India Announces Opening of First-Ever E-Waste Clinic

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): India has announced opening of the first e-waste clinic in the country in Bhopal in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The initial memorandum of understanding (MoU) to construct the facility was signed between the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) in October last year.

The plant, set up in compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, will be run as a three-month pilot project. Upon its success, the clinic facility will be replicated at other locations across the country.

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The initiative aims to promote segregation, processing and disposal of waste from household as well as commercial customers. Residents could directly deposit their old electronics at the clinic for a fee. In addition, the clinic will also arrange door-to-door collection of e-waste, which will be managed in two ways- designing separate carts for e-waste collection or attaching electronic waste collection bins to the already existing ones meant for solid and wet waste.

The e-waste clinic will help in scientific handling, disposal and recycling of e-waste. It is considered as a big step forward in creating a more sustainable e-waste management system in the country.

As per studies, India is ranked fifth in the world in the list of topmost e-waste producing countries.