| | SEPTEMBER 20169Consultants ReviewThe global e-waste count has increased at an alarming rate over the past 10 years, it is one of the wastes which continues to pile up and is showing no signs of slowing downthe victim of the `make, use and discard' culture that has engulfed the entire world and is turning into an epidemic. But the effects of e-waste isn't restricted to the waste alone as it now affects a disquieting ecosystem that should make the public sit up and take notice. Currently, about 5 lakhs child labours between the age group of 10-14 are observed to be engaged in various e-waste activities with an absence of proper supervision or guidance. It is a matter of grave concern as waste contains highly corrosive and radioactive elements which require careful screening and handling prior to waste management. It is most definitely no place for rag-pickers and children as their presence presents a calamitous risk to health. But where's the awareness? The majority of Indian population has no inkling about how to handle their e-waste and continue to either sell it to the scrap dealer or throw it with their regular household garbage. And this garbage is hazardous! TVs have high levels of lead, which is extremely hard to dispose; circuit boards, semiconductors, and copper wiring are hard to dispose and they also contain poisonous substances such as arsenic, beryllium, cadmium; PVC's are known to have carcinogens. The list goes on. This makes controlling and managing E-waste here in India of critical importance. The safest way to treat e-waste is to recycle them. But herein lies another challenge. Approximately 1.5 percent of the e-waste in India is recycled by formal recyclers, while a 9.5 pecent is done by informal agencies. These informal agencies at work have their own recycling units. But lack of proper training, use of child labour and redundant equipment and processes are, in themselves, a huge threat to the people and the environment. In fact, 76 percent of the workers in these e-waste plants are said to be suffering from respiratory ailments. On the positive side, there are some companies such as ECORICO, E-Parisaraa, EWRI, Attero, and WEEE Recycle that have tried to bring about a more formal system of e-waste collection and sorting pan India. Industry body such as Consumer Electronics Appliance Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) and manufacturers are working towards supporting the government initiatives. Some of the challenges that spring up are: · Building awareness among consumers, dealers, members of supply chain and manufacturers, on the law created for safe and responsible disposal of end-of-life products · For customers, an Advance Recycling Fee ("ARF", or Advance Disposal Fee, "ADF") as a part of the purchase price· Rapidly increasing e-waste volumes via imports disguised as donations towards bridging the digital divide or, as metal scrap need to be controlledThe consumer durable market in India is set to touch $29 billion, meaning that India will be producing an enormous amount of electronic items in the next four years. To suffice the demands of manufacturers, more copper, silver and iron ore will have to be either mined or imported into the country. A simple recycling habit will not only cut down the carbon footprint but in an environmental chain reaction help curb down the growing environmental hazards in different sectors. We need to act before things spiral out of control as the initial negligence can lead to a disaster of epic proportions. So next time you buy a new gadget start thinking about the environment, the vicious circle it undergoes and most importantly, do you really need to discard your old one!
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