E- Waste
An Indian Perspective
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
E-Waste
Electronic waste or e-waste is any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic appliance. E-waste includes computers, entertainment electronics, mobile phones and other items that have been discarded by their original users.
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
Problems
• E-waste is the most rapidly growing waste problem in the world. • It is a crisis of not quantity alone but also a crisis born from toxics ingredients, posing a threat to the occupational health as well as the environment. • Rapid technology change, low initial cost, high obsolescence rate have resulted in a fast growing problem around the globe. • Legal framework, proper collection system missing. • Imports regularly coming to the recycling markets. • Inhuman working conditions for recycling.
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
E-Waste: Growth
IT and telecom are two fastest growing industries in the country. • India, by 2008, should achieve a PC penetration of 65 per 1,000 from the existing 14 per 1,000 (MAIT) • At present, India has 15 million computers. The target being 75 million computers by 2010.# • Over 2 million old PCs ready for disposal in India. • Life of a computer reduced from 7 years to 3-5 years.
# Source:http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13910603,
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
E-Waste: Growth
• Over 75 million current mobile users, expected to increase to 200 million by 2007 end.* • Memory devices, MP3 players, iPods etc. are the newer additions. • Preliminary estimates suggest that total WEEE generation in India is approximately 1,46,000 tonnes per year. #
# Source: http://www.e-waste.in/about_/ * Source: Hindu
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
E-Waste: Growth
Three categories of WEEE account for almost 90% of the generation:
Large Household appliances: Information and communications: technology equipment Consumer Electronics: 42.1% 33.9% 13.7%
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
E-Waste: Main Sources
Imports; Govt., public and private sector discards (over 70%); PC retailers, manufacturers; Secondary market of old PCs; and Individual Households.
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
E-Waste Hazards
Average PC of approx. 31.5 kg wt. contains: Two million Obsolete PCs would mean:
7.24 kg 1.98 kg 0.693g 0.4095g 2.961g 1.98g 9.92g 4.94g
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Plastics Lead Mercury Arsenic Cadmium Chromium Barium Beryllium
14,427,000 kg 3,962,700 kg 1,386 kg 819 kg 5,922 kg 3,969 kg 19,845 kg 9,891 kg
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
Existing Legislation
• Trans boundary movement of E waste covered under the Basel convention. • India ratified the convention in 1992. • Waste listed in list A and list B which prohibits such movements. • Waste importers exploit such gaps as listed in the convention. • Allowed to import against a license.
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
Existing Legislation…
• Covered under the “Hazardous Waste Amended Rules, 2003” in List A and B of Schedule 3. • The Rule is inadequate to handle generation,transportation and disposal of this complex waste • Regulators unable to monitor and regulate the informal sector. • DGFT and Foreign Trade Policy 2002-07 trade and licensing – not under free imports.
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
Need for Legal Framework
Ban on total imports of E waste. Domestic legal framework to address these gaps in import of E Waste
Need to address safe disposal of domestic waste.
Tie recycling in with take-back product responsibility.
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
Ingredients of legislation
The Framework should address the issue of E waste imports for reuse and recycling. Attract investment in this sector
Link up activities of informal sector with formal sector
Provide for appropriate framework for processes
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
Ingredients of legislation Contd…
Promote adequate ESM technologies for recycling Incorporate precautionary principles and polluter pays Concept of EPR Adopt Consultative process
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
Thank you
For further information contact:
Toxics Link H-2 Jungpura Extension New Delhi- 110014 www.toxicslink.org Phone: 24320711/8006 Email: info@toxicslink.org
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective