- E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their useful life. E-wastes are considered dangerous, as certain components of some electronic products contain materials that are hazardous, depending on their condition and density. The hazardous content of these materials poses a threat to human health and environment. Discarded computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, fax machines, electric lamps, cell phones, audio equipment and batteries if improperly disposed can leach lead and other substances into soil and groundwater. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled in an environmentally sound manner so that they are less harmful to the ecosystem. This paper highlights the hazards of e-wastes, the need for its appropriate management and options that can be implemented.
Management of e-waste should begin at the point of generation. This can be done by waste minimization techniques and by sustainable product design. Waste Minimization in industries involves adopting Inventory Management, Production-Process Modification, Volume Reduction, and Recovery and Reuse.
- E-Waste Registration Under “EPR”: This Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is the one of the protocols that highlights the importance of the manufacture in regulating the life cycle of their products after they are consumed. With their pollution surmounting and increasing year after year, Indian Government started gave EPR Policy in 2011 and further accredited CPCB for authorizing certification with EPR.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been given the authority to authorize new E-Waste rules under the jurisdiction of Environment Ministry. Companies now have to consult CPCB to get their E-Waste Management Certification.
In EPR producers are given extra responsibility (physical/financial) for treating their disposals in a manner to either reuse them systematically. CPCB has in their notice emphasized all producers of Electrical and Electronic Equipment under the E-Waste rules of 2016 to get EPR certification.
Every manufacturer, producer, consumer, bulk consumer, collection centers, dealers, e-retailer, refurbisher, dismantler and recycler involved in manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, collection, storage and processing of e-waste or electrical and electronic equipment listed come under these E-Waste Rules.
First of all, Form-1 needs to be filled by the concerned producer and then within 120 days after undergoing thoroughly inspection CPCB will grant the respective authorization. This certificate once acquired shall remain valid for five years from the date of announcement.
Before 120 days of expiry one can file for renewal of their certificate with CPCB, for which compliance report must be obtained from concerned State Pollution Control Board. Every year producer must submit their annual records on or before the 30th day of June of every year.
