E-waste: A Major Concern for IT Industry
By Jatinder Singh
New Delhi, Oct 10, 2007

The issue of emerging e-waste is getting critical by the day. Imports of hazardous waste are rapidly coming into India and other Asian countries from the US and other industrialized nations. Moreover, there is no comprehensive/definitive guideline for e-waste management in these countries.

Metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad are also contributing to the quantity of waste and adding its adverse impacts. The swift change in technology, a high obsolescence rate of electronics, and the imports of junk for sheer economic gains pose challenges that need to be taken up on priority.

As per the industry estimates, around 1100 tons of e-waste is being generated annually in India by Indian manufacturers and suppliers. While, around 5300 tons of e-waste is being dumped into India illegally.

The problem in Indian scenario is the lack of awareness among enterprises on the hazardous effects of e-waste. This is supplemented by failure of government and port authorities to execute the Hazardous Waste Rules and check the illegal imports of e-waste at the entry point itself.

Bangalore is the IT hub of India and is growing phenomenally. The growing industry has provided employment to over 2 lakh people and alone produces nearly 8,000 tons of e-waste every year. Most of this waste is recycled unscientifically or just dumped along with domestic solid waste, thereby creating health and environmental risks.

This implies that a vast amount of equipment - in addition to the e-waste dumped by the West - will soon add to the waste stream. Furthermore, upgrading beyond a point will be uneconomical and incompatible with the increasing demand of software.

George Paul, executive vice president of HCL Infosystems, stated, "The e-waste issue is in a very critical phase in India. In 2005, it was estimated that 80% of e-waste is being foisted on India, Pakistan, and China. By 2012, it's expected to grow in a tremendous manner."

Talking on the company's HCL eSafe program, he further opined that this program is an initiative to protect the environment, health, and safety of all the stakeholders. The company has tied up with the Chennai-based Trishiraya, a government approved recycling plant, where all the collected products are recycled.

HCL has already announced the unification of its various environment protection initiatives under the HCL esafe program., The company will bring together its several voluntary initiatives to protect and safeguard the environment, such as, lining up of Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHs)- compliant notebooks and desktops.

RoHS restricts the use of 6 hazardous materials, namely - lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, Poly Brominated Biphenyls (PBB), and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE), in the manufacture of various types of electronic and electrical equipment. It's taking initiative to solve the problem of toxic e-waste.

Vinnie Mehta, executive director of Manufacturers Association of Information Technology (MAIT), said, "With the growing demand for PCs and other electronic products in India, concerns over the environmental impact of e-waste are both timely and legitimate. Recycling is not happening in an environment friendly manner, and that's where the problem lies."

The ministry of communications and information technology has recommended subsidy for recycling plants, which will help address the environmental issues in the industry. There are currently only 3 authorized recyclers in the country.

In 2005, MAIT had constituted a committee of its members to suggest a framework to the government for formulating legislation on the matter, but no specific steps or action has taken place since then.

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