A study on the total inventory of e-waste would also be undertaken to devise a long-term strategy
With serious challenges emerging from growing e-waste in the country, the Union Ministry of Electronics and IT plans to undertake an assessment of the inventory of e-waste across states apart from creating awareness campaigns around it.
"We need to create awareness of the environmental, social and economic aspects of e-waste. The channelisation of the e-waste for proper recycling and establishing a system of accountability in e-waste management will happen only through effective awareness," a senior official from the ministry told DNA Money.
Besides, a study on the total inventory of e-waste would also be undertaken to devise a long-term strategy. The biggest challenge is the recycling of e-waste in non-formal units by unscientific, unhealthy and non-environmental friendly methods, the official said.
The objective is to create awareness campaigns around hazards of the recycling methods being used by unorganised sector vis-à-vis best practices available for environment-friendly recycling.
A meeting of senior officials was recently held by the IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on this issue.
The campaign strategy would include workshops, activities in schools, colleges, RWAs with a special focus on the informal sector. Even content for social media will be created besides short films and videos to inform stakeholders about pros and cons of e-waste recycling and proper management. All channels will be used to spread out the information regarding recycling of electronic items, the official said.
The ministry plans to invite proposals from relevant parties to undertake this project. This will be part of the Digital India programme. While the first phase of similar nature was undertaken in 2015 which covered 10 states, but now the scope of the project will be expanded to all the states.
India's electronics industry is one of the world's fastest growing industries with rapid urbanisation in smaller towns and cities. Even companies have started rapidly expanding in Tier II and III cities as well as rural areas to tap the burgeoning demand of electronics there.
According to a report by United Nations last year, India generated about 2 million tonne (mt) of electronic waste in 2016. The 'Global E-waste Monitor 2017' report had pointed out that India imports e-waste from developed countries and severe health risks and environmental damage are widespread in India due to very low literacy levels of the country's over one million people involved in manual e-waste recycling operations. By 2016, the world generated 44.7 mt of e-waste and only 20% was recycled through appropriate channels. China was the top e-waste producer in the world generating 7.2 mt.
Discarded electronic equipment such as phones, laptops, fridges, sensors and TVs contain substances that pose considerable environmental and health risks, especially if not recycled properly, according to experts.
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- A study on the total inventory of e-waste would also be undertaken to devise a long-term strategy
- All channels will be used to spread out the information regarding recycling of electronic items
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