As per United Nations report on India’s e-waste volume, India would be producing about 1.2 million tones of waste by 2020, a rapid growth by 500% from the current levels. At present Gurgaon, generates 6000 tones of E-waste annually of which 93% goes to the unauthorized sector which lacks the know how or the proper equipment for disposing any kind of E waste . The use of open fire by these vendors for melting plastic and other non valuable metal results in the release of carcinogens and neurotoxins into the air resulting in an acrid , lingering smog . And the bonfire refuse caused by this kind of unprofessional disposal soon finds its way into the various water bodies affecting the local water supplies. The need of the hour is to spread awareness among the residents, regarding the hazards of improperly recycled e-waste and make it a punishable offence at consumer’s end for not complying with the rule . Currently the focus is on making the commercial firms ply with the government orders on E waste disposal in a systematic manner not realizing the fact, that the individual residents are equally responsible for adding to the e waste menace.
The students of The Banyan Tree World School , as part of their life skill development programme , have undertaken Project SAVE- Serve and Value Environment, (a project introduced by ELNA- Experiential learning via Nature Based Activity ) under which they explored , experimented and experienced how 3 Rs of Waste Management are being implemented in the city of Gurgaon. One of the issues which they took keen interest in and went further with surveys and research was on E-waste management among residents in the City of Gurgaon. In their interaction with residents of Gurgaon, one of the major issues that surfaced was regarding E waste disposal . Most of them though, aware of E-waste and its hazards, did not know how to get rid of the waste in a proper and systematic manner. The students of The Banyan Tree World School suggest,
1. Creating a COST EFFECTIVE role model, the first of its kind in India where resident citizens and E-waste recyclers along with Government bodies come together to ensure E-waste is collected at the source itself i.e. individual’s doorsteps
2. Create AWARENESS among the resident citizens of Gurgaon, about the hazards of E-waste and inform them that under EPA of 1986, it’s a criminal offence to give away e-waste to any unauthorized agency.
3. E-WASTE DROP BOX INSTALLATIONS-RWAs should be instructed to allow the E-waste recycler/s to set up their E-waste collection drop box FREE OF COST in various societies/RWAs. No extra money should be charged by RWAs for the installation of drop box
4. E-waste Participation Certificate-The E-waste recycler will provide a certificate stating that the ‘E-waste Drive’ was conducted in the society for the ongoing year.
5. Mandatory Requirement-The administration should make it mandatory for every RWA in its jurisdiction to organize such drop box campaign once a year.
We hope, as the administrative authority you will accept this petition and bring in the required changes to make Gurgaon a better place to live in from today itself.