Lok Sabha Question No. 2694 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-17
Subject: Scientific Disposal of Waste
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Narayan Tatu Rane

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2694

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2025

## Scientific Disposal of Waste

## 2694.  SHRI NARAYAN TATU RANE:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  harmful  effects  on  mankind  due  to  air pollution  caused  by  non-scientific  disposal  of  waste  in  the  open  areas  in  various States;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  scientific  disposal  of electronic waste;
- (c) the details of the steps taken by the Government to deal with the increasing quantum of e-waste (electronic waste) and the details thereof;
- (d) the details of the  number  of  trucks carrying  e-waste illegally caught  along  with  the number of traders associated with this industry including the traders that do not have license for scientific disposal of e-waste have been caught by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the details of the action taken by the Government against them?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (e)  Any product which turns into waste after its useful life, may not cause any harm to health and environment if it is managed in the environmentally sound manner. However, if un-scientific and crude methods are used for processing for retrieval of useful components or material from the waste product or if the material is disposed of unscientifically, then it may cause health risks and damage to environment.

Ministry  has  comprehensively  revised  the  E-Waste  (Management)  Rules,  2016  and notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 in November, 2022 and the same is in force since 1 st April, 2023. The objective of the said rules is to take all steps required to ensure that e-waste  is  managed  in  a  manner  which  protects  the  health  and  environment  against  any adverse effects  which may  result from  such e-waste.  These new  rules intend  to manage  ewaste in an environmentally sound manner and put in place an improved Extended Producer Responsibility  (EPR)  regime  for  e-waste  recycling  wherein  all  the  manufacturer,  producer, refurbisher and recycler are required to register on a portal developed by the Central Pollution Control  Board  (CPCB).  The  new  provisions  would  facilitate  and  channelize  the  informal sector to formal sector for doing business and ensure recycling of e-waste in the environmentally sound manner. Provisions for environmental compensation and verification and  audit  have  also  been  introduced.  These  rules  also  promote  Circular  Economy  through EPR regime and scientific recycling/disposal of the e-waste.

CPCB  has  taken  the  following  steps  for  effective  management  of  E-Waste  Rules  as under:

- (i) An online E-Waste EPR portal has been developed by CPCB wherein entities such as producers, manufacturers, recyclers and refurbishers of the e-waste are required to be registered.
- (ii) CPCB  has  developed  guidelines  for  the  scientific  and  environmentally  sound management  of  e-waste.  The  guidelines  detail  the  procedures  and  facilities  in terms of machineries and pollution control devices required for the recycling of ewaste in environmentally sound manner.
- (iii) An action  plan  for  implementation  of  E-Waste  (Management)  Rules,  2022  is  in place and the same is being implemented by all the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution  Control  Committees  (PCCs)  in  their  respective  States/UTs. SPCBs/PCCs are submitting quarterly progress report. The action plan has action points  for  checking  informal  e-waste  activities  and  makes  it  incumbent  upon SPCBs/PCCs to carry out regular drives for checking informal e-waste activities.
- (iv) Under Rule 10(1) of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, 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
- (v) CPCB issued following Directions to SPCBs/PCCs for effective implementation of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022:
- a) Directions dated 06.09.2022 under Section 18 (1) (b) of the Water (Prevention and  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1974  and  Air  (Prevention  and  Control  of Pollution) Act, 1981 regarding checking informal e-waste activities, verification of authorized dismantlers/recyclers of e-waste and drives for mass awareness.
- b) Directions dated 30.01.2024 under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act,  1986  regarding  registration  of  producers,  manufacturers,  recyclers  and refurbishers on the Online E-Waste EPR Portal.
- c) Directions dated 14.02.2024 under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act,  1986  for  ensuring  generation  of  EPR  Certificates  by  e-waste  recyclers towards fulfilment of Producers EPR obligations for the FY 2023-24.

Further, CPCB has advised SPCBs /PCCs to carry out regular drives for checking e-waste processing  in  informal  sector  time  to  time.  Actions,  such  as,  constitution  of  teams  for carrying out such drives, issuing of notices, closure of operation, seizing the e-waste against the informal processing are taken by the respective SPCBs/PCCs.

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