The Hindu Business Line : E-waste stockpile sets alarm bells ringing

New Delhi, Dec. 13 Thanks to the rising consumption of electronics in the country and the dumping of electronic items from developed nations, India has generated 3.3 lakh tonnes of e-waste in 2007. An additional 50,000 tonnes has made its way through illegal imports. What’s even more alarming is that the figure is expected to touch 4.7 lakh tonnes by 2011.

The e-waste study released jointly by hardware association MAIT and GTZ, that revealed these statistics, however, takes into account PCs, TVs and mobiles. It excludes electrical equipment, consumer durables, and other electronic items.

Out of the total e-waste stockpile, only about 40 per cent finds its way into the recycling stream, while the rest remains in warehouses due to an inefficient collection system. Only about 19,000 tonnes — representing five per cent of the total e-waste — is processed.

MAIT did not benchmark India against other nations in the study, which was their first for the country.

Calling attention

According to an estimate, e-waste represents five per cent of the world’s municipal waste stream –– which adds up to 50 million tonnes of electronic waste a year. “In India, the current situation could assume alarming proportions and, therefore, it is time we pay serious attention to the issue. Institutional users must put in place a policy on e-waste management. The Government should develop an inclusive model by identifying and defining the roles of each stakeholder including the vendors, users, recyclers, and the regulators,” the MAIT Executive Director, Mr Vinnie Mehta, said.

Of the total e-waste generated, Western India accounts for the largest proportion (35 per cent), followed by the South (30 per cent). North and East account for 21 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively.