Hyderabad: The pace at which e-waste is generated in the country is alarming and Hyderabad has the dubious distinction of sixth largest generator of e-waste in India.
To encourage proper disposal, the Telangana government has announced the e-waste management policy.
A Hyderabad-based start-up, Waste Ventures, claimed a 10 per cent rise in e-waste collection on its app a month after the policy was declared.
“Compared with last year, we have observed that there is an increase in e-waste from the formal sectors. At least 20 per cent more e-waste is collected by us,” said Mr Prasenjit Dutta, manager of Z Enviro Industries.
With new gadgets released every other day in the market, e-waste is magnifying. Mr Dutta added, “There is a huge demand for new gadgets. Due to high rate of obsolescence, the generation of e-waste is huge.”
Due to lack of effective disposal mechanism, e-waste pile up in offices and homes. Companies have launched apps like ‘Erase E-Waste’, ‘Toter.in’ to get rid of e-waste. Moreover, e-waste recycling takes place in the unorganised sector, solely depending on rag-pickers, resellers and recyclers.
Abdul Rahman Janoo, product manager of Waste Ventures, said, “We employ 1,500 waste pickers and 300 scrap dealers. The company is trying to convert the unorganised sector into an organised entity by training them.”
On its part, the government of Telangana has asked start-ups like Waste Ventures to train the unorganised sector. “We are coaching scrap-pickers and waste dealers under the MoU with the Telangana government. We are also sensitising people about e-waste,” said Mr Janoo.
The government policy also advocates setting up of e-waste dismantling centres to channelise, segregate, recycle and dispose of e-waste in an environmentally manner.
Though the policy is touted to be game changer, companies feel that there is a long way to go. Mobile phones, computers, televisions, servers, music systems, freezers, air-conditioners, medical equipment are contributors to e-waste.
