E-Waste

E-Waste Management and Handling Rules

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The E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016 was issued by MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE, in the regards to the E-waste generated in India by the various producers of these wastes such as manufacturer, producer, consumer, bulk consumer, collection centers, dealers, e-retailer, refurbished, dismantler and recycler involved in manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, collection, storage and processing of e-waste or electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I.

In these said rules, responsibility of any producer of electrical or electronic equipment, for channelization of E-waste to ensure environmentally sound management of such waste.

What is E-waste ?

E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their “useful life”. It is loosely applied to consumer and electronic & IT equipment that is near or at the end of its useful life.

Certain components of some electronic products contain materials that render them hazardous, depending on their condition and density.

E-waste in the world and India

Since 2010, the volume of e-waste generated globally has been steadily rising. By 2019, approximately 53.6 million metric tons was produced. This was an increase of 21 % with 44.4 million metric tons in just five years. Of this, just 17.4 percent was documented to be collected and properly recycled. This means that gold, silver, copper, platinum and other high-value, recoverable materials conservatively valued at US $57 billion — a sum greater than the Gross Domestic Product of most countries – were mostly dumped or burned rather than being collected for treatment and reuse.

The new report also predicts global e-waste – discarded products with a battery or plug – will reach 74 Mt by 2030, almost a doubling of e-waste in just 16 years. This makes e-waste the world’s fastest-growing domestic waste stream, fueled mainly by higher consumption rates of electric and electronic equipment, short life cycles, and few options for repair. According to the report, Asia generated the greatest volume of e-waste in 2019 — some 24.9 Mt, followed by the Americas (13.1 Mt) and Europe (12 Mt), while Africa and Oceania generated 2.9 Mt and 0.7 Mt respectively. E-waste is a health and environmental hazard, containing toxic additives or hazardous substances such as mercury, which damages the human brain and / or coordination system.

India is the third largest e-waste generator in the world, capacity limited to treat only one-fourth of its waste. India’s e-waste production has risen almost 2.5 times to 3.23 million metric tonnes in six years to 2019, according to the Global E-Waste Monitor Report 2020. India is also the only country in South-Asia to have a specific legal framework for handling e-waste since 2011. The E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules address not just the need to handle e-waste in an environmentally friendly way, but also its transportation, storage and recycling.

They have also introduced the concept of extended producer responsibility (EPR). In 2016, the rules were tweaked to introduce Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) while bringing buy-back, deposit refund and exchange schemes under EPR. However, given the high cost of handling and procurement, low margins and underutilization of capacities, most formal sector or pollution control board-recognized e-waste handlers are grappling with basic problems.

What should you do with electronic discards?

The mantra of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” applies here.

• Reduce your generation of e-waste through smart procurement and good maintenance.
• Reuse still functioning electronic equipment by donating or selling it to someone who can still use it.
• Recycle those products that cannot be repaired should NOT be disposed of with regular garbage instead it should be given to the proper E-waste recycler & dismantlers.

Benefits of E-Waste Recycling

• Protects the environment
  Recycling the waste from electronics saves space in the landfills and prevents the environmental pollution caused by the toxins. Recycling also reduces the need for landfills in the first place. As per studies, 98% of components in an electronic device are recyclable. Metals extracted through mining require much difficulty and effort. Apart from mining, the cost to refine metals and transform them to a usable form is also very high. Through the extraction and reuse of metal from old electronic gadgets, the need to manufacture and refine raw metals decreases.
• Recycling is good for the economy
  Goods made from recycled materials use less water, create less pollution, and uses less energy. Recycling also reduces the production costs of goods by avoiding manufacturing components from scratch.
• Reuse of resources
  Electronics contain a lot of components that can be re-utilized sometimes without any processing, saving resources and energy required for initial manufacturing. A lot of big companies have their own recycling facility where they dispose of electronics for future reuse, and this is something that all big companies should strive for.
• Save Landfill Space
  Electronic waste is being thrown into landfills at an increasing rate each year. Throwing e-waste into landfills creates many environmental issues. For example, the metals used in electronic gadgets such as iron, aluminum, and gold erode and release harmful toxins in the soil. Similarly, the plastic in these gadgets can release poisonous toxins into the soil. Toxins of this polluted soil kill all kinds of plants and microorganisms living on that land. It destroys their ecosystems and worsens the health of the environment. In the worst-case scenario, the poison spreads in the soil and eventually seeps into water sources.
• Increase in Employment
  Only experts can deal with electronic waste properly. Distinguishing between reusable and non-reusable materials is a task that requires a sharp eye and a lot of product knowledge. There are a lot of jobs in the field of recycling. There are many experts out there that have professional degrees regarding the recycling of electronic waste. Increased education about electronics recycling means more people recycle and more jobs are created.

Do’s and Dont’s

Do’s

• Always look for information on the catalogue with your product for end-of-life equipment handling.
• Ensure that only Authorized Recyclers/Dismantler handle your electronic products.
• Always call at our toll-free No’s to Dispose products that have reached end-of life.
• Always drop your used electronic products, batteries, or any accessories when they reach the end of their life at your nearest Authorized E-Waste Collection Points.
• Always disconnect the battery from product and ensure that any face of the glass is protected from breakage

Dont’s

• Do not dismantle your electronic Products on your own.
• Do not throw electronics in bins having “Do not Dispose” sign.
• Do not give e-waste to informal and unorganized sectors like Local Scrap Dealer/Rag Pickers.
• Do not dispose your product in garbage bins along with municipal waste that ultimately reaches landfills.

E-WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN

In developing country like India, most E-Waste lands up in the informal sector where it is recycled without any Waste lands up in the informal sector where it is recycled without any consideration to health and environment. We, being responsible citizen contributes our share of Environmental Responsibility and aiding in taking care of our environment.

Abiding by all the pertinent laws associated with E-Waste Management, Our Our Company has been continuously working towards the same.

Where and how can you recycle your E-Waste?

We have partnered with M/s. GLOBAL WASTE SOLUTION, who are an authorized dismantler and recycler having authorization from Haryana Pollution Control Board as our Recycler, who shall be responsible for all the EPR activities including segregation and dismantling and recycling with regards to our E Waste. PAN India basis transportation will be handled by our Recycler’s logistic partner M/s. National Carrier. We will use our recycler’s collection points for channelization of the e-waste. We don’t have collection points in all the states but the collection points of neighboring state will collect the e -waste from nearby States. The states wise list of collection points are given below: