According to the annual Environment ESR report released by PMC, Pune generated 2100 Metric Tonnes of solid waste per day in 2017-2018 estimating to around 350-750 grams per person.
While guidelines exist to manage waste, E-Waste Management is still an area where the city lacks a concrete policy to handle this increasing menace.
This is despite the fact that Pune city generates more than 26,000 metric tonnes of e-waste annually. An estimated 10 Metric Tonnes of electronic waste is generated from IT companies situated near Pune city, Pimpri Chinchwad, Hinjewadi etc.
India produces 2 million tonnes of electronic waste per annum and recycles 4,38,085 tonnes, said a report published by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) and Japan’s NEC.
India is among the top five countries in e-waste generation. Within the country, Maharashtra generates the most e-waste. It is estimated that more than one million workers are engaged in unorganized e-waste disposal sector in India.
“Although e-waste does not visibly impact most of us, it is a serious environment problem,” says Piyush Adeshra, a software engineer.
“The toxins released from e-waste impacts the landfills, besides polluting our natural resources. Many major companies actually have their e-waste collection and disposal systems in place to handle the waste that they generate.
The e-waste generated by us individuals and households is the problem and awareness needs to be created on proper recycling and treatment.
Asha Subhash, a waste collector, says that she regularly finds earphones, leaking old batteries, tube lights and bulbs in the normal dustbins along with other waste material.
“Some people still do not segregate their wet and dry waste and dump everything in one single bag which makes our work tougher.
Segregation of these items which are dumped with wet waste leads to it being damaged and incapable of being recycled.
“A rag picker in our city lost his life after he was diagnosed with an ailment created by electronic waste,” she added.
“A couple of years back, some telephone companies had these old phone recycling units installed at their service stations, where one could dump their damaged earphones, old phones, batteries etc. but now we hardly see or hear about them,” says Rishav Dubey, an Undri resident.
“Since people were moving from the old feature phones to new touch screens and smartphones, everyone was left with the old ones. It was actually necessary to dispose them responsibly, rather than just dumping it with the household garbage.
Supriya Galatge, a city based marketing analyst opines that most people are not even aware that electronic waste generated in the household must be carefully disposed of without mixing them with other waste.
“There is poor awareness when it comes to e-waste. People do not hear or read much about it, hence they end up dumping them in river bodies or municipal dustbins.
“At the purchase stage, the customers should be guided on responsible disposal and instructions must be handed out.
“People need to understand the implications and stop creating a waste pile up everywhere. Only then will the the civic authorities be able to handle this e-waste efficiently.” adds Galatge.
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Reach her at loveleen@pune365.com or tweet @KaurKaur18
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