Even though e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules have come into force from Tuesday, the AP Pollution Control Board is still gearing up for implementation and strict enforcement of these rules with a framework of guidelines to be followed by manufacturers of e-products.
The Union ministry of environment and forests had announced e-waste rules way back in June 2011 under the Environment Protection Act. This would be implemented in letter and spirit only after the APPCB prepares a draft explaining “how to ensure implementation and check violation” of the norms.
Officers said that a period of one year had been given for setting up infrastructure such as forming a collection centre for e-waste to be managed under these rules. The PCB will have to submit a report on this to the Central Pollution Cont-rol Board by September 30. Sources said that e-waste generated in Hyderabad alone is about 6,000 metric tonnes per year and this includes a significant chunk from households.
Computers, printers, calculators, batteries, mobile phones, television sets, cameras, cables, etc comprise e-waste after they become unfit for use. Under the rules, the responsibility of collecting and processing electro-nic/electrical or e-waste lies with the manufacturer, under Extended Production Responsibility (EPR). For this, every e-product will come with a specific code number for tracking the origin and end of the product.
The board is in the process of compiling an inventory about various facets of e-waste generated and pollution caused in Hyderabad, with financial backing from the World Bank. The inventory is taking into account data from government as well as private sectors in addition to private recyclers and scrap dealers.
Mr N.V. Bhaskar Rao, senior environment engineer at APPCB, said that enforcement of these rules would ensure that e-waste does not find its way into the hands of unauthorised scrap dealers or recycling units. “E-waste includes more than a thousand hazardous and non-hazardous ingredients. Among hazardous ingredients are elements like lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and selenium,” said Mr Rao. Such e-waste cannot be subjected to incineration.