E-waste spoils living rooms

[1]

Builder C.M. Rajinikanth of Metha Nagar gave away nearly 34 kg of electronic waste during our recent collection of e-waste campaign in Chennai.

He disposed of outdated speakers, old CPU and a printer.
“I was proud to give away the electronic waste that was lying at home for many months.

I am happy that I have given them for scientific recycling and not for unorganised recycling shop,” he said, reacting to DC’s e-waste collection campaign.

He said he also encouraged his friends and neighbours to give away the e-waste in their homes.

Rajinikanth understood the hazards of e-waste and disposed of the waste.

Unlike him, many think that e-waste is generated mainly in industries and IT firms and not at home.

However, a considerable amount of e-waste in our country is generated in our houses, say experts.

Almost all the defective electronic equipment in our household like the grinder, fridge and bulbs contribute to the unauthorised digital dump yard in our cities.

A recent study by E-Parisara — an e-waste recycling facility in Bengaluru — showed an average middle-class family generates nearly 20 kg of e-waste every year.

The electronic waste generated by each household is either dumped along with other domestic wastes or kept in a corner of the house covered in cloth.

IIT-Madras alumnus and professional recycler S. Sampath said, “At least one million tonnes of electronic waste is generated in our country every year.

Unless we send this waste to scientific recyclers, these dumps, whether they are within the house or out in the landfills, can cause serious health problems.”

“Unlike other garbage, most of this e-waste is non-degradable and pollutes permanently,” he said.
Sampath said that many of us decide to keep e-waste at home thinking that the outdated gadget would be of use some day. “That day never comes,” he said.