waste rules.