TN govt yet to boot its e-waste policy

It has been a year since the Electronic Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) came out with its ambitious e-waste policy for the state. Yet there has not been much progress in disposing of the mounting e-waste generated by households, software companies, manufacturing units and government departments.

The e-waste inventory in the country during 2005 suggested over 1.46 lakh tonnes, while an assessment on e-waste generated from personal computers, televisions and mobile phones in Chennai puts the figure at 26,183 tonnes. If one goes by the policy report, the increase is likely to be 1.32 lakh tonnes in the year 2013-14. With IT and communication systems growing rapidly in tier II and tier III towns, generation of e-waste is putting a strain on landfills in the state.

"The model code of conduct is still in force. We will take a decision on storage centres for e-waste after the election process is over," said D Karthikeyan, commissioner, Chennai Corporation. The corporation-identified consultant in 2008, Infrastructure Management and Advisory Services Private Limited (INMAAS), has recommended a ban on dumping e-waste in landfills. A field investigation by the INMAAS team found that an "easy method for disposal of e-waste in the city is throwing in municipal street bins, which poses significant environmental hazards in landfills."

On any given day, the notified dump sites in Kodungaiyur and Perungudi have heaps of e-waste and rag-pickers rummage through the waste, putting themselves at risk. None of the local bodies in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur have thought of an action plan for safe disposal of e-waste. Tambaram continues to dump its unsegregated waste in Kannadapalayam, Alandur uses Pallikkaranai dump yard and Avadi dumps its waste in Sekkadu. "People are not educated on e-waste," said a municipal commissioner.

The core committee that drafted the e-waste policy has met twice in the last one year but did not evolve any action plan. With the Centre likely to come up with a national policy on e-waste, the state is keeping mum, sources say. "Local bodies are unaware of the key issues of e-waste disposal," said G Arun Senthil Ram, regional programme co-ordinator, Toxics Link. "The state pollution control board has authorised two recyclers for e-waste but they are only dismantlers," he said.

As a result, informal and unorganised sectors are thriving in north Chennai. Pulianthoppe and Mannadi are dismantling hubs, while New Moore Market and Pudupet are resale hubs. Informal recyclers conduct partial processing and recovery of metals, such as repair, recovery and salvage of precious metals in unhealthy conditions. They use strong acids to retrieve precious metals such as gold. "There are requests from government departments for disposal of e-waste. We have drafted guidelines, and they are under the consideration of the government. Orders are expected shortly," said Santhosh Babu, managing director, ELCOT.