Wednesday, November 27, 2013: E-waste is a serious concern for India and it is facing a critical issue with 98 recycling units in the country that are running way below its installed capacities. The need of the hour clearly is ‘collection’.
Acting upon the dire need, Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT) is pushing every municipal authority to speed up e-waste collection. Additionally, MAIT has sent a few proposals to improve e-waste collection and ensure its proper disposal. It is also keen to work closely with all the state governments.
Anwar Shirpurwala, MAIT, executive director told Hindu Business Line, “More attention should be paid for collection of e-waste from homes and offices. A collaborative approach by the municipal bodies, pollution control boards and the industry is required to handle this issue. Working in isolation is not the answer.”
It is a known fact that improper disposal or processing of e-waste can lead to serious health and environmental issues.
As per estimated, India reportedly generates about 1.5 million tonnes of e-waste every year, of which just 5 per cent is being recycled in a scientific manner. And this is supposedly growing by about 500 per cent per annum.
Shirpurwala added, “We are in talks with municipal authorities in every State for proper disposal of e-waste.” Like, the association is in talks with Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and others.
According to the report, the association has also suggested various programmes such as formalising of the informal sector and protecting livelihood of people involved. It is also in talks with MMRDA to set up industrial parks in Mumbai that would house e-waste recyclers.
