Mysuru: India is the fifth largest producer of e-waste in the world said, R Ravindra, General Manager of E-Parisaraa, Bengaluru.
Speaking on the topic “Awareness Session on e-waste Management and Collection Drive” organised on the occasion of Earth Day 2017 by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mysuru at SJCE Step here on Saturday he said, “Most of us don’t know how to handle e-waste. Huge space is occupied by these unused products. e-waste consists of electrical and electronic equipment waste. e-waste is not a waste, infact it is a wealth. Even the waste battery does have a wealth in it with the presence of lithium. In developed countries, e-waste disposal is scientific while in India the measures we take damage the environment.
“In India, annually we produce 2. 7 million tonnes of e-waste. We stand fifth in terms of production of e-waste in the world. Unscientific disposal of e-waste lead to various health complications. More importantly, the children start suffering from a very young age. The other major concern in disposing waste in unorganised sector is the remains of what is not wanted is just let out in the drain thus polluting air, water and soil. Since October 2016, state pollution board is going all out in its effort on this issue. In days to come, these issues will gradually come down” added Ravindra.
Sabike Noobia, Assistant Environmental Officer, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Mysuru who also spoke on the topic briefed on the rules and regulation KSPCB has enforced in all the industries. “Most of the industries are under control but its not the same with education industry or other government industries wherein they are not able to find out a right place to recycle e-waste. India annually generates 4 lakh tonnes of e-waste, which is next only to China in the world. In India, Karnataka ranks sixth in generating e-waste. India and China have become global recycling hubs for the e-waste generated world over. e-waste is also hazardous as it contains many toxic ingredients like lead, cadmium and mercury polychlorinated biphenyl, brominated flame retardants that have the potential to cause environmental pollution and pose health hazards when processed, recycled or disposed off. The toxic substances present in the waste render it hazardous only when such wastes are dismantled and processed without taking adequate precautions.” She also mentioned that most of e-waste in Mysuru city is treated in an informal way.
“E waste is hazardous but also valuable due to presence of precious metals like copper, gold and platinum. The extraction of these valuable metals by crude rudimentary processes leads to environmental pollution and occupational health and safety hazards. Unorganised recycling of e waste is scattered as clusters in densely populated cities. According study, predicts 95 percent of e waste recycling is undertaken by the informal sector in India. There are 138 e waste dismantler units in the country with total e waste reprocessing 349154.mta. In karnataka we have 5 unit with 5018.5mta e waste reprocessing” added Noobia .
Shanmugam, of CII, Mysuru said “Without electronic gadget there is no life today. There are many innovations today but very purpose of it is defeated. Take for example, plastics which was said to be future, now it is being banned in many places and even difficult to get rid of it. Anything excess becomes poison. Hence it is the responsibility of each and everyone to see that e-wastes are treated scientifically.”
Mahesh Jambardi, COO, Excelsoft Technologies and Vasanthkumar Mysoremath were also present.
