State pollution control watch dog Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) plans to engage an agency to prepare the inventory of electronic waste generation in the state.
"We will engage an agency to make the inventory of electronic waste generation in the state," said D K Behera, senior environment scientist, OSPCB on the sidelines of a seminar on e-waste management and entrepreneurship development, organized by Confederation of Indian Industry-Odisha in association with OSPCB.
The e-waste generation is pegged at 7,000-8,000 tonne annually in the state unofficially. OSPCB has formulated guidelines for disposal of e-waste for the state government offices. It has authorised 11 e-waste collection centres in the state.
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"The electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. The increasing market penetration in developing countries, replacement market in developed countries and high obsolescence rate make e-waste have contributed to this syndrome," said BK Sahoo, Convenor -IT panel, CII- Odisha. Sahoo said, the extended producer responsibility (EPR) is an environment protection strategy that makes the producer responsible for the entire life cycle of the product, especially for take back, recycle and final disposal of the product. He stressed on making EPR a mandatory activity associated with the production of electronic and electrical equipment over a period of time by including it in the legislative framework. Speaking on the occasion Satish Sinha, associate director, Toxics Link proposed setting up of 3-4 clusters for collection, dismantling and recycling of e-wastes in the state.