Pollution board to tackle e-Waste in city

The global success story that India's Silicon Valley has come to represent can be undermined by the mountain of e-waste being generated by the increasing number of companies setting up operations here.

e-Waste comprises all electronic and electrical equipment, including computers, which are dumped by software companies after they become obsolete.

In order to address this problem, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has initiated a dialogue with the IT sector in Bangalore for effective e-Waste management.

Speaking to Business Standard on the sidelines of a seminar on RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and e-Waste in Bangalore on Friday, N Bhoomanand Manay, chairman, KSPCB, said, "In a first effort of its kind, the board recently held a dialogue with the industry. We feel that that awareness building measures will play a significant role in making corporates understand the problem of e-Waste. Our interaction will also bring about various recommendations for effective management of e-Waste from the corporate sector."

According to him, effective measures need to be taken as Bangalore and the software companies are unaware of the problems that lie ahead.

"The situation has not yet reached a dangerous level. Companies may be giving away their computers to various resellers. But eventually, it will all be dumped. Currently, Bangalore has a stock of 6,000 tonne of e-Waste and it is estimated that nearly 1,500 tonne of e-Waste is being generated every year."

Concer over e-Waste is mounting as Bangalore is densely populated by software companies.

"There are nearly 1,200 software companies in Bangalore. Though most companies upgrade their systems, it is estimated that nearly 20-25 per cent of these companies replace their equipment every year. It has not yet reached a serious level. However, it has been found that the seepage of toxins into the earth surface has done enough damage to last for the next 500 years. Initiating an awareness building process will help in averting the dangers of high levels of e-Waste."

Corporates like Infosys and Wipro recently held discussions with the KSPCB and the German Technical Corporation (GTZ) in order to come up with measures for reducing e-Waste. The next such discussion is likely to take place early next year.

GTZ is helping the Karnataka to successfully put in place hazardous waste management systems and processes. This includes management of e-Waste too.

With KSPCB, it is setting up Bangalore's first hazardous waste dump in Dobbespet at Nelamangla, near Bangalore. The cost of the project, Rs 30-35 crore, is being provided as a grant by the German government.

While nearly 100 acre of land is being acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) for this purpose, KSPCB is confident that this the site will be ready by end-2005.

When completed, it will be capable of absorbing nearly 40,000 tonne of hazardous waste per year.