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It has also been estimated that Delhi alone gets 25 per cent of the E-waste generated in the developed world which comes through cheaper imports. Such is the scale of the menace that it has now acquired the dimension of an industry that employs nearly
30,000 workers in various scrap-yards and unauthorized recycling units. The States sending E-waste to Delhi should develop their own scrap-yards. Noting that the NCR has over 40,000 industrial and medical units responsible for generating the waste, Delhi Government should plant around 20 lakh saplings every year. Currently, a mere 5 per cent of E-waste recycled in the country is recycled by the handful of formal recyclers and the rest is recycled by the informal recyclers.

The E-waste recycled by the formal recyclers is done under environmentally sound practices which ensure that damage is minimized to the environment. They also adopt processes so that the workforce is not exposed to toxic and hazardous substances released during recycling process. But they cannot match either the reach or the network of the informal recyclers used for sourcing of old electrical and electronic items from business as well as individual households. The items are collected, segregated and the ones that cannot be sold as it is are further dismantled by the informal recyclers. The final step is recycling which is mainly manual using simple tools like hammer, screw driver, etc., and by the use of rudimentary techniques like burning of wires in the open, using acid bath for extraction of precious metals. Furthermore, these activities are carried out without wearing any protective gear like masks, gloves, etc. In the absence of suitable processes and protective measures, recycling E-waste results in toxic emission to the air, water, soil and poses serious environmental and heath hazards.

Thus, the challenges are manifold: environmental and health hazards; lack of awareness amongst various stakeholders including public at large; investment required for setting up of state-of-the-art waste management facilities; monitoring and reporting of the E-waste generated; and most importantly, reconciling technological advancement with sustainable development.

The Problems

If treated properly, electronic waste is a valuable source for secondary raw materials. However, if not treated properly, it is a major source of toxins and carcinogens. Rapid technology change, low initial cost and planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast growing problem around the globe. Technical solutions are available, but in most cases, a legal framework, a collection system, logistics and other services need to be implemented before a technical solution can be applied. Electronic waste represents only 2 per cent of America's trash in landfills, but it equals 70 per cent of overall toxic waste.

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Dr. Gursharan Singh Kainth started his career as Lecturer at Post Graduate Dept. of Economics, Government College, Gurdaspur, and later at Khalsa College; Amritsar, specializes in Quantitative & Development Economics. Has the distinction of serving Punjab Agricultural Univ, Ludhiana, for more than 2 decades and remained Director-Principal of Saint Soldier Management & Technical Institute, Jalandhar. Currently, heading GAD Institute of Development Studies, Amritsar, a self-financed research institute. Has been honoured with various awards, including Guru Draunacharya Samman, Vijay Rattan Award, etc.
Article posted on February 22, 2009.