Project Scope
European Commission engaged TERI to determine the status of E-waste generation
in India with special focus on Delhi and Bangalore, and examine its linkage
with the relevant laws and regulations. The project also mandated TERI to
identify economically feasible and easily adaptable technology, which finds
good acceptance among all stakeholders, including traders and workers.
Objective
The objective of this study was to quantify the E-waste generation, identify
trade chain, its economics, health and the environmental impacts. It also
sought to improve the role of unorganised E-waste recycling units apart from
strengthening the coordination between European and Asian countries in abating
the dumping of E-waste in promoting sustainable environmental protection system.
The specific objectives included identifying the gaps in e-waste management, creating awareness and building the capacity of recyclers, institutions and other stakeholders. Identifying solutions in E-waste management for reducing its impact on the environment and influencing the policymakers were the other objectives.
Process
Field visits and secondary sources of information were used for information
and data gathering. The field visits encompassed group discussions with the
manufacturers, assemblers, IT equipment suppliers, dismantlers, recycling
units, government and environmental bodies. Secondary data was obtained from
published literature, journals, newspaper articles, magazines and reports.
The project also studied the concentration of heavy metals in water and soil
samples collected from the recycling units in Delhi.
Findings
The source of E-waste in the country is varied. It is contributed by manufacturers,
households and through imports from countries like US, UK, Korea etc. The
wastes are collected and transported mainly to big cities and metros of the
country. Currently Mumbai tops the list, closely followed by Delhi, Bangalore
and other big cities in the country. Owing to cheap labour and lack of stringent
laws and regulations, obsolete PCs are imported that ultimately end up in
recycling. The study reveals the organisation of E-waste trade business in
the country, and a very basic and unsafe method of E-waste handling that exposes
workers to toxic gases and materials. The ground water and soil in the vicinity
of the recycling units were found to contain high levels of toxic and heavy
metals. As a result of the growing awareness of the hazards of E-waste, the
government is trying to streamline its management.
Recommendations
To ensure safe and environment friendly recycling and disposal of E-waste,
TERI came up with the following recommendations.
Bring an appropriate
regulatory framework on e–waste management
Streamline E-waste collection
system
Prepare inventory of E-waste
in all states
Raise awareness amongst the
various stakeholders for promoting the collection and proper disposal of E-waste
Implement extended producer
responsibility
Corporate houses be encouraged
to set up recycling plants under private public partnership (PPP) as part
of the corporate social responsibility
NGOs be encouraged to integrate
the existing chain of collection, recycling and disposal with the modern environment
friendly recycling facilities
Generate awareness about the
hazards of improper E-waste disposal, and impart training to people working
in the informal sectors