Preamble 

The electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. The increasing “market penetration” in developing countries, “replacement market” in developed countries and “high obsolescence rate”   make e-waste as one of the fastest growing waste streams. Environmental issues and trade associated with e-waste at local, transboundary and international level has driven many countries to introduce interventions. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy (NEP) and to address sustainable development concerns, there is a need to facilitate the recovery and/or reuse of useful materials from waste generated from a process and/or from the use of any material thereby, reducing the wastes destined for final disposal and to ensure the environmentally sound management of all materials. The NEP also encourages giving legal recognition and strengthening the informal sectors system for collection and recycling of various materials. In particular considering the high recyclable potential of e-waste such wastes should be subject to recycling in an environmentally sound manner. 

 E-waste 

E-waste comprises of wastes generated from used electronic devices and house hold appliances which are not fit for their original intended use and are destined for recovery, recycling or disposal. Such wastes encompasses wide range of electrical and electronic devises such as computers, hand held cellular phones, personal stereos, including large household appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners etc. E-wastes contain over 1000 different substances many of which are toxic and potentially hazardous to environment and human health, if these are not handled in an environmentally sound manner.

 Environmentally Sound Management of E-waste

The growth of e-waste has significant economic and social impacts. The increase of electrical and electronic products, consumption rates and higher obsolescence rate leads to higher generation of e-waste. The increasing obsolescence rate of electronic products also adds to the huge import of used electronics products.

The e-waste inventory based on this obsolescence rate in India for the year 2005 has been estimated to be 146180.00 tonnes which is expected to exceed 8,00,000 tonnes by 2012. There is no large scale organized e-waste recycling facility in India and there are two small e-waste dismantling facilities are functioning in Chennai and Bangalore, while most of the e-waste recycling units are operating in un-organized sector.

OBJECTIVE & SCOPE OF THE GUIDELINES

2.1  Objective 

The objective of these Guidelines is to provide guidance for identification of various sources of waste electrical and electronic equipments (e-waste) and prescribed procedures for handling e-waste in an environmentally sound manner.

2.2  Scope 

         These Guidelines are reference document for the management, handling and disposal of e-wastes.  These are intended to provide  guidance and broad  outline, however,  the specific methods of treatment and  disposal  for specific  wastes  

needs  to be worked out  according  to  the hazard/risk potential of the waste under question. These Guidelines provide the minimum practice required to be followed in the management of e-wastes and the State Department of Environment or State 

Pollution Control Board may prescribe more stringent norms as deemed necessary.

2.3 Applicability

          These Guidelines shall apply to all those who handle e-waste which includes the generators, collectors, transporters, dismantlers, recyclers and stakeholders of e-wastes irrespective of their scale of operation. The definitions in Hazardous 

Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989 as amended in 2003 include: 

(i)  “occupier” in relation to any factory or premises, means  a person who has, control over the affairs of the factory or the premises an includes in relation of any substance, the person  in possession of the substance;

(ii)   “operator of facility” means a person who owns or operates a facility for collection, reception, treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous wastes;

(iii)   “recycler” means an occupier who procures and processes hazardous materials for recovery;

(iv)   “recycling” means reclamation and reprocessing of hazardous materials from a production process in an environmentally sound manner for the original purpose or for other purposes. 

(v) “reuse” means hazardous materials that are used for the purpose for its original use or another use.

(vi) “registered recycler or re-refiner or reuser” means a recycler or re-refiner or reuser registered for reprocessing hazardous material with the Central Government in the Ministry of Environment and Forests or the Central Pollution Control Board, as the case may be, for recycling or reprocessing hazardous materials;

(vii)  “recovery” means to any operation in the recycling activity wherein specific materials are recovered;