Highest E-Waste Produced In Pune After Mumbai; NGT Criticizes Pollution Control Board
Pune, January 25, 2021: “The electronic waste is increasing every year and we do not have a system capable of disposing it. The health of the general public will be risked as the administration is not serious about e-waste management rules. This negligence of the administration may be harmful in the future,” said the National Green Tribunal (NGT) criticizing the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
A petition regarding the e-waste disposal issue is being heard before the main bench of the NGT. Disposal of e-waste in the country should be done in accordance with the rules laid down by the CPCB.
According to the information given to the tribunal by the Union Ministry of Environment in 2018, 95 percent of e-waste in the country is disposed of in an unscientific manner by unorganized sector and scrap dealers. Most of this waste is destroyed by burning or melting in chemicals. After three years also no concrete steps have been taken at the administrative level. In many places today, people burn wires and other equipment to obtain various metals from e-waste. The smoke coming out of it is adversely affecting the health of the people. The vigilance committee should work to prevent these incidents. According to the e-waste disposal management rules 2016, the state pollution control boards across the country should sort and dispose of this waste”, the tribunal ordered.
After Mumbai, Pune has the highest e-waste: Maharashtra ranks first among the states producing the most e-waste in the country. In Maharashtra, Mumbai ranks first and Pune is second. IT companies are the biggest source of e-waste generation. About 30,000 tonnes of e-waste is generated in Pune every year. The Pollution Control Board in the state has approved more than 25 industries to recycle e-waste. However, researchers say that disposal companies have less capacity than the total waste collected.
According to the report submitted by the CPCB before the NGT, one million metric tonnes of waste was collected in India during the period 2019-20. Prior to that, in 2017-18, the figure was seven lakh metric tonnes. However, compared to that, the capacity of the e-waste disposal system and related companies is still only 7.82 lakh tonnes. The government has failed to enable this system in two years.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has issued e-waste collection, sorting and disposal licenses to twelve to fifteen organizations, including SWaCH Sanstha in Pune.
“Regular e-waste collection activities are organized by SWaCH Sanstha. Also, many organizations and societies bring this waste to us on their own. Two tonnes of e-waste is collected, recycled and sent to waste disposal companies by SWaCH Sanstha every month. It is disposed of in a scientific manner”, said Smita Rajabali, Project Coordinator, SWaCH Sanstha.
