E-Waste Management by Central Pollution Control Board under the Extended Producer Responsibility and Recycling program:

India has become one of the top E-waste producing countries with the national capital region (NCR) and Delhi itself contributing around 1,00,000 tonnes yearly. E-Waste management has become a must in recent times due to its toxic link to pollution in Delhi and NCR. Our E-waste from electronic goods produces extremely toxic chemicals like arsenic, lead, chromium which are not only impacting the lives of those unskilled labors who dismantle the electronic goods but also cause great harm to the environment. The waste from these electronic goods gets mixed in air and soil which deteriorates the quality of air and underground water.

The Central Pollution Control Board has come up with Extended Producer Responsibility plan under which 243 manufacturers have been identified and ordered to take back all kinds of E-Waste and old electronic goods from door-to-door. Out of these 243 manufacturers, 143 have already applied for the required license. Although there was an E-Waste management system in place, it was very unorganized and constituted of unskilled labor who had no idea about the adverse effect it on their body. The recent rise in Pollution in Delhi and NCR has made the Central Pollution Control Board to take this step under the E-Waste recycling program.

E-Waste and its adverse effects:

E-waste is categorized as any useless electronic item with wires or a battery. The harmful chemicals it contains ranges from arsenic, lead, chromium etc. These chemicals have contributed to the increase of pollution in Delhi and National Capital Region(NCR) and other parts of the country.

The toxic link is undeniable and although the government has been late in its response to pollution control.  Central Pollution Control Board has ordered the manufacturers to take back the E-Waste or face the penalty.