E-Waste in India grows by more than 500% in 7 years

India’s fast growing middle and upper classes are consuming electronic gadgets at an astounding rate.The replacement cycle has also decreased dramatically as growing disposable incomes means that laptops and mobile phones are being upgraded in short time periods .However unlike US and Europe ,India lacks the regulations for the safe disposal of massive amounts of the electronic waste. While a number of electronic waste companies in India  have entered the sector lured by the growing potential , a lot more needs to be done for the industry to mature.

The government has come to realize the problem as the e-waste growth has increased by more than 500% in the last  7 years . Not only is the e-waste growing internally , a lot of is being imported from western countries which have more stringent regulations leading to waste dumping in India.New regulations which will make producers liable for the treatment of e-waste are going to be imposed from next month in May 2012.

E-waste volume set to reach eight lakh metric tonnes: Government

 E-waste generated in the country is expected to reach eight lakh metric tonnes, marking an increase of nearly five-and-half times of the same generated in 2005, the government told the Rajya Sabha today.

In a written reply to the House, Environment and Forest Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said, “Based on a survey by the Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB), it is estimated that 1.47 lakh metric tons of e-waste was generated in the country in 2005, which is expected to increase to about 8 lakh MT by 2012.”

On steps taken by government to tackle import of such waste, she said, “Import is permitted only for recycling or recovery or reuse with the permission of the Environment Ministry or the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).”