Lok Sabha Question No. 1956 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-29
Subject: Electronic Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN, BHARAT SINGH, MANSHANKAR NINAMA, RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1956

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.12.2017

## Electronic Waste

1956.   SHRI N.K.PREMACHANDRAN:

SHRI BHARAT SINGH:

SHRI  MANSHANKAR NINAMA:

SHRI  RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  schemes  being  implemented  by  the  Government  to  create  awareness about the environmental hazards of electronic waste (e-Waste) in the country;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any study regarding the health hazards due to the dumping of e-Waste and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of organisations and educational institutes provided funds by the Government for creating awareness about the environment related dangers during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether  the  Government  organises  workshops  and  symposiums  to  bring  awareness about dangers of e-Waste and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  fix  responsibility  to  the  manufacturers  of electronic equipment for disposal of e-Waste and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the details  of amount spent by the Government on e-Waste recycling/ decomposing plants during the last three years, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) Under Swachh Bharat Mission the Ministry in association with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has initiated a nationwide Capacity Building Programme on implementation of six waste management rules, including E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016. This awareness programme  is  being  conducted  for  68  major  cities.  The  Central  Pollution  Control  Board (CPCB) has been identified as National Implementing Agency to conduct these awareness programmes  and  National  Productivity  Council  (NPC)  has  been  selected  as  Programme Coordinator. The target group comprises of officials of municipal bodies, hospitals, resident welfare  associations,  market  committees,  local  industries,  facility  operators,  Bus  Depots, Malls,  Railway  Stations  etc.  The  Ministry  is  also  implementing  a  Central  Sector  Scheme titled  'Creation  of  Management  Structure  for  Hazardous  Substances',  under  this  scheme  a fund of Rs 20 Crores has been earmarked for organizing awareness programme with various stakeholders for implementation of various waste and chemicals management rules including the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016. In addition Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology  has  initiated  a  pilot  project  entitled  'Awareness  Program  on  Environmental Hazards of Electronic Waste' which aims to provide training, tools, content materials, films, printed  materials  to  create  awareness  in  order  to  reduce  the  adverse  impact  of  e-waste  on environment  and  health  due  to  the  polluting  methods  used  in  the  unorganized  sector  for recycling e-waste.

(b) Toxic constituents such as Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Polybrominated biphenyls and Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are used in the manufacturing of  electronic  devices.  Disposal  of  e-waste  from  such  electronic  devices,  in  absence  of processing it in an environmentally sound manner, may affect human health and environment including soil and ground water. However, the Ministry has not conducted any formal study regarding the health hazards due to the dumping of e-Waste.

(c)  &  (d)  Ministry  has  notified  E-Waste  (Management)  Rules,  2016  as  an  amendment  to previously  existing  e-waste  (Management  &  Handling)  Rules,  2011.  The  producers  of electrical  and  electronic  equipments  have  been  given  responsibility  of  creating  awareness including  through  media,  publications,  advertisements,  posters,  or  by  any  other  mean  of communication and product user documents as per the provisions of the rules. No fund has been  provided  to  organizations  and  educational  institutes  for  creating  awareness  about  the environment  related  dangers.  However,  the  Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  and Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change in association with CPCB and NPC is organizing awareness programme in 68 cities on various waste rules including e-waste.

(e)  The  E-Waste  (Management)  Rules,  2016  inter  alia  provides  for  collection  target  of  ewaste for producers under extended producers responsibility (EPR), setting up of producer responsibility organizations and e-waste exchanges to facilitate collection and recycling of ewaste.

(f)  The  recycling/dismantling  facilities  of  e-waste  in  the  country  have  been  setup  by individuals.  No  expenditure  has  been  incurred  by  Government  for  setting  up  of  such facilities.

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