Lok Sabha Question No. 2300 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: E-waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2300

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.09.2020

## E-waste

## 2300.   SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAWAN RAJENIMBALKAR:

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

- (a) whether e-waste is increasing rapidly in the country, every year;
- (b) if so, the details of e-waste generated during the last five years, State-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  for  disposal  of  e-waste,  if  so,  the  details thereof, State-wise;
- (d) whether the Government is aware that the workers engaged in e-waste management are getting affected by various diseases and several casualties have been recorded as a result; and
- (e) if so, the steps taken by the Government to save people from such problems and to set up a safe disposal system for e-waste?

## ANSWER

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

(a) &(b)    As  per  the  information  available  with  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB) generation  of  e-waste  is  increasing  every  year.The  Government  has  made  provisions  for inventorization of e-waste generation  across the  country  under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016. Under the said Rules, the responsibility for inventorization of generation of EWaste has been assigned to State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs). As per the information of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), so far  seven  SPCBs  namely  Goa,  Jammu  &  Kashmir,  Himachal  Pradesh,  Madhya  Pradesh, Maharashtra,  Chhattisgarh  and  Punjab  have  completed  the  inventorization  of  e-waste generation.  Inventory  for each of the states in the country is not available. CPCB had also circulated methodology for inventorization of e-waste to all the SPCBs/PCCs.

The  E-Waste  (Management)  Rules,  2016are  effective  from  01.10.2016.  Accordingly, CPCB has estimated the generation of e-waste at the national level on the basis of sales data of 21 types of notified Electrical & Electronic Equipment (EEE) from Financial Year (FY) 2017-2018. 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) For  the  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  01.10.2016.  Under  the  said  rules,  Producers  of  EEE  have  been  given responsibility under the principal of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for collection and  environmentally  sound  management  of  e-waste  and  for  creating  awareness  among consumers and bulk  consumers. The said  rules  have  provisions  for  environmentally  sound collection, transportation, storage, dismantling and recycling of e-waste. In the rules role and responsibilities  of  different  stakeholders  have  been  clearly  defined.  Under  EPR,  producers have to obtain Extended Producer Responsibility Authorization (EPRA). In the EPRA of the producer's e-waste collection targets are mentioned which is based either on their generation or on their sale of EEE.

(d) & (e) The electronic products and electrical equipments after their useful life do not cause any  harm  to  environment  if  stored  and  processed  in  an  environmentally  sound  manner. However, if  the  E-waste  is  opened-up  and  unscientific  methods  are  used  for  extraction  of precious  and  semi-precious  material  from  it,  then  it  causes  health  risks  and  damage  to environment.  However,  no  specific  studies  to  assess  the  damage  caused  by  e-Waste  on Environment have been carried so far. Also,

Under  the  E-Waste  (Management)  Rules,  2016,  the  safety  and  health  of  workers involved  in  dismantling  and  recycling  of  e-waste  has  been  ensured  through  department  of Labour or any other agency authorized in this regard by the concerned State government. As per the Rule 12(2) of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, Department of Labour in the State  or  any  other  government  agency  authorised  in  this  regard  by  the  State  Government shall: is reproduced below:

- (a) ensure recognition and registration of workers involved in dismantling and recycling;
- (b) assist  formation  of  groups  of  such  workers  to  facilitate  setting  up  dismantling facilities;
- (c) undertakes industrial skill development activities for the workers involved in dismantling and recycling;
- (d) undertakes annual monitoring and to ensure safety & health of workers involved in dismantling and recycling;

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