50 pc Indians may be hoarding e-waste: Survey

Mumbai : As many as 50 per cent Indians may be hoarding at least two unused electrical or electronic devices constituting hazardous e-waste for up to five years, a survey has revealed. The survey, conducted by Cerebra Green and MAIT, said that another 30 per cent kept 3-4 articles whereas 20 per cent hoarded five or more unused e-waste devices for several years, thereby increasing the possibility of their incorrect disposal.

However, eight out of 10 Indians are aware of e-waste and the importance of special measures to dispose off it properly, but they do not use the right methods owing to lack of proper avenues for disposal, said Cerebra Integrated Technologies Managing Director V. Ranganathan.

Around 68 per cent participants in the survey said that they did not consider local waste collectors as a viable option to dispose e-waste, a view which was supported by the waste collectors themselves as 72 per cent of them don't collect e-waste in their areas. "This forces 90 per cent of the people to dispose their e-waste either through local electronics vendors or online exchanges," Ranganathan said.

Presently, he said, India's e-waste output is estimated to touch a staggering three million tonnes by December 2018, which would need effective, safe and environment-friendly disposal. While industries generate 70 per cent of the e-waste, households contribute 15 per cent and the rest comprises discarded 'end of life' electrical and electronic equipment (EEEs).

Cerebra Green has now tied up with Manufacturers Associations of Information and Technology (MAIT), Ministry of Electronics and IT and the Ministry of Environment to launch an 'India Cleanup Week' (October 13-19), which could be the biggest initiative of its kind for proper disposal of e-waste.