This IT capital is also the electronic scrapyard of India. The booming usage of electronic equipment has created ‘electronic-waste’ with possible environmental consequences.
In Bangalore, some8,000 tons of e-waste is generated. If we add e-waste generated from other electronic equipment like mobile phones, televisions, printers, consumer and industrial equipment, this figures will go up many fold.
Further, as a consequence of poor management facilities for e-waste and the presence of deadly chemicals and toxic substances in electronic gadgets such as PVC and brominated flame retardant (BFR), the problem of e-waste managementis reaching a crisis which not only will create public nuisance but irreversible health hazards to environment and community.
A full life cycle approach to electronic waste which involves producers, governments, local civic bodies, recycling sector and the consumer offers the best hope of limiting environmental problems related to e-waste. In this regard, the current proposal by the Palike to put a cess on e-waste generated by IT companies is a welcome move.
But why only the IT industry will be charged with cess and not the whole of electronic and IT manufacturing industry? Further, what about those bulk consumers of IT and electronic equipment in other sectors and PSUs? If we go from waste generation angle, all of bulk consumers irrespective of domain expertise should be asked to pay for pollution.
Moreover, issues like how this cess should be implemented and whether it is according to product use or tons of waste generated by the company need to detailed out.
If we go into the gravity of e-waste problem, we will understand that its solution lies with original equipment manufacturers.
Hence, the final financial responsibility for management of e-waste generated from the product they manufacture should be on the manufacturers of original equipment.
Further, any kind of cess or recycling fee should be internalised into the cost of product because e-waste is not just a simple waste problem. Instead, it is leading into proliferation of toxic chemical cocktails in environment.
E-waste is hazardous and also a valuable resource. Integrated recycling is what is required.
Does the BBMP realise the gravity of the problem and the requirements? Banishing plastic and e-waste is a gigantic task and it calls for collective efforts.
Palike needs to develop a detailed plan and logical steps toward e-waste management for Bangalore.
— The writer is toxic campaigner, Greenpeace India
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