The National Green Tribunal has directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to convene a meeting of various stakeholders and propose a scheme for environment-friendly disposal of e-waste.
A bench headed by Justice U D Salvi directed MOEF along with Central Pollution Control Board and Bureau of Indian Standards to hold a meeting within two weeks.
"MoEF shall be the convener of the meeting and shall inform the concerned parties about the date and venue of the meeting at the earliest preferably within two weeks," the bench said.
The matter has been listed for next hearing on September 22.
The tribunal was hearing a plea by NGO Toxics Link which claimed that tonnes of second-hand or used goods are being dumped in India leading to a pile-up of e-waste.
The NGO had sought a direction to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to submit a report on the exact quantities of goods being dumped in the country under the Export Import Policy of India (2013-2014).
Quoting a 2011 Rajya Sabha report, which said that "India had been a destination for industrial wastes", the plea had also sought information on how these used goods were being recycled and whether this was being done in an ecofriendly manner.
Electronic waste is discarded electrical or electronic devices which includes discarded computers, office electronic equipment, entertainment device electronics, mobile phones, television sets and refrigerators.
E-waste Rules, 2011 apply to every producer, consumer or bulk consumer involved in the manufacture, sale, purchase and processing of electrical and electronic equipment or components.
