1. ELECTRONIC WASTES
Policies And Their Implementation
Deepmala Pokhriyal

2. Why are we here?
• Information and Communication
revolution.
• Increasing GDP per capita and
emergence of the middle class.
• Problem of sustainability.
• Benefits with side effects.

3. What is E-Waste?
• All waste from electronic and electrical
appliances which have reached their
end life period or are no longer fit for
their original intended use and are
destined for recovery, recycling or
disposal.
• E wastes are not always hazardous.

4. The world at stake..!
• 50 MT of electron waste added globally
every year
• China already produces about 2.3 MT
of e-waste domestically, second only to
the U.S. with about three million
tonnes.
• The total e-waste generated in the EU
is about 14-15 kg per capita.
• 80% of world E wastes being dumped
in Asian countries for disposal.

5. Any Guess?
Its the WEEE man in Germany!

6. The Worldly Approach!
• Basel Action Network for prevention of
globalization of wastes.
• Call for Action (Africa) to fight against the
dumping of E-waste from developed
countries.
• WEEE forum (Europe) to create
awareness among EU nations regarding
increasing waste generation.
• Earth Summit (Rio +20) working on
creation of a sustainable world economy.

7. Where India Stands?
• 65 cities generate more than 60 per
cent of the total e-waste in India.
• Maharashtra ranks first.
• The contribution of individual
households is relatively small at about
15 per cent.
• 90% of the disposal and recovery of
metals from E wastes is done in the
informal sector.

11. Government’s Turn
• Ministry of Environment & Forests
(MoEF) of the government of India is
responsible for environmental legislation.
• German Technology Cooperation (GTZ)
began work on hazardous waste
management in India
• Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material
Testing and Research (EMPA)
• Indo-German-Swiss e-waste initiative
born in 2004.

12. Objectives of the initiatives
• Reduce the risks to the population and
the pollution of the environment
resulting from unsafe handling.
• Focus on knowledge transfer to and skills
upgrade of all involved stakeholders
through trainings and seminars.
• Target mainly the existing informal
recyclers allowing for their maximum but
safe participation in future e-waste
management by facilitating their
evolution and integration in formal
structures.

13. Milestones achieved..
• Improved awareness through national
E waste seminars and Care Initiative
with Goethe Institute.
• Improved stakeholder engagement by
formation of EWA.
• Improved estimates of e-waste by
identification of e waste hotspots.
• Foreign trade policies restricting
imports of e wastes.

14. Road Ahead.....
• Separate legislation on Electronic wastes.
• Increasing the responsibility of all the
elements in the value chain.
• Making producers of electrical and
electronic equipment responsible for the
entire life cycle of its own branded
product and in particular the
environmentally sound end-of-life
management and facilitating collection
and take back.

15. To conclude!
• Limited Earth’s resources and therefore
efficient exploitation.
• State to increase awareness and
investments in e-waste management.
• Low organised sector to be taken care
of.
• Increased involvement of municipal
corporations.