GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARREDQUESTION NO: 30

ANSWERED ON: 0.05.2012

QUANTUM OF E-WASTE 

(a) whether the increasing quantum of e-waste is causing immense damage to the environment in the country; 

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the quantum of e-waste generated in the country during the last three years, State-wise; 

(c) whether additional quantity of E-waste is being imported from the developed countries despite a ban; and 

(d) if so, the details of the steps taken by the Government to decrease the amount of e-waste and to ensure safety of public health?

ANSWER

 (a)&(b) Based on a survey carried out by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), it is estimated that 1. lakh Metric Tons (MT) of e-waste was generated in the country in the year 2005, which is expected to increase to about 8.00 lakh MT by 2012. As per the survey, the ten States generating the maximum quantities of e-waste are as follows: 

State  -waste    Generation  

aharashtra 2021 amil au 13486 nhra Praesh 1280 ttar Praesh 10381 West enal 10059 elhi  929 arnataa 9119 Guarat  8994 aha Praesh 800 Puna  6958 

(c)&(d) The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has notified the Haardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008. Import and export of e-waste are regulated as per these rules. Import of such wastes for disposal is not permitted. Import is permitted only for recycling or recovery or reuse with the permission of the Ministry of Environment and Forests andor Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Permission for import and export of e-waste is considered only by those recycling units, which have environmentally sound recycling facilities and are registered with State Pollution Control Board Pollution Control Committee concerned. 

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has taken a number of steps to ensure environmentally sound management of e-waste in the country. These include: 

(i) For effective implementation of provisions related to import and export, a co-ordination committee has been constituted having representatives from the Ministry of Finance (Department. of Revenue), the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (DGFT), the Ministry of Shipping (Department. of Ports), the Central Pollution Control Board and select State Pollution Control Boards. This committee has been working to sensitie the Customs authorities regarding enforcement of these Rules in order to check illegal import of E-waste into the country. 

(ii) Separate E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 have been notified on 12th May, 2011. These Rules have come in to effect from 1st May 2012. 

(iii) As per these Rules, E-waste recycling can be undertaken only in facilities authoried and registered with State Pollution Control BoardsPollution Control Committees. Waste generated is required to be sent or sold to a registered or authoried recycler or re-processor having environmentally sound facilities. 

(iv) The Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Management of e-waste, published by Central Pollution Control Board, provide approach and methodology for environmentally sound management of e-waste.

  (v) The Ministry is implementing a Scheme to provide financial assistance for setting up of treatment, disposal and storage facility for haardous and integrated recycling facilities for E-waste on public private partnership mode.