In a bid to promote segregation of e-waste in the national Capital, the Delhi government on Wednesday authorised 37 waste collection centres. The decision was taken as the Environment Department has been raising concerns regarding the unauthorised dismantling and recycling of e-waste, which poses a great danger to human health and environment, for some time now.
E-waste is generated when old mobile phones, computers, laptops, TV sets, and other electronic and electrical material become obsolete. Generally, users dispose such waste by selling these items to local scrap dealers or kabadiwalas, who are ignorant about handling e-waste. As a result, e-waste often ends up being burnt for extraction of valuable metals, which releases harmful gases in the atmosphere and causes air pollution.
"E-waste should be given only at the Delhi Pollution Control Committee authorised collection centres in strict adherence to the e-waste management rules," Environment Minister Imran Hussain said.
The minister was addressing a workshop organised by the Environment Department on e-waste management for bulk consumers. He stressed upon the importance of spreading public awareness about the hazards of improper disposal of e-waste.
The Government of India had notified revised E-Waste Management Rules-2016 on March 23, 2016, which came into force on October 1, 2016.
According to officials, these rules are applicable to every manufacturer, producer, bulk consumer, collection centres, dealers, e-retailers, refurbishers, dismantlers, and recyclers involved in manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, collection, storage, and processing of e-waste or electrical and electronic equipment (including their components, consumables, parts, and spares, which make the product operational) as listed in Schedule 1 annexed to the E-Waste Management Rules.
Environment experts have welcomed the government move. "This was un urgent need, as waste burning is one of the biggest contributors to air pollution. The new centres, if run properly, can help do away with segregation of waste at the source itself, thereby reducing the practice in a significant manner," an environment activist said.
The minister observed that besides authorising collection centres, the agencies concerned need to make available disposal facilities for e-waste. He also observed that the practice of burning of e-waste is a big menace, which needs to be curbed.
