Visakhapatnam: The initiatives aimed at safe disposal of electronic wastes and check environment pollution through planting of e-waste bins and door to door collection has received a cold response in the city.
The first e-waste management unit in the state authorized by Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board started in the city from May this year. The licensed private company, Green Waves Recyclers in collaboration with GVMC set up e-waste collection bin across the city—mostly industries, institutes and posh colonies—and also took up door to door e-waste collection drive.
However, e-wastes are hardly found in the bins meant for disposal. Moreover, denizens or industries are not ready to give e-wastes to the authorized recycle company as they get good money for the wastes from scrap dealers.
Improper dismantling of the electronic items haphazardly as done by scrap dealers and not having proper machines to extract the metals and other valuable items from the e-wastes affect health of those involved and has detrimental impact on environment. It can result in release of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, chemicals into the soil and groundwater. Most of these are non-recyclables and threat to public health.
Anil Potluri, MD of Green Waves Recyclers said, “It’s not that all the denizens have same attitude. However, large chunk of people are yet to understand the harm they do upon the planet by selling their e-wastes to scrap dealers. The amount the scrap dealers offer to the people, we can’t as good amount of money goes for recycling of the wastes.”
“We give T-shirts, caps and other decorative items as gift to people after receiving e-wastes from them. Some people who are aware of the harmful affects of improper e-waste disposal don’t ask money. However, we would take up an awareness campaign with the help of volunteers having knowledge of environmental science in October so as to sensitize people about the hazardous affects of improper disposal of the e-wastes,” he added. After removal of hazardous heavy metals, the non-hazardous parts such as plastics, scrap, iron, steel, other metals like copper are sold to respective recyclers.
Vamsi Krishna, an IT student, opined that the recycling company should also try to offer attractive price for the e-wastes.
