Lok Sabha Question No. 21 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-18
Subject: E-Waste Management
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Geeta Kora, Behanan Benny, Locket Chatterjee, A. Chellakumar, Dileshwar Kamait

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 21

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2022

## E-Waste Management

21. SHRIMATI GEETA KORA:

SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE:

DR. A. CHELLAKUMAR:

SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

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

- (a)   the quantum of e-waste generated and the percentage of e-waste recycled in the country during the last three years, State-wise;
- (b)   whether  the  Government  has  published  any  ewaste  management  manual  for  effective disposal of ewaste;
- (c)   whether the unorganized e-waste processing units operating without proper guidelines, precautions  or  norms  have  caused  serious  environmental  hazards  to  the  surrounding areas;
- (d) if so, the action proposed to be taken to control the environmental damage caused by ewaste;
- (e)   whether the Government has conducted a survey to understand e -waste production in the  country  and  its  future  impact  on  health  and  the  environment  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  outlined  any  awareness  programs  to  inform  the  public about the importance of disposing of e-waste properly; and
- (g)   if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) The  percentage  of  e-waste  processed  (dismantled  and  recycled)  out  of  the  total  ewaste  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   | E-wasteprocessed (dismantled and recycled)   |
|------------------|--------------|----------------------------------------------|
|                  | (Tonnes)     | (%)                                          |
| 2017-18          | 7,08,445.00  | 9.798                                        |
| 2018-19          | 7,71,215.00  | 21.35                                        |
| 2019-20          | 10,14,961.21 | 22.07                                        |

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

(b) Ministry  has  notified  E-Waste  (Management)  Rules,  2016  which  were  further amended  in  2018for  management  of  electronic  waste  generated  due  to  discarding  of electronic equipment by the consumers. The rules came into force since 1 st October, 2016and have the following specific objectives:

-  Extended Responsibility to producers to manage a system of E-waste collection, storage,  transportation  and  environmentally  sound  dismantling  and  recycling through EPR Authorization (EPRA).
-  To  promote  and  encourage  establishment  of  an  efficient  e-waste  collection mechanism.
-  To promote environmentally safe and sound recycling through authorized dismantlers and recyclers of e-waste.
-  To minimize illegal recycling / recovery operations.
-  Reduce hazardous substances in EEE.

(c) to (e) The EEE after their  useful  life  when  they  become  e-waste,  may  not  cause  any harm to  health  and  environment  if  it  is  stored  safely.  However,  if  un-scientific  and  crude methods  are  used  for  processing  for  retrieval  of  useful  components  or  material  or  if  the material  is  disposed  in  open,  then  it  may  cause  health  risks  and  damage  to  environment. Under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, collection and processing of e-waste can be carried out only by producers or their authorised associates/ partners, authorised dismantlers, recyclers and authorised refurbisher. Non-compliance of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 may lead to adverse impact  on environment and human health.Following steps have been taken to curb informal collection and unscientific dismantling and recycling of e-waste:

-  Under  EPRA,  a  producer  is  required  to  get  its  e-waste  managed  only  through  an authorized dismantler or recycler of e-waste.
-  Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) grants EPRA only to those producers who have  set  up  a  system  of  collection  of  e-waste  through  authorised  entity  as  per  the above said rules.
-  An Action Plan for enforcement of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, across the country is in place since May, 2019.  The action plan is to be implemented by all the States/UTs and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) are required to submit their quarterly progress reports to CPCB to review  progress.  In  the  said  action  plan,  checking  informal  traders,  dismantlers, recyclers  of  e-waste  have  been  taken-up  as  one  of  the  action  points.  Drives  for identification of informal activities are to be done by all the SPCBs along with district administration  of  the  State.  An  e-waste  management  review  portal  has  also  been developed for uploading status & progress ofe-waste action plan.
-  Actions,  such  as,  constitution  of  teams  for  carrying  out  drives,  issuing  of  notices, closure of operation, seizing the E-Waste against the informal processing  are being taken  up  by  the  SPCBs/PCCs.  Seventeen  SPCBs/  PCCs  started  the  drive  against informal recycling as per the aforesaid Action Plan during Financial Year 2020-2021.
-  Under the aforesaid 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.

(f)  &  (g)  Under  the  E-Waste  (Management)  Rules,  2016,  producers  of  notified  EEE  have been given the responsibility of creating awareness among consumers and bulk consumers. The awareness programme includes creating awareness on system of collection, hazardous constituents of the EEE and on proper handling of e-waste including Dos and Don'ts. The Producer  in  its  Extended  Producer  Responsibility  (EPR)  Plan,  provide  details  of  proposed awareness plan. An action Plan on implementation of the said rules is in place and the same includes firming up IEC  (information, education and communication)  plan by state government for educating public at large about the system of collection, incentive structure and  facilities  for  recycling.  SPCBs/PCCs  are  require  to  carry  out  awareness  programme among various stakeholders including consumers and bulk consumers.

As  per  the  information  provided  by  the  Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information Technology (MeitY), being the nodal ministry for Electronics and IT, MeitYis involved in developing  technology  to  recycle  e-waste  in  an  environment  friendly  manner.    MeitY  is promoting R&D to develop technological solutions for e-waste management in environment friendly  manner.  MeitY  had  implemented  an  'Awareness  Programme  on  Environmental Hazards of Electronic waste' during March 2015 to March 2020 to create awareness among the public about the hazards of e-waste recycling by the unorganized sector and to educate them about alternate methods of disposing their e-waste.The  programme has been implemented in a total of 31 identified states/UTs.

Under the programme, in around 1923 workshops and activities organised in various cities and nearly 13,27,420 participants from School, colleges, RWA, manufacturer, informal operators, bulk consumer, dealers and refurbishers etc. and 5789 government officials have participated.  Besides, 1247 GreenE Champions/ trainers have also been trained.  The mass awareness amongst youth of the country, nearly 21.7 crore audience, has also been created by covering  2813  cinema  halls.  The  programme  has  created  training  tools,  content  materials, films, printed materials, videos and jingles etc. for every strata of the society which are freely available  on  the  dedicated  website  (www.greene.gov.in).    In  addition,  online  content  for DIKSHA platform, suitable for class 7 th to 9 th students, has also been developed and is being used by the teachers.

*****