Lok Sabha Question No. 1238 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: e-Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1238.

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.06.2019

## e-Waste

## 1238. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

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

- (a) whether  Government  is  aware  of  the  threat  of  mounting  growth  of  e-waste  in  the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the measures taken by the Government to address the issue;
- (c) whether  any  data  has  been  collected  on  the  generation  of  e-waste  annually  in  the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government will consider a total ban on import of e-waste to the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  details  of  import  of  e-waste  to  the  country  during  the  last  three  years  and  the current year?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE    IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a)  &  (b)  The  country's  economic  growth,  rise  in  per  capita  income,  and  technological innovations coupled with high obsolescence rate of electronic and electrical equipmentshas resulted  in  increase  in  the  rate  of  generation  of  e-waste.  Disposal  of  e-waste  from  such electronic devices, without processing it in an environmentally sound manner, affects human health and environment including soil and ground water.In order to ensure safe disposal of ewaste the Government has notified E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and has further made amendments in March, 2018 for its effective implementation. The provisions of these Rules include extended producer responsibility, setting up of producer responsibility organizations and e-waste exchange to facilitate collection and recycling, assigning specific responsibility to bulk consumers of electronic products for safe disposal and other measures which include responsibility of producers of electronic and electrical products for collection and channelizing  of  electronic  waste.  The  Rules  provide  for  simplified  permission  process  for setting  up  of  dismantling  and  recycling  facilities  through  single  authorization  by  Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). State Governments have been entrusted with the responsibility for earmarking industrial space for e-waste dismantling and recycling facilities, to undertake industrial skill development and establish measures for protection of health and safety of workers engaged in dismantling and recycling facilities of e-waste.

(c) So far, no comprehensive inventorization of e-waste generation in the country has been done. However, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2005 estimated 1.47 lakh ton of e-waste in the country. As per the United Nations University report, 'The Global E-Waste Monitor 2017', 20 lakh ton of e-waste generation was reported in the country for year 2016.

(d)  &  (e)The  import  of  waste  including  e-waste  is  regulated  under  Hazardous  and  Other Waste  (Management  and  Transboundary  Movement)  Rules,  2016.  As  per  the  Rules,  no import of waste for dumping or for disposal in the country is permitted. The Ministry has not granted any permission for import of e-waste into the country for the above purpose.

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