Lok Sabha Question No. 1152 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: Scientific Disposal of E-Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Manoj Rajoria, Sumedhanand Saraswati, Hemant Tukaram Godse

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1152

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2022

## Scientific Disposal of E-Waste

## 1152.  DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI:

SHRI HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE:

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

- (a)   the  quantum  of  e-waste  generated  along  with  the  rate  of  their  increase  in  the  country including metropolitan cities along with the quantity disposed scientifically during the last three years and the current year, year-wise;
- (b)   the details of schemes being implemented for the recycling of e-waste;
- (c)   whether  the  production  companies  are  responsible  for  scientific  disposal  of  waste collected as used mobile, laptop, printer, fridge,  TV, microwave, LED, air-conditioner etc. and various types of electrical and electronic items under the E-Waste Management Act, 2016 and if so, the number of plants set up by local and multinational companies so far;
- (d)   the  details  of  the  companies  in  the  country  including  Rajasthan  and  their  extension thereof; and
- (e)   the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  the  generation  of  e-waste  in  the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The quantum of e-waste generated along with the rate of their increase andprocessed scientifically through authorised dismantler/recycler out of the total e-waste generated in the country  from  twenty-one  (21)  types  of  electrical  and  electronic  equipment  (EEE)  notified Under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 during the last three years is given below:

| Financial Year   | Generation   | Increase   | Quantity of e-wasteprocessed   |
|------------------|--------------|------------|--------------------------------|
|                  | (Tonnes)     | (%)        | (Tonnes)                       |
| 2017-18          | 7,08,445.00  | N.A.       | 69,414.0                       |
| 2018-19          | 7,71,215.00  | 8.86%      | 1,64,663.0                     |
| 2019-20          | 10,14,961.21 | 31.60%     | 2,24,041.0                     |

The input data of e-waste generated is collated on national level only.

(b) Under  the  E-Waste  (Management)  Rules,  2016,  producers  of  EEE  have  been  given collection targets for collection of e-waste generated from the end of life of their products. The collection targets are based on the generation from the previously sold EEE or based on sales of EEE  as the case may  be. The producers are further required to ensure environmentally sound recycling of such collected e-waste through authorised dismantlers/recyclers only. For ensuring environmentally sound dismantling/recycling of ewaste, Central Pollution Board (CPCB) has given guidelines as required in the said rules. The guidelines contain details on requirements of equipment, facilities and operations/processes for  scientific  and  environmentally  sound  recycling.  The  guidelines  have  prescribed  dos  & don'ts  and  effluent  as  well  as  emission  standards  for  various  parameters  of  concern.  State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) are the designated authority for grant of authorization to the dismantlers and recyclers of e-waste after ensuring compliance of guidelines. Any entrepreneur who is interested in doing dismantling/ recycling can set up units. The number of such units are continuously increasing. The details are given in the table below:

| Financial Year   |   Number of Authorized Dismantlers/Recyclers | Total Capacity (Tonnes per Annum)   |
|------------------|----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| 2016-17          |                                          178 | 4,38,086                            |
| 2017-18          |                                          275 | 5,10,950                            |
| 2018-19          |                                          312 | 7,82,080. 62                        |
| 2019-20          |                                          407 | 11,10,103.22                        |
| 2020-21          |                                          468 | 13,85,932.22                        |
| 2021-22          |                                          472 | 14,26,685.22                        |

Further, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has informed that they have amended the existing Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS) to provide support for setting up of state-of-art e-waste recycling facilities  for  extraction  of  precious  metals  from  e-waste  components.  The  scheme  was envisioned for financial incentive of 25% on capital expenditure.

(c) & (d)    Producers of notified EEE as listed in the Schedule-I the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 have been assigned responsibility for managing their end of life products under the provision of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) through annual collection targets. Under the above said rules, two categories of EEE, namely 'information technology and telecommunication equipment' such as centralized data processing, mainframes, minicomputers,  personal  computers,  laptops,  printers,  use  terminals,  cellular  phone,  etc.  and 'consumer  electrical  and  electronics  equipment'  such  as  television  sets,  refrigerator,  air conditioner, washing machine and fluorescent and other mercury containing lamps at the end of their life have to be managed by the producers. As per the said rules, the producers of notified EEE are required to obtain EPR Authorization (EPRA) which is an instrument for managing Extended Producer Responsibility with EPR implementation plans and targets outlined in the EPRA.

As on date there are 2061 EPR Authorized Producers 472 authorized dismantlers/recyclers  in  the  country  having  an  annual  processing  capacity  of  14,26,685.22 Tonnes  including  Rajasthan.  In  Rajasthan  there  are  24  EPR  Authorized  Producers  and  24 authorized dismantlers/ recyclers exist having processing capacity of 83,604 Tonnes.

(e) For  reduction  in  e-waste  generation,  the  E-Waste  (Management)  Rules,  2016  has provisions for its refurbishment. As per the rules, refurbishment means repairing of used EEE as listed in Schedule-I for extending its working life for its originally intended use and selling the  same  in  the  market  or  returning  to  owner.  The  refurbishment  of  the  EEE  will  lead  to extension in working life of a EEE and hence reduction in generation of e-waste. Under the said rules, the refurbishers of e-waste are getting authorization  from  the  concerned SPCBs/PCCs and are required to fulfil the responsibilities as specified under the rules.

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