Lok Sabha Question No. 2997 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: E-Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Keshari Devi Patel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2997

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2023

## E-Waste

## 2997. SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware in respect of ill-effects caused to mankind due to air pollution being caused by non-scientific disposal of waste burning in the open in Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  disposal  of  electronic  waste  in  a  scientific manner in Uttar Pradesh including Prayagraj district and the details thereof;
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  deal  with  the  growing  amount  of  e-Waste (electronic waste) along with the details thereof;
- (d) the  number  of  trucks  carrying  e-Waste  illegally  and  the  traders  associated  with  this industry (which do not have license for scientific disposal of e-Waste), apprehended for the same; and
- (e) the details of the action taken upon them?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) Air pollution from different sources, including from non-scientific waste disposal, is one of the triggering factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases. There is no  conclusive  data  available  in  the  country  to  establish  direct  correlation  of  death/ disease  exclusively  due  to  pollution.  Health  effects  of  pollution  are  synergistic manifestation  of  factors,  which  include  food  habits,  occupational  habits,  socioeconomic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals.
- (b)  to  (e)  Presently,  there  are  567  authorized  dismantlers/recyclers  of  E-Waste  in  the country having annual processing capacity of 17,22,624.27 Tonnes. Following steps have been taken by the  Government for disposal of electronic  waste  in  a  scientific manner in the country including Uttar Pradesh:
-  The Ministry of Environment, Forest &  Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, notified E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 which will be effective from April  1, 2023. The new rules have a robust mechanism of maintaining  transparency  in  management  of  e-waste.  The  rules  focus  on recycling  of  e-  waste.  There  is  a  provision  of  on  line  portal  where  all  the

stakeholders have to register themselves. No entity can manage e-waste if it is not  registered  on  the  portal.  The  new  e-waste  rules  have  proper  auditing mechanism  with  regard  to  quantity  of  e-waste  recycled  through  authorized recyclers  and  purchase  of  their  Extended  Producer  Responsibility  (EPR) certificates by producers.

-  E-Waste  (Management)  Rules,  2016,  is in place, where  instrument of Extended Producer Responsibility has been introduced for management of EWaste in the country.
-  In the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, under Extended Producer Responsibility regime, a producer is required to get its e-waste managed only through an authorized dismantler or recycler of E-Waste.
-  Implementation Guidelines for E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 comprising of nine (9) specific guidelines have been prepared and uploaded on the web site of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
-  Guidelines for Producer Responsibility Organizations  (PRO)  have  been prepared and uploaded on the website of CPCB.
-  An  Action  Plan  is  in  place  for  enforcement  of  the  E-Waste  (Management) Rules, 2016 in the country, and is being implemented through SPCBs/PCCs. In the said Action plan, checking informal traders, dismantlers, recyclers of ewaste have been taken-up.
-  CPCB issued Directions under Section 18(1)(b) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for checking Informal E-Waste activities, verification of authorized dismantlers/recyclers of E-Waste and drives for mass awareness.
-  Also under the above said rules,  provisions  have  been  made  for  recognition and registering of workers involved in dismantling and recycling of E-Waste. Under Rule 12(1) of the said rules, State Government has been entrusted with the responsibility to ensure earmarking or allocation of industrial space or shed for E-Waste dismantling and recycling in the existing and upcoming industrial park, estate and industrial clusters.

Instances  of  unscientific/informal  processing  of  e-waste  has  been  identified  in  09 (nine)  States/Union  Territoriesso  far,  including  Delhi,  Haryana,  Himachal  Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala,  Meghalaya,  Puducherry,  Uttar  Pradesh&  West  Bengal. The concerned State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) have taken actions against such informal activities.

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