Monday, 11 March 2013

Steps to ensure Environmentally Sound Management of e-waste in the country

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has notified the E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 for effective management of e-waste in the country. These Rules have come in to effect from 1st May 2012. The concept of Extended Producer Responsibility has been enshrined in these rules to make it a mandatory activity for the manufacturers of electronic and electrical equipments. This was stated by Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on March 11, 2013.

She further stated that under this the producers are responsible for collection of e-waste generated from the end of life of their products by setting up collection centers or take back systems either individually or collectively. As per these Rules, E-waste recycling can be undertaken only in facilities authorized and registered with State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees. Waste generated is required to be sent or sold to a registered or authorized recycler or re-processor having environmentally sound facilities.

She said that the MoEF has taken a number of steps to ensure environmentally sound management of e-waste in the country. These include:

(i) 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.

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

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