Concerned over lack of effective mechanism for disposal of e-waste, a parliamentary panel has suggested bringing in a separate legislation to make it mandatory to deposit all such waste at designated collection centres of a central authority.
The Committee of Subordinate Legislations (2015-16) chaired by Dilipkumar Mansukhlal Gandhi tabled its 15th report on rules of e-waste management in Lok Sabha recently.
The committee said that the present set up of management of e-waste under the Environment Protection Act 1986 and the rules framed under it have failed to yield any tangible results.
"The committee are of the considered view that in order to tackle the issue of e-waste handling and management in any effective and meaningful manner... The government may consider the desirability of bringing a separation legislation on e-waste instead of handling it under the Environment Protection Act," the committee said in its report.
It noted that such a legislation may prescribe for establishment of a central authority or central public sector undertaking having experts from IT field and other technical domains, possessing knowledge of e-waste disposal, management and recycling techniques and its own recycling centres with state of the art technologies in major cities.
"The law should make it mandatory that e-waste generated from various government departments or public sector undertakings all over the country as well as by entities and individuals, big or small industrial houses, educational institutions etc... Shall be deposited at the designated collection centres of the said CPSE," it said.
The committee felt that if a government body is entrusted with this job, it will be done in a methodical and safe manner and will ensure that e-waste does not create environmental pollution.
Taking cognisance of the unsatisfactory working and
compliance of various provisions of the E-waste (Management And Handling) Rules 2011, the Environment Ministry amended the rules by notifying E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016 in March which is to come into effect from October.
"Moreover the Central Pollution Control Board and the state boards which have been assigned a major role in the implementation of e-waste handling rules, neither possess the skilled manpower nor the technical expertise on various aspects of e-wastes," it noted.
Noting the "alarming" growth of e-waste generation, the committee said it was "anguished" to find that there is no independent and effective legislative framework to tackle the growing menace of e-waste.
"It is common sight that the local waste collector (kabadiwala) is collecting all kinds of discarded electrical goods from the doorsteps of homes and waste dump sites.
"These kabadiwalas who do not have much knowledge of the dangers posed by dismantling hazardous equipments generally take out the use parts and throw rest of the things in the dustbin or burn them causing serious damage to environment,"it said.
