It is alarming, to say the least!

Despite the government’s emphasis on Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan and Smart Cities project, India continues to be generating highest e-waste vis-à-vis China, USA, Japan and Germany an ASSOCHAM-NEC recent study coinciding with the Environment Day said.

A UN report ‘A new circular vision for electronics’, says the waste stream has already reached 48.5 million tonnes (MT) in 2018 and the figure is expected to double if nothing changes. Moreover, only 20 per cent of global e-waste is recycled.

According to Down To Earth, the report describes the sheer scale of global e-waste. “Imagine the mass of 125,000 jumbo jets — it would take London’s Heathrow Airport up to six months to clear that many aircraft from its runaways. If you find it difficult to envisage, then try the mass of 4,500 Eiffel Towers, jam them all in one space, side by side, and they would cover an area of the size of Manhattan,” it says while trying to explain the severity of the crisis.

The ill-effects of improper and irresponsible disposal of e-waste are too well known to be described. Yet,  let’s sample this: High and prolonged exposure to these chemicals/ pollutants emitted during unsafe e-waste recycling leads to damage of nervous systems, blood systems, kidneys and brain development, respiratory disorders, skin disorders, bronchitis, lung cancer, heart, liver, and spleen damage.

E-waste includes all forms of waste products containing as a manufacturing component that run on either battery or power supply. It may include general consumer electronics, such as TV appliances, computer, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, white goods and also, industrial grade electronics, such as telecommunication systems, instrumentation systems and electronic machinery.

It is in this context that the International E-waste Management Day to be observed on October 14 needs to be taken seriously.

The Nature Connect joins this campaign by Belgium-based WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) Forum  - www.internationalewasteday.com - to spread awareness about safe handling of e-waste and its proper disposal. This alarming situation calls for urgent steps to tackle the monster called e-waste. We may have enough number of laws, but what is needed is strict implementation.

The ASSOCHAM-NEC study also says: As Indians become richer and spend more electronic items and appliances, Computer equipment accounts for almost 70% of e-waste material followed by telecommunication equipment (12%), electrical equipment (8%) and medical equipment (7%).  The sad part, says the Assocham-NEC study,  is that a mere 5% of India's total e-waste gets recycled 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% of e-waste generated is managed by the unorganised sector and scrap dealers in this market, dismantle the disposed products instead of recycling it.

During our last year's collective campaign, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has announced to set up an E-waste education section at its Swachh Park at Kopar Khairane. That was a good beginning. We now need to go beyond this Park concept now and ensure proper collection and disposal.

We all, therefore, appeal to you, Hon'ble Prime Minister, to include e-waste under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and save the nation from future shocks.

We request Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Haryana as well to focus on E-waste being generated by the IT and ITES hubs in their states.

Together, I am sure, we can do it.

Yours sincerely,

B N Kumar

Editor & Director, The Nature Connect