ELECTRONIC WASTESPolicies And Their

Implementation

Deepmala Pokhriyal

Why are we here?

• Information and Communication revolution.

• Increasing GDP per capita and emergence of the middle class.

• Problem of sustainability.• Benefits with side effects.

What is E-Waste?

• All waste from electronic and electrical appliances which have reached their end life period or are no longer fit for their original intended use and are destined for recovery, recycling or disposal.

• E wastes are not always hazardous.

The world at stake..!• 50 MT of electron waste added

globally every year• China already produces about 2.3

MT of e-waste domestically, second only to the U.S. with about three million tonnes.

• The total e-waste generated in the EU is about 14-15 kg per capita.

• 80% of world E wastes being dumped in Asian countries for disposal.

Any Guess?

Its the WEEE man in Germany!

The Worldly Approach!

• Basel Action Network for prevention of globalization of wastes.

• Call for Action (Africa) to fight against the dumping of E-waste from developed countries.

• WEEE forum (Europe) to create awareness among EU nations regarding increasing waste generation.

• Earth Summit (Rio +20) working on creation of a sustainable world economy.

Where India Stands?

• 65 cities generate more than 60 per cent of the total e-waste in India.

• Maharashtra ranks first.• The contribution of individual

households is relatively small at about 15 per cent.

• 90% of the disposal and recovery of metals from E wastes is done in the informal sector.

Whats on in India!!

To the consumers and end users of the latest technology and emerging middle class.

Workers and especially children working in hazardous conditions in the informal sector

of disposal of e wastes.

The environment suffers the most with not only exploitation of precious metals for

making electronics but also the dumping and inefficient methods of disposal such as water

dumping, landfills, etc.How

muc

h?

Who suffers?

Government’s Turn• Ministry of Environment & Forests

(MoEF) of the government of India is responsible for environmental legislation.

• German Technology Cooperation (GTZ) began work on hazardous waste management in India

• Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Testing and Research (EMPA)

• Indo-German-Swiss e-waste initiative born in 2004.

Objectives of the initiatives

• Reduce the risks to the population and the pollution of the environment resulting from unsafe handling.

• Focus on knowledge transfer to and skills upgrade of all involved stakeholders through trainings and seminars.

• Target mainly the existing informal recyclers allowing for their maximum but safe participation in future e-waste management by facilitating their evolution and integration in formal structures.

Milestones achieved..

• Improved awareness through national E waste seminars and Care Initiative with Goethe Institute.

• Improved stakeholder engagement by formation of EWA.

• Improved estimates of e-waste by identification of e waste hotspots.

• Foreign trade policies restricting imports of e wastes.

Road Ahead.....

• Separate legislation on Electronic wastes.

• Increasing the responsibility of all the elements in the value chain.

• Making producers of electrical and electronic equipment responsible for the entire life cycle of its own branded product and in particular the environmentally sound end-of-life management and facilitating collection and take back.

To conclude!

• Limited Earth’s resources and therefore efficient exploitation.

• State to increase awareness and investments in e-waste management.

• Low organised sector to be taken care of.

• Increased involvement of municipal corporations.

Waste to wealth..

The path is clear!!!