India’s e-waste pile to reach 30 lakh tonnes by 2018: ASSOCHAM study

NEW DELHI (Scrap Monster): According to a study conducted by the Associated Chambers of commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) in partnership with Frost & Sullivan, India’s e-waste volumes are likely to soar to 30 lakh metric tonnes per year by 2018. The report also states that the country currently generates 18.5 lakh metric tonnes of e-waste per year.

The study reveals that Mumbai tops the list of e-waste generating cities with an estimated 1.2 lakh metric tonnes per year, followed by Delhi-NCR with 98,000 metric tonnes and Bangalore with 92,000 metric tonnes. The other top cities to feature in the list are Chennai (67,000 mt), Kolkata (55,000 mt), Ahmedabad (36,000 mt), Hyderabad (32,000 mt) and Pune (26,000 mt).

According to the report, households account for only 15% of the total generated e-waste. More than 70% of the e-waste is generated by government, public and private industries. Also, majority of the e-waste is comprised of big equipment such as refrigerators, televisions and washing machines. Computers are responsible for 20% of the e-waste stream, whereas mobile phones constitute 2%.

The report reveals that only 2.5% of the country’s total e-waste gets recycled, mainly on account of poor infrastructure facilities and lack of firm laws. Over 95% of the scrap is managed by unorganized sector, where e-waste is handled in most unscientific ways, thereby leading to release of toxins into the environment.

Informal recyclers employ primitive and hazardous methods to process e-waste. The industry employs children in large numbers to dismantle electronic waste. The ASSOCHAM report calls for formulation of effective legislative measures to prevent entry of child labor into collection, segregation and processing of hazardous e-waste.

The report calls for various proactive measures to boost safe recycling of mounting e-waste in the country. The government must ensure that residents have easy and convenient access to e-waste collection centres. Sufficient training must be provided to informal recyclers regarding proper recycling techniques.

The report was released on the eve of the ‘World Earth Day’.