Lok Sabha Question No. 2242 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: Generation of Information Technology Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, Sudheer Gupta, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Bidyut Baran Mahato

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2242

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.09.2020

## Generation of Information Technology Waste

## 2242.   SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

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

- (a) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that India generate the highest amount  of  Information  Technology  waste  globally  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof alongwith the reasons for the same;
- (b) the quantum of I.T. waste generated in the country during each of the last three years including the current year;
- (c) whether  as  per  the  aforementioned  study,  I.T.  waste  generation  in  India  would  be doubled by year 2050, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has developed any mechanism to address the said problem and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  for  recycling  of  IT  waste  in  the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) As per the information available with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),no such study  claiming  that  India  generates  the  highest  amount  of  Information  Technology  waste globally is available.
- (b) Based on available data,CPCB has estimated the generation of e-waste at the national levelon  the  basis  of  sales  data  of  21  types  of  notified  Electrical  &  Electronic  Equipment (EEE).  The  estimated  generation  of  e-waste  during  Financial  Year  (FY)  2017-2018,  FY 2018-2019 & FY 2019-2020 is given below:
-  For FY 2017-18, the estimated generation of e-waste is 7,08,445 tonnes for 21 types of EEE. This is based on the sales data of 244 producers.
-  For FY 2018-2019, the estimated generation of e-waste is 7,71,215 tonnes for 21 type of EEE. This is based on the sales data of 1168 producers
-  For FY 2019-2020, the estimated generation of ewaste is10,14,961.2 tonnefor 21 types of EEE. This is based on the sales data of 1380 producers .
- (c) Does not arise in view of answer (a) above.
- (d) &(e)  For  disposal  of  E-waste  in  an  environmentally  sound  manner,  Government  has notified E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016. The regulations intend at taking all steps required to ensure that e-waste is managed in a manner which shall protect health and environment against any adverse effects, which may result from such e-waste. The said rules are effective from 01.10.2016and have the following specific objectives:
-  Extended Responsibility to producers to manage a system of E-waste collection and channelization through EPR Authorization.
-  To  promote  and  encourage  establishment  of  an  efficient  e-waste  collection mechanism
-  Promote Environmentally Safe & Sound Recycling by channelizing E-waste to authorized dismantlers and recyclers of e-waste
-  To minimize illegal recycling / recovery operations
-  Reduce Hazardous substances in Electrical and Electronic components

Under  the  said  rules,  Producers  of  EEE  have  been  given  responsibility  under  the principle  of  Extended  Producer  Responsibility  (EPR)  for  collection  and  environmentally sound management of e-waste and for creating awareness among consumers - retail and bulk. The said rules have provisions for environmentally sound collection, transportation, storage, dismantling  and  recycling  of  e-waste.  In  the  rules,  roles  and  responsibilities  of  different stakeholders  have  been  clearly  defined.  Under  EPR,  producers  have  to  obtain  Extended Producer  Responsibility  Authorization  (EPRA).  In  the  EPRA,  the  producer's  e-waste collection targets are mentioned which is based either on their generation or on their sale of EEE.

For  recycling  of  E-Waste  including  Information  Technology  waste,  as  per  the information  available  with  CPCB,  312  e-waste  dismantlers/  recyclers  have  been  granted authorization  in  18  States.  These  authorised  dismantlers  and  recyclers  have  capacity  of 7,82,080.62  MTPA.  In  the  said  rules,  all  authorized  dismantlers/  recyclers  are  required  to maintain  data  on  E-waste  processed  by  them  and  subsequently  submit  annual  report  to respective State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) for their  assessment  &  verification.  The  SPCBs/PCCSs  also  has  to  continuously  verify  the dismantlers and recyclers of e-waste through random inspections.

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