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By APD writer Rishika Chauhan
NEW DELHI, Dec. 15 (APD) - According to a recently released United Nations report, the world produced 44.7 million tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste) in 2016, of which two million tonnes was generated in India.
United Nations University published the report in collaboration with International Telecommunication Union and International Solid Waste Association.
The report states, “The formal e-waste recycling sector in India is currently being developed in major cities. However, informal recycling operations have been in place for a long time, with over one million poor people in India involved in manual recycling operations.”
“Most of these people have very low literacy levels with little awareness of the dangers of the operations,” it further stated.
A Hindustan Times report suggests that inopportune disposal of e-waste causes “toxicity from exposure to lead, cadmium, chromium, brominated flame retardants and polychlorinated biphenyls through inhalation or because of build-up in the environment.”
It is estimated that India’s e-waste production will reach three million tonnes by 2018.
According to Assocham-KPMG estimates, 70% of the e-waste in the country is generated by industries while 15% comes from households.
Mobile and telecom equipment make a significant part of India’s e-waste.
To combat the situation, India formulated e-waste management rules in 2016, and introduced the concept of producer responsibility. However, the government relaxed the rules later.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
