Environment impacts and e- WASTE Management @ KERALA

EPGPKC01052 :AJAL JOSE AKKARA, IIM KOZHIKODE

Mail: ec2reach@gmail.com , mob : 0- 890 730 5642

ABSTRACT

E-Waste recycling facilities exist in

developed countries and stringent measures

have been taken by the governments regarding

disposal. Despite concerns on the issue s of

fraudulent traders and environmentally

unsound practices , It has been easier and

cheaper for developed countries to ship e-

Wastes to the developing countries where

access to and recycling of such discarded

electronic goods make a good economic

option. For both sides, it is profitable or a win –

win situation. The only difference being that

the rich country is dumping toxic waste on the

poorer country. Young Indians have to take

lead in creating e-Waste awareness. This will

be the need of the hour. This paper gives a detailed view on the e- waste awareness

campaign taken place in Kerala.

INTRODUCTION

The Kerala State Pollution Control Board

(PCB) and the State IT Department is seriously

considering a proposal to set up an e-waste

management facility in the state. As part of the

first phase of the project, workshops on e-waste

management would be held in

Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and

Kozhikode in January. The authorities are

considering a public-private partnership model.

Location of the project is yet to be decided.

Even though Kerala has made rapid strides in

the use of information Technology and

Communications, it has virtually no

arrangements within it for disposal of e-wastes.

There are only 16 Central Pollution Control

Board (CPCB)-registered dismantlers or

recyclers for the safe disposal of electronic

wastes in India. Of these five are in Karnataka,

three each Tamilnadu and Maharastra and one

each in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan,

Uttar Pradesh and Uttarkand. Various e waste

management strategies are being discussed

below relating to Kerala Scenario.

E-Waste Collection Centres In Kerala Soon : [7 ]

The Pollution Control Board of Kerala will soon set

up e-waste collection centres in all districts.

Keralites can now get rid of the modern form of

extremely hazardous waste that is seriously

polluting the environment and has been piling up in

their surroundings. Co-operation and Pollution

Control Minister C N Balakrishnan announced in

the State Assembly on July 16, that as part of

introducing an effective disposal mechanism, the

Kerala State Pollution Control Board will soon set

up e-waste collection centres in all districts. The

minster also said that e-wastes collected from every

municipality and corporation would be moved to

dumping yards in other states, which have been

recognised by the Indian Government. This will be

the first step of the ‘effective disposal mechanism’.

The Pollution Control Board has already launched a

programme on e-waste, which aims at creating

awareness on e-waste among the public by issuing

pamphlets and using other publicity methods.

“Everything from TV screens to batteries would

come under e-waste. If we look around, we find e-

wastes dumped along with the rest of the everyday

waste. According to a United Nations study, around

50 million tons of e-waste are produced globally

every year. The number might have increased

now. It is a crucial issue that has been neglected in

our country. Most people are not aware about it,”

explained Dr. Santhosh from the National Rural

Health Mission, Trivandrum.

Electronic waste, or e-waste includes any electronic

device that is no longer useful, such as old

computers or mobile phones. Many electronic

products contain hazardous elements, such as

mercury and lead. When they are not properly

disposed of as hazardous waste and end up in

regular garbage dumps, they not only leak into the

surrounding environment, but will ultimately be

consumed by communities, causing diseases such

as cancer.

Responsibility of the government on E-

Waste Management :

The responsibility of the government on E-

Waste management is quiet crucial in the E-

waste management and some of the tips that

can be suggested on the part of government

include-

1. Setting up regulatory agencies in each

state or county that are capable of

consolidating and coordinating with the

regulatory functions of the various

government and federal authorities

pertaining to electronic waste.

2. If necessary, the government should

make stringent laws on the proper

disposal and management and

electronic waste by both private and

public institutions. The existing laws if

any on electronic waste must be

revamped and reviewed periodically.

3. Public awareness programs should be

conducted at regular intervals in order

create a positive attitude among the

public on E-Waste management.

4. The governments have also

responsibility to encourage Research

and Development activities related with

E-Waste Management and release funds

if necessary for conducting R & D

activities by private and public research

institutions.

5. Heavy fines should be imposed on

those industries or individuals who does

not follow the E-Waste management

principles or dump the E-waste causing

environmental hazards.

6. Governments must in the forefront to

have a tie up with manufacturers,

retailers, industries in exploring the

opportunities in providing recycling

services.

Tips for proper disposal of E-waste by

industries: [ 5 ]

The role of industries in proper disposal of E-

Waste is quite crucial as majority of E-waste

generated comes from industries who may be

either the generators or users of electronic

waste. Some of the steps that can be taken by

these industries for proper disposal of E waste

are:

Industries that generate E-waste must

take responsibility of determining the

source of this electronic waste and if

the E-waste is dangerous must take

proper E-waste management policies.

All the personnel involved in the E-

waste in industries must be properly

trained and duly qualified.

The companies have the necessary

freedom to adopt their own E-waste

management policies that may include-

1. Standardizing the components

that can be easily dissembled,

2. Creating industrial products

from bio-degradable materials,

3. Manufacturers of electronic

products have the responsibility

for educating consumers and the

public about the possibility of

threats from using their products

and giving them instructions on

how to avoid them and the

proper disposal of E-waste on

event of the end of their life

cycle.

Tips for citizens about the disposal of E-

Waste :

Citizens are the end users of any product or

service manufactured by industries and

therefore some of the tips that a citizen must

follow for safe and proper disposal of E-waste

include-

1. When buying any electronic product

opt for those products that have fewer toxic

parts in them.

2. The products after their life cycle must

be disposed of properly and comes

under the preview of proper

disposal of E-waste.

3. They must buy only those products that

are energy efficient.

4. Attending awareness programs on E-

Waste management being conducted by any

institutions either government or private.

KERALA SCENARIO : 1

There was one of the eye openers at a session(

Saturday, 09 June 2012 ) on e-Waste

Management hosted by the Trivandrum

Chapter of Young Indians (YI), the CII's youth

wing, to coincide with the World Environment

Day celebrations. The session was lead by

Subash Warrier, Country Manager, Sims

Recycling Solutions India, one of the largest

electronic waste recycling company operating

37 dedicated sites in 13 countries. During the

session, Subash explained the process of e-

waste management while stressing the need for

ethical practices by recycling companies. A

reality check, done both on consumer and

business side in India, identified how lack of

infrastructure, socio-economic issues and

unrealistic commercial expectations are the

problems in managing e-waste. There is a huge

gap in the total e-waste produced and the

recycling capacities in the country. He added

that awareness is required to be built in the

society as well as among companies to promote

responsible e-waste management. Kishore

George, Chair, Yi Trivandrum said, “e-Waste

is something that will affect the youths and the

next generation. As young Indians, we thought

this was the right occasion to conduct a session

on e-Waste Management. There is a lack of

awareness about e-waste and how to handle it

among many of us, irrespective of our industry

where we work [ 6 ]

KERALA SCENARIO : 2

The Technopark campus is an ISO 14000

certified facility. Considering the importance of

proper management of e-waste. Technopark

has appointed a Govt.authorized agency M/s.

Global e-waste Management and Services ,

Chennai to collect e- Waste from the

companies in the campus as a facilitator. They

visit the campus once in every three months to

collect e-Waste .

"Earth Sense Recycle Pvt Ltd" is

giving services in Kerala and other six states in

India and is having Kerala State Pollution

Control Board Certificate for E-waste

recycling. For the last 2 years, giving services

to many customers in Kerala including Techno

park.

KERALA SCENARIO : 3

We have organized a national conference E-

MART 2011 on this subject as an awareness

program and made an e- waste monster to be

exhibited in various schools and in public

which made people to imbibe knowledge about

e-waste issues.

E-waste includes up to one thousand hazardous

substances. Improper disposal or contact with

these materials can lead to contamination of the

surrounding ecosystem and have harmful

effects on humans. Toxic heavy metals and

organic compounds can be released from e-

waste particularly as computers are broken

down during the recycling and disposal

process. Computer monitors and older TV

picture tubes contain an average of four pounds

of lead and require special handling at the end

of their lives. In addition to lead, electronics

can contain chromium, cadmium, mercury,

beryllium, nickel, zinc, and brominated flame-

retardants, presenting problems if not disposed

of properly. Breaking, recycling, or disposing

CRTs in an uncontrolled environment with the

necessary safe precautions can result in

harmful effects for the workers and release

toxins in the soil, air and ground water. Debate

Fig:1 E-waste man made in METS School Of

Engineering-Mala

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