GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2694
TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2025
Scientific Disposal of Waste
2694. SHRI NARAYAN TATU RANE:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the harmful effects on mankind due to air pollution caused by non-scientific disposal of waste in the open areas in various States;
(b) if so, the details of the steps taken by the Government for scientific disposal of electronic waste;
(c) the details of the steps taken by the Government to deal with the increasing quantum
of e-waste (electronic waste) and the details thereof; (d) the details of the number of trucks carrying e-waste illegally caught along with the number of traders associated with this industry including the traders that do not have license for scientific disposal of e-waste have been caught by the Government in this regard; and
(e) the details of the action taken by the Government against them?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (e) Any product which turns into waste after its useful life, may not cause any harm to health and environment if it is managed in the environmentally sound manner. However, if un-scientific and crude methods are used for processing for retrieval of useful components or material from the waste product or if the material is disposed of unscientifically, then it may cause health risks and damage to environment.

Ministry has comprehensively revised the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 in November, 2022 and the same is in force since 1st April, 2023. The objective of the said rules is to take all steps required to ensure that e-waste is managed in a manner which protects the health and environment against any adverse effects which may result from such e-waste. These new rules intend to manage e-waste in an environmentally sound manner and put in place an improved Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime for e-waste recycling wherein all the manufacturer, producer, refurbisher and recycler are required to register on a portal developed by the Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB). The new provisions would facilitate and channelize the informal sector to formal sector for doing business and ensure recycling of e-waste in the environmentally sound manner. Provisions for environmental compensation and verification and audit have also been introduced. These rules also promote Circular Economy through EPR regime and scientific recycling/disposal of the e-waste. CPCB has taken the following steps for effective management of E-Waste Rules as under:
(i) An online E-Waste EPR portal has been developed by CPCB wherein entities such as producers, manufacturers, recyclers and refurbishers of the e-waste are required to be registered.
(ii) CPCB has developed guidelines for the scientific and environmentally sound management of e-waste. The guidelines detail the procedures and facilities in terms of machineries and pollution control devices required for the recycling of e-waste in environmentally sound manner.
(iii) An action plan for implementation of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 is in place and the same is being implemented by all the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) in their respective States/UTs. SPCBs/PCCs are submitting quarterly progress report. The action plan has action points for checking informal e-waste activities and makes it incumbent upon SPCBs/PCCs to carry out regular drives for checking informal e-waste activities.
(iv) Under Rule 10(1) of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, State Government has been entrusted with the responsibility to ensure earmarking or allocation of industrial space or shed for e-waste dismantling and recycling in the existing and upcoming industrial park, estate and industrial clusters
(v) CPCB issued following Directions to SPCBs/PCCs for effective implementation of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022:
a) Directions dated 06.09.2022 under Section 18 (1) (b) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 regarding checking informal e-waste activities, verification of authorized dismantlers/recyclers of e-waste and drives for mass awareness.
b) Directions dated 30.01.2024 under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 regarding registration of producers, manufacturers, recyclers and refurbishers on the Online E-Waste EPR Portal.
c) Directions dated 14.02.2024 under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for ensuring generation of EPR Certificates by e-waste recyclers towards fulfilment of Producers EPR obligations for the FY 2023-24.

Further, CPCB has advised SPCBs /PCCs to carry out regular drives for checking e-waste processing in informal sector time to time. Actions, such as, constitution of teams for carrying out such drives, issuing of notices, closure of operation, seizing the e-waste against the informal processing are taken by the respective SPCBs/PCCs.