The IT and electronics industry insists that the entire collection mechanism of e-waste will need to be strengthened in order to make the new e-waste management rules effective.
The e-waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2011, which were notified in May 2011, have come into effect from May 1, 2012 and people will now be required to dispose of their discarded electronic at designated centres.
The aim is to reduce the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment by specifying the threshold for use of hazardous material, including lead, mercury and cadmium.
“The industry welcomes the move. The consumption of electronic items is increasing substantially and disposal of e-waste is a critical issue for the country,” an official of the Electronic Industries Association of India (ELCINA) said.
In 2005, India generated 1.45 lakh tonnes of e-waste but by 2012, this is expected to go up to 8 lakh tonne. Most of this waste is being generated in 65 of the larger cities in the country with Delhi leading the list. Jeevesh Kumar, executive director of Greenpeace Eco-Management, one of India’s largest eco-management company, said, “In India, e-waste is not being separated at the source. We need to introduce the right technology to do so otherwise heavy metals can seep into the groundwater and cause contamination of the food chain.” But Sabyasachi Patra, executive director of the Manufacturers’ Associ-ation for IT, said, “Traditionally, consumers have sold off their old electronic items to ‘kabadiwallas’. It is therefore important that this parallel unorganised segment is included in the eco-system as they can help in effective collection of e-waste.”
The new rules place the main responsibility of e-waste management on the producers of the electrical and electronic equipment by introducing the concept of “extended responsibility”. Thus the producer will be responsible for the equipment once the consumer discards them.