Don’t know where to dispose your obsolete or broken electrical or electronic devices? From October 18 onwards, city dweller can head to Pragati Maidan to dispose of these in the two large e-waste collection bins (500 kg each) installed just for this.
Environmentalists have long warned about India’s growing e-waste disposal problem. Every unit household, industry and commercial venture generates its share of e-waste and this is expected to grow to 20 million metric tonnes by 2020 from 3.2 million metric tonnes in 2015, comprising a monetary value of recoveries from e-waste to the tune of $4 billion (Rs.25,000 crore) and expected to touch to 20 million metric tonnes by 2020.
More than generation of e-waste, the most serious problem is its collection, handling and processing. It is mostly resorted to conventional modes of collection by scrap collectors or rag pickers because the formal sector is not equipped enough to handle such a gigantic problem endangering ecology.
