E-WASTE The Sky is the Limit

[Subodh Kumar]

In our homes, offices, schools, markets...everywhere we are using all kind of electronic gadgets and equipments, life without them is now beyond our imaginations but when they get old or damaged we discard or upgrade them immediately without thinking twice, where is it going anyway from here and what it going to cause to us?

India generated 3,80,000 tonnes of e-waste in the year 2007, which accounts for 1040 tonnes everyday.

E-waste now makes up around 5% of all municipal solid waste worldwide and this is the most fastest growing component of the municipal solid waste stream.

Millions of electronic gadgets including thousands of computers, televisions sets, mobile phones, batteries and printed circuit board are piling up in almost all cities around the world posing a huge threat to the health of our environment...

It is estimated that in 2004, over 31 crore 50 lakhs computers became obsolete worldwide…

If such a huge figure is hard to imagine, think of it like this - if the estimated amount of e-waste generated every year would be put into containers on a train it would go once around the world.

In our country the situation is even more serious and escalating as we don’t have a standardized way of dealing with this new age pollutant.

Unfortunately, most of the people handling computer waste are unaware of the hazards and when these waste dumped in open spaces or in landfills the toxic chemicals and heavy metals with even some radio active material present in them tend to leak over a period of time, posing a huge threat to the environment.

By the end of the year 2008, e-waste generated was 4,56,000 tonnes in India.

Moreover, we will generate around 4.7 lakh tonnes of e-waste by 2011 estimated by studies.

If you thought the list ends here and all we have to bear is the brunt of our own doings, then you perceived it wrong.

Studies reveal, India received around 50,000 tonnes of e-waste through imports alone in 2007.

But the menace doesn't end here much more was imported in the guise of charity and reuse from the West, and as per sources 85% of such 'imports' were from the US and UK alone!

Estimates reveal that India is currently using about 12 million computers, 13 million mobile phones and 70 million televisions sets.

As better and innovative models emerge these products are just waiting to be discarded, having no resale value these join the growing heap of e-scrap.

To fight with with this gigantic e-scrap many authorities, NGO's and State Government are setting up recycle units in various cities

But no Govt. or any other agency alone can make the difference unless we all contribute our bit to it.

Before buying, think twice about whether you really need a new device.

Return your equipment to the manufacturer when you have finished with it.

Since the reduction and recycling is the only solution, we have to make sure that all of our e-waste is going at its right place.

All we need is a collective effort.