Delhi-NCR likely to generate 95,000 MT e-waste by 2017
Updated: Aug 07, 2014 02:54:38pm
New Delhi, Aug 7 (KNN) Delhi-NCR is emerging as the world’s dumping yard for e-waste and is likely to generate approximately 95,000 metric tonnes (MT) per annum by 2017 from the current level 55,000 metric tonnes per annum growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 25 per cent, according to a just-concluded ASSOCHAM study.
The study revealed that currently e-waste of Delhi is approximately 55,000 metric tonnes per annum, employing over 2.5 lakhs workers in the city’s various organized and unorganized recycling units, said Secretary General ASSOCHAM, D S Rawat, while releasing the ASSOCHAM paper.
The paper further revealed that United States (US) is ranked top, acquiring the highest share of importing e-waste in India followed by China and European Union (EU). Looking at the country-wise share in India’s e-waste imports, US has a maximum share of around 42 per cent, China at around 30 per cent followed by Europe at around 18 per cent and rest 10 per cent is from other countries like Taiwan, South Korea, Japan etc, it said.
Significantly, “Less than 2 per cent of India's total electronic waste (e-waste) gets recycled due to absence of proper infrastructure, legislation and framework,” Rawat said.
India produces nearly 13 lakh MT of electronic waste every year. Mumbai (96,000) tops the list in generating e-waste followed Delhi-NCR (55,000) and Bangalore (52,000). "Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Pune find a place in the ladder, at 47,000, 35,000, 26,000, 25,000 and 19,000 metric tonnes per year respectively," the study reveals.
The paper further mentioned that Delhi alone gets around 86 per cent of the electronic waste generated in the developed world. In terms of total e-waste produced internally or brought from outside for recycling, Delhi's e-waste weighs between 50,000 and 55,000 metric tonnes per year.
Delhi-NCR has emerged as the main hub of e-waste recycling in India, and perhaps the world. The e-waste imported from Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata makes its way to Delhi as there is a ready market for glass and plastic in the NCR. Also, the wastes from Mumbai constitute a bulk of the 1,500 tonnes discarded electronics that land in Delhi’s scrap yards every day.
As per the estimates, over 35,000-45,000 child labourers of age group between 10-14 are engaged in various e-waste activities, without adequate protection and safeguards in Delhi’s various yards and recycling workshops, adds the paper.
Rawat is of the opinion that each state should develop its own scrap yards in the respective cities so that the environmental hazards would be minimized in Delhi-NCR.
“As many as 10,500 mobile handsets, 6,500 TV sets and 4,000 personal computers are dismantled in the city every day for reuse of their component parts and materials”, he said.
“While the list is growing so is the quantity as these products are getting more affordable and more and more people are using them. Increasing usage also leads to more of them coming up for disposal, thus increasing the rate of obsolescence and replacement”, Rawat added.
Computer equipment accounts for almost 68 per cent of e-waste material followed by telecommunication equipment (12 per cent), electrical equipment (8 per cent) and medical equipment (7 per cent). Other equipment, including household e-crap account for the remaining 5 per cent, the paper said.
Rawat went on to say, “e-waste is directly linked to the economic growth of the country and also overall consumer spending pattern. India’s economic growth has lifted millions of people from lower-income group to middle and high-income groups and increased purchasing power”.
More than 70 per cent of e-waste contributors are government, public and private industries, while household waste contributes about 15 per cent. Televisions, refrigerators and washing machines make up the majority of e-waste, while computers account for another 20 per cent and mobile phones 2 per cent, adds the report.
“Domestic e-waste including computer, TV, mobiles and refrigerators contain over 1,000 toxic material, which contaminate soil and ground water. Exposure can cause headache, irritability, nausea, vomiting and eyes pain. Recyclers may suffer liver, kidney and neurological disorders”, adds the ASSOCHAM paper.
'These products have components that contain toxic substances like lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, plastic, PVC, BFRs, barium, beryllium, and carcinogens like carbon black and heavy metals. This deadly mix can cause severe health problems in those handling the waste. Printed circuit boards, for instance, contain heavy metals like antimony, gold, silver, chromium, zinc, lead, tin and copper. The method of extracting these materials from circuit boards is highly hazardous and involves heating the metals in the open.
E-waste is recycled in various parts of Delhi. While all kinds of electrical scrap is recycled in Mayapuri and Old Seelampur; computers are recycled in Turkman Gate, Shastri Park, Lajpat Nagar and Kirti Nagar; computer terminals in Turkman Gate, Shastri Park and Karkardooma; lead in Mustafabad; Circuit boards in Mandoli; Gold in Meerut; and Glass in Ferozabad. (KNN/ES)
The study revealed that currently e-waste of Delhi is approximately 55,000 metric tonnes per annum, employing over 2.5 lakhs workers in the city’s various organized and unorganized recycling units, said Secretary General ASSOCHAM, D S Rawat, while releasing the ASSOCHAM paper.
The paper further revealed that United States (US) is ranked top, acquiring the highest share of importing e-waste in India followed by China and European Union (EU). Looking at the country-wise share in India’s e-waste imports, US has a maximum share of around 42 per cent, China at around 30 per cent followed by Europe at around 18 per cent and rest 10 per cent is from other countries like Taiwan, South Korea, Japan etc, it said.
Significantly, “Less than 2 per cent of India's total electronic waste (e-waste) gets recycled due to absence of proper infrastructure, legislation and framework,” Rawat said.
India produces nearly 13 lakh MT of electronic waste every year. Mumbai (96,000) tops the list in generating e-waste followed Delhi-NCR (55,000) and Bangalore (52,000). "Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Pune find a place in the ladder, at 47,000, 35,000, 26,000, 25,000 and 19,000 metric tonnes per year respectively," the study reveals.
The paper further mentioned that Delhi alone gets around 86 per cent of the electronic waste generated in the developed world. In terms of total e-waste produced internally or brought from outside for recycling, Delhi's e-waste weighs between 50,000 and 55,000 metric tonnes per year.
Delhi-NCR has emerged as the main hub of e-waste recycling in India, and perhaps the world. The e-waste imported from Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata makes its way to Delhi as there is a ready market for glass and plastic in the NCR. Also, the wastes from Mumbai constitute a bulk of the 1,500 tonnes discarded electronics that land in Delhi’s scrap yards every day.
As per the estimates, over 35,000-45,000 child labourers of age group between 10-14 are engaged in various e-waste activities, without adequate protection and safeguards in Delhi’s various yards and recycling workshops, adds the paper.
Rawat is of the opinion that each state should develop its own scrap yards in the respective cities so that the environmental hazards would be minimized in Delhi-NCR.
“As many as 10,500 mobile handsets, 6,500 TV sets and 4,000 personal computers are dismantled in the city every day for reuse of their component parts and materials”, he said.
“While the list is growing so is the quantity as these products are getting more affordable and more and more people are using them. Increasing usage also leads to more of them coming up for disposal, thus increasing the rate of obsolescence and replacement”, Rawat added.
Computer equipment accounts for almost 68 per cent of e-waste material followed by telecommunication equipment (12 per cent), electrical equipment (8 per cent) and medical equipment (7 per cent). Other equipment, including household e-crap account for the remaining 5 per cent, the paper said.
Rawat went on to say, “e-waste is directly linked to the economic growth of the country and also overall consumer spending pattern. India’s economic growth has lifted millions of people from lower-income group to middle and high-income groups and increased purchasing power”.
More than 70 per cent of e-waste contributors are government, public and private industries, while household waste contributes about 15 per cent. Televisions, refrigerators and washing machines make up the majority of e-waste, while computers account for another 20 per cent and mobile phones 2 per cent, adds the report.
“Domestic e-waste including computer, TV, mobiles and refrigerators contain over 1,000 toxic material, which contaminate soil and ground water. Exposure can cause headache, irritability, nausea, vomiting and eyes pain. Recyclers may suffer liver, kidney and neurological disorders”, adds the ASSOCHAM paper.
'These products have components that contain toxic substances like lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, plastic, PVC, BFRs, barium, beryllium, and carcinogens like carbon black and heavy metals. This deadly mix can cause severe health problems in those handling the waste. Printed circuit boards, for instance, contain heavy metals like antimony, gold, silver, chromium, zinc, lead, tin and copper. The method of extracting these materials from circuit boards is highly hazardous and involves heating the metals in the open.
E-waste is recycled in various parts of Delhi. While all kinds of electrical scrap is recycled in Mayapuri and Old Seelampur; computers are recycled in Turkman Gate, Shastri Park, Lajpat Nagar and Kirti Nagar; computer terminals in Turkman Gate, Shastri Park and Karkardooma; lead in Mustafabad; Circuit boards in Mandoli; Gold in Meerut; and Glass in Ferozabad. (KNN/ES)
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