MNCs deny e-waste recycle in India

New Delhi: E-waste may be a global phenomenon, but as far as India is concerned the consequences of e-waste is much more. MNCs like Dell, Lenovo and HP still don't have any recycle mechanism in India, at the same time they have it in other countries, finds the Greenpeace study.

The study concludes that though most of the global electronic companies are careful to recycle the e-waste in other countries; they do not have any mechanism to recycle the end-of life equipments in India.

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While there are separate provisions and regulations to deal with the recycling of e-waste in many foreign countries such as U.S., Japan, Netherland, China, Australia and also in EU, no laws in India refers e-waste specifically, hence malpractices in this area are common.

For instance, in U.S., according to "Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003" (SB20), a funding system for the collection and recycling of certain electronic wastes has been established. The law ensures the collection of an electronic waste recycling fee at the point of sale of certain products. Retailers collect this fee from consumers on covered electronic devices. Later retailers remit this fee to the Board of Equalization (BOE). This law also specifies the distribution of recovery and recycling payments to approved participants for certain collection and recycling activities.

European Union (EU) parliament has passed a directive to ensure the effective recycling of e-waste. The directive states that producers of electronics should take the responsibility to take back and recycle the used electrical and electronic equipments. Unlike the laws in Japan, China, Netherlands and Austria on taking-back and recycle the used equipments pathetically; no such laws and initiatives are available in India at present. Though Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989 has classified hazardous wastes as different categories, there are no specific remark on e-waste and no special regulations on it.

MNCs who are maintaining regular e-waste take-back services in other countries have nothing to worry when it comes to India as the Government of India still lacking to initiate e-waste management laws.

India produces approximately 150,000 tonnes of e-waste annually in which Mumbai contributes most amount followed by cities of Delhi and Bangalore.