'Lack of public awareness is hindering e-waste collection'

 Karnataka State Pollution Control Board environment officer Rajashekar Puranik said. E-Waste (Management) Rules 2016 would come into force from October 1 across the country.

Speaking at the inauguration of e-waste collection centre at the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) organised jointly by the civic body, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, NITK (Surathkal) and Besant Evening College here on Friday, he said the e-waste collection centres would come up at MCC, City Centre and at MCC sub-office at Surathkal.

Puranik said the unused TV, refgrigerator, air coolers, CFL bulbs, mobile phones, laptops, SIM cards, computers, printers come under e-waste category.

“As the e-waste contain hazardous metals like mercury, lead, Nickel, if not disposed properly, then it will cause health problems. The metals like gold, silver and platinum from e-waste are recovered. There is a need to dispose the e-waste in a scientific manner,” he added.

Central Pollution Control Board additional drector Suresh said E-Waste (Management) Rules 2016 are applicable to every manfacturer, producer, consumer, bulk consumer, collection centres, dealers, e-retailer, refurbisher, dismantler and producer responsibility organisation, to address leakage of e-waste to informal sector at all the stages of channelisation. The rules have brought CFL and other mercury containing lamp under its purview. Along with this, used lead acid batteries and radio active wastes as covered under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act 1962 (33 of 1962) and rules are included under the Act, he explained.

Suresh said about 70% of the e-waste are generated in 10 states in India. In this, three states namely Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are from South India. In Karnataka, about 12 to 14 places have been identified where e-waste are generated, he added.

Inaugurating the centre, District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai said collection centres for collection of e-waste are inevitable in the future. What is hindering e-waste collection is the lack of awareness among the general public, he oberved.

Legislative Council Chief Whip Ivan D’Souza said based on a survey conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board, it has been estimated that 1,46,800 tonnes of e-waste were generated in the country in 2005. It increased to 8,00,000 tonnes per annum in 2012. Karnataka is in seventh position when it comes to quantity of e-waste generated per annum. Andhra Pradesh tops the list followed by Assam, Chandigarh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

Presiding over the programe, Mayor Harinath said the civic body has implemented ban on plastic after the government banned it.

Moogambigai Metal Refineries (MMR) has taken up the responsibility of collecting e-waste from the collection centre and process it at their plant at Baikampady. The MMR is equipped with semi-automated machineries to recycle the waste in a sund and environment-friendly manner to prevent it from being land filed or mishandled, he
added.