MAIT, dataserv APAC hosts E-Waste Rules workshop

MAIT and dataserv APAC have organized a one day awareness workshop on E-waste (Management & Handling) Rules 2011 for Bulk consumers.

During the workshop, Anwar Shirpurwala, Executive Director, MAIT said, We aim to create awareness about the e- waste management rules that came into effect last year and help to connect with the right resources to manage e- waste within organization. We did a survey, to understand the size of e- waste does India have and at that time the numbers came up to 80,00, 000 metric tonnes. A study by UNEP stated that the e- waste generated in India was 500% year-on-year basis, which is a huge number.

Speaking on the issue of effective e-waste management, Amit Sardana, MD, dataserv APAC, said, The country is saddled with huge toxic waste, estimated to be more than 8 million tonnes. E-waste is mainly processed by informal units in India in an unethical manner through crude methods which are hazardous for the environment at large. Acting as an impetus for such units is the expectation of a resale value by bulk consumers. It is therefore crucial that manufacturers and bulk consumers realize their responsibility towards careful disposal of e-waste generated.

It can be noted that the E-Waste (Management & Handling) Rules 2011came into effect in 2012 and aims at reduction in the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment by specifying threshold for use of hazardous material including lead, mercury and cadmium.