Mumbai annually generates 11,500 tonnes of E-Waste: Study

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Mumbai, Feb 23 (UNI) Mumbai alone generates 11,500 tonnes of Waste from Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE), posing grave threat to the environment and health of the people, a study has revealed.

Releasing a report of the New Delhi-based environment body 'Toxics Link' titled: Mumbai: 'Choking on E-Waste' at the Patrakar Sangh here today, Chief Programme Co-ordinator of the organisation Satish Sinha said,'' there is no established norm in the present set-up to arrest the growing menace. WEEE has become a big money spinning business in India, particularly the urban centres''.

He said the four components contributing to WEEE were computers televisions, referigerators and washing machines, which produce 19,000 tonnes of WEEE. Out of which 11,500 tonnes were purely computer-related WEEE.

''On an average India generates about 150,000 tonnes of WEEE annually and almost all of it finds its way into the informal sector, as there is no organised alternative available at present,'' said Mr Sinha.

Cheap labour and crude along with an absence of any regulation of its import, have made India a favoured destination for dumping of WEEE by the developed world, he asserted.

Dr Kishore Wankhade, Regional Coordinator, Toxics Link, Mumbai, explained, '' A multi-pronged approach was employed for the study as accurate figures on E-waste were hard to come by. Extensive field surveys to explore exisitng practices used for handling E-waste and exisitng choices for disposing electronics and computer waste interviews with stakeholders were undertaken for the study.'' The study reccomends urgent engagement of stakeholders to find a sustainable solution to the problem of WEEE.

In addition to the findings, Mr Wankhade strongly recommended new legislations covering WEEE, which should be transparent and participatory to allow stakeholders contibution in the process.

UNI

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