The recovery system to extract hazardous metals from electronic wastes has to be improved in the State, according to R.Ramachandran, Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).
While there were 12 units for segregating e-wastes and exporting them for recovery of toxic metals, only a few units were engaged in recovery of hazardous substances. Referring to a recent notification on e-wastes disposal issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, he emphasised that the process has to be carried out with concern.
The concept of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle' would turn waste into wealth. The younger generation has to cultivate the mindset to use bio-degradable materials. Use of plastics must be avoided, Mr.Ramachandran said, addressing the inaugural session of a State-level conference on ‘Environmental Implications of Hazardous Heavy Metals and Improper Waste Management,' organised by Environ Solutions, here on Wednesday.
Industries, he felt, have to improve managerial capacities to reduce wastes. There were 2,785 industries categorised as hazardous either in terms of process or treatment. The TNPCB was constantly monitoring emission, he said, informing that emission training through a pilot scheme was in the offing.
Tamil Nadu, he said, was a model State in disposal of bio-medical wastes.
A special UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) scheme was being carried out for elimination of mercury in medical instruments. Bio-medical wastes from nine private hospitals, five government hospitals and one corporation hospital were being disposed through 11 common facility centres, he said.
Presiding over, M.A.Maluk Mohamed, Principal, MAM College of Engineering and Managing Trustee, MAM Group of Institutions, called for focus on advanced technology through inter-disciplinary research for handling wastes. Technology to absorb toxicity has to be developed, even while initiating student community into practical dimensions of safeguarding environment, he said.
In his address, the president of Tamil Nadu Board of Continuing Education (South Zone) K.Govindaraj spoke of the impact of environment study at school and college levels, and the importance of increasing forest cover.
The conference that saw the participation of industrialists was conducted in the backdrop of rising fears of developed nations disposing increasing extent of e-wastes caused by technology obsolescence in developing countries. Unorganised recycling of wastes causes health complications, G.Arun Senthil Ram, Director – Environ Solutions, said.
Vidya Hari Iyer, Director – Smile Clinic, Chennai; K.Kalidasan, Director – OSAI, a Coimbatore-based organisation involved in ecology conservation; and N.Jaganathan, Director–VNS Enviro Bitechq, made presentations.
