E-Waste Recycling EPR Policies Followed by EEE Manufacturers
E-waste recycling, which includes both management as well as handling, rules were laid down in 2011 and made effective in 2012. All mobile and telephone producers must successfully implement e-waste rules and manage e-waste following all rules set for various aspects of e-waste management. The new guidelines with respect to the management of e-waste issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) were made effective in 2017. The new rules were made applicable for all big and small producers, bulk or small scale consumers, recycling items collection points, dismantlers along recyclers of e-waste. It has been made mandatory for every stakeholder engaged in the production, purchase, sale, or processing of electrical and electronics equipment (EEE). The electronic and electrical equipment are covered within the set rules, through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Target-based outlook for carrying out of EPR is employed in the e-waste management and handling rules, 2016, which lays emphasis on the phase-wise recovering target set for mobile phone producers with respect to the gathering and recycling of e-waste, be it in counts or weight for a particular category. Also, the fresh set targets are given for the periodic sales according to the life-cycle fulfillment of every category. Many mobile manufacturers in India in a short span of time have upgraded their processes to suit the mandate set by the amendment of the E-Waste Rules of 2016. They try to follow all the specified rules for extended producer responsibility, collection centers, channelization, storage, dismantling, recycling, refurbishment, transportation, and testing and sampling of EEE. E-waste collection as per EPR Most mobile manufacturers and sellers have developed their internal standard procedures to collect as well as recycle e-waste to strictly follow e-waste guidelines. They need to create awareness for collection from individual consumers as well as bulk consumers. In this regard, they have prepared a training module. Most of these EEE manufacturers have developed an integrated all-India collection system in association with their selected PROs (Producer Responsibility Organization). A clear mandate has been imparted to the selected PROs to recover e-wastes for their respective states. The PROs in return channelize the recovered recycling items to the fixed dismantlers as well as recyclers to carry out the environmentally friendly recycling process that fulfills the guidelines set under e-waste rules. Collection centers as per EPR Following the e-waste management guidelines, the EEE manufacturers have committed themselves to the recovery of e-waste across India. For this, they have built many collection centers at various locations in different cities. They manage the collection and recycling of e-waste through their own recycling item collection centers and that of their fixed PRO. The appointed PRO has been directed to recover the collected load within 180 days of deposition by consumers. Guidelines for consumers as per EPR A quick set of guidelines was released for consumers of electrical and electronic goods by the producers following EPRguidelines: · Check the life-cycle of the product · Call for any query related to product recycling · Hand over e-waste exclusively at the set collection center of the brand · There is a provision of earning incentives for handing over of e-waste in a formal way · Gather all unused e-waste items and later hand them over to the registered recycler only · Acknowledge the exchange program offered by the brand · After replacement of any part, drop the scrap parts in the e-waste drop box at the repair center · Do not throw away e-waste into a general garbage bin · Do not hand over e-waste to scrap dealers for a petty cash · Do not dispose of e-waste in landfills · Do not open discarded electronics on your own, it has hazardous substances. · Do not open any electronic or electrical parts or components on your own. Namo E-Waste is one of the largest e-waste management companies in India, having its collection centers in multiple cities.
Five Ways to Increase Citizen Participation in e-waste management
All of the waste management strategies require the participation of the citizenry to be efficient and effective. E-waste management is no different and since it is harder to dispose of than normal garbage, participation from citizens becomes even more important. Here are the five ways in which citizen participation in e-waste management can be increased: By raising awareness about harms of e-waste Most of the people are still unaware about the great threat that e-waste is. They have no knowledge of the poisonous chemicals and heavy metals involved in the electronics which cause severe diseases in human beings and pollute the environment around us. So, the first step should be to run awareness campaigns about e-waste to educate the masses. Any concerted action in e-waste management would require the support of the people and support can only be expected when they are aware about the problem. Major electronic brands should take initiative All of the major brands spend a lot of their resources to properly advertise their products. They are major stake-holders when it comes to anything related to electronics. They can add one or two lines about e-waste management in their advertisements. This would surely raise the awareness regarding the electronic waste. EPR extended producer responsibility must be fostered. They should also try to devise strategies to make more and more people replace their previous smartphones, laptops and other devices while buying a new one. It would incentivize people to replace their electronic products rather than throwing them away. Civil society should gear up Civil society should keep finding interesting ways to increase participation of people in e-waste management. They can organize small drives at local levels to make people aware about the menace of electronic waste. In those drives, they can collect used electronic items from the people, refurbish them a bit and re-distribute them among the needy students and people. On one hand this will help them while on the other hand it will also connect people directly in the fight against e-waste. Robust efforts from government Namo E-waste, the best e-waste recycler in India, believes that the Indian government has launched various initiatives regarding e-waste management but government policies regarding e-waste have achieved little success because people are oblivious to the issue of e-waste. Government should bring in all the resources including government schools, universities, colleges and offices to engage with people by conducting workshops, programs and drives. Municipal Corporations and local administration should be made more sensitive to the issue of e-waste. Strong guidelines must be issued and proper supervision should be conducted. In addition to this, the government can also engage local bodies at Village Panchayat levels to reach out to the people living in the countryside. Reaching out to children Children are not only more perceptive to environmental concerns but they are also the citizens of tomorrow and therefore it is very necessary to reach out to them. E-waste management, methods of its disposal and concepts of reusing and recycling should be thoroughly taught at all levels so that they can become the actors of change. Educating Children will not only bring awareness to their homes and parents but it will also create a foundation for a better tomorrow.
