Bengaluru among top e waste generators in the country

According to a study released by ASSOCHAM and Consultancy firm Frost & Sullivan on the eve of the world earth day tomorrow, e-waste in the country is growing at a pace of 25% annually and would touch 3 million tonnes by 2018.

Mumbai with 1.2 million tonnes tops the list in generating e-waste followed Delhi NCR (98,000 tonnes) and Bangalore (92,000 tonnes), according to the study. Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Pune find a place in the ladder, at 67,000, 55,000, 36,000, 32,000 and 26,000 metric tonnes per year respectively.

It said that only a mere 2.5% of total e-waste gets recycled in the country due to poor infrastructure, legislation and framework, which lead to a waste of diminishing natural resources, irreparable damage of environment and health of the people working in industry. Over 95 per cent of e-waste generated is managed by the unorganised sector and scrap dealers in this market, dismantle the disposed products instead of recycling it.

In India, about five lakh child labours between the age group of 10-14 are observed to be engaged in various e-waste  activities, without adequate protection and safeguards in various yards and recycling workshops, said D S Rawat, Secretary General ASSOCHAM while releasing the study.

Informal recycling industry often employed children to dismantle electronic waste. ASSOCHAM's study strongly advocated legislation to prevent a child's entry into this labour market. The chamber has also strongly advocated the need to bring out effective legislation to prevent entry of child labour into its collection, segregation and distribution.

Computer equipment accounts for almost 70 per cent of e-waste material followed by telecommunication equipment, electrical equipment and medical equipment. Other equipment, including household e crap account for the remaining four, it said.

According to the report, government, public and private industries contribute more than 70 per cent of e-waste while 15 per cent comes from households. Televisions, refrigerators and washing machines make up the majority of e-waste generated, while computers make up to 20 per cent and mobile phones two per cent.