Barely a month since E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules came into force in the state on May 1, several IT firms and even some top officials of government departments, ‘bulk consumers’ category as per these rules, have started lobbying with the Centre to get the policy diluted even before the rules come into force, according to sources.
According to sources, the new rules hold e-waste producers, collection centres, consumers, bulk consumers, dismantlers and recyclers responsible for their disposal. But many ‘bulk consumers’, comprising IT firms and some government departments, are allegedly trying to ease out of the strict clauses and make only producers or manufacturers of e-waste answerable, and subsequently face prosecution, in case of violation.
Under the Extended Producer Responsibility of these rules, producers are responsible for collecting ‘end of life’ electronic products and ensuring that e-waste is channelised to dismantlers or recyclers.
Producers are required to get ‘authorisation’ from the Board, set up collection centres or take back systems either individually or collectively.
For this, each e-product will come with a specific code number for tracking the origin and end of electronic articles, according to the rules.
According to the pollution board official, an attempt to put the entire onus on manufacturers is not justified since ‘bulk consumers’ quite often violate rules for proper disposal of e-products.
The ministry of environment and forests had announced e-waste (Management and Handling) Rules in June 2011 under the Environment Protection Act. Implemented officially since this May 1, the rules are yet to be enforced. The APPCB is required to submit a report on this to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) by September 30.