Better e-waste disposal laws give China edge over India

New Delhi, Sep 4 (UNI) Safe disposal of electronic waste in line with the European Union directives is one of the main factors that gives Chinese electronics sector a competitive edge over India, says a study.

India lags far behind its neighbour in its regulation of environmental impacts of the electronics industry, says Greenpeace.

The growing IT industry of India was valued at Rs 45,000 crore in 2006 and the IT Department envisages a seven-fold growh by 2008.

Moreover, according to 11th Five Year plan, there was a target to increase PC penetration to 65 per 1000 from the current 11 per thousands in 2005.

But this good news also entails the fact that today e-waste was the fastest growing solid waste stream with people changing their computers, TVs and mobile phones more frequently than ever before.

Between 20 to 59 million tonnes of e-waste is generated annually worldwide.

India produces 146,000 tons of e-waste per year. This does not include computers illegally imported for recycling.

According to estimates, India receives almost as much illegal e-waste from developed countries as it generates within.

Electronic products are a mixture of several hundred tiny components, many of which contain heavy metals and hazardous chemicals.

These chemicals put human health and the environment at risk, especially during production, recycling and disposal.

Most electric components contain chemicals such as BFRs(Brominated Flame Retardants), lead, cadmiun, mercury, chromium, Beryllium, PVC and phthalates.

Long term exposure to these chemicals damage the nervous system, kidneys, bones, reproductive and endocrine system.

A study conducted by Greenpeace shows a high-level of dangerous chemicals in workplace in India.

In many such yards, people are exposed to these toxics 24 hours a day as they live cook, eat and sleep in the same place where e-waste was being receive.

In some places people were using the cable waste as fuel to make e-waste being recycled. A study conducted in China in 2007 confirms the generation of neurotoxic gases such as dioxin and furans from the burning of cables and other electronic components.

However, China has taken a number of steps to contain the e-waste.

Since joining WTO in 2001, it has grown to become the world's third largest maker of many electronic appliances and the country's semiconducter industry is the cutting edge.

Two thirds of Chinese electronic goods are exported to developed countries. The industry was experiencing 20 per cent growth and was one of the main driver of the country's economy.

China has also learnt that an expanding electronic industry has environmental implications due to the heavy use of chemicals in the sector, so it has formulated legislation and guidelines to regulate it.

The country has in place a Restriction of Hazardous Substances(RoHS) like legislation of Euorope in the form of Measures for Administration of the Pollution Control of Electronic Information Products which became effective last year.

Besides China has also drafted an ordinance on the Management of Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment, Reclamation and Disposal.

The draft, based on a similar European law, was made public in 2004, but was not yet in force.

China has also created a special government fund for a Producer Responsibility organisation to cope with the waste by increasing accountability of the producer.

In India, there is no legislation or guidelines to handle E-waste, as existing hazardous waste legislation falls short of requirements.

As far as the producers were concernd, WIPRO is the first Indian company to provide RoHS compliant products, and it has also announced a phase out of PVC and all BFRs by 2009, said Greenpeace.

UNI