NEW DELHI: Concerned at India fast turning into a dumping ground for hazardous wastes, Greenpeace has asked the government to formulate standards for disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) — a new addition — and totally ban its import. The Central Pollution Control Board has constituted a national working group to address the issue.

Releasing a report of its scientific analysis of waste waters, ashes, soils and sediments from electronic waste recycling yards in India and China, Greenpeace said toxic chemicals, including heavy metals, were released in the workplace and surroundings during each stage of recycling, resulting in environmental pollution and a serious threat to human health.

Producer responsibility

Advocating recycling in a safer and contained environment, it has suggested that corporate houses also take responsibility by adopting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and stewardship provisions, which make the manufacturers responsible for treatment and disposal of their products as well as for selection of material to promote waste minimisation.

Samples collected from and around recycling facilities at Seelampur, Jafrabad, Shastri Park, Mayapuri, Burari and adjoining areas of Delhi establish that lead, cadmium, acids and organic contaminants were being released into the environment because of inadequate waste management practices, toxic trade campaigner Ramapati Kumar told reporters here on Wednesday.

The report "Toxic Tech: Recycling Electronic Wastes in China and India" was released after the European Union directive on waste from electrical and electronic equipment came into effect. The directive, which regulates the handling of e-waste in the EU region, has yet to be implemented in many countries. "India and China have been left to deal with the waste not only from the EU but also the United States," Mr. Kumar said. A huge quantity of electronic waste reaches India illegally under the garb of recycling.

Lead concentration

Lead concentrations in dust samples collected from some workshops in China were hundreds of times higher than typical levels of household dusts. The levels of dust collected from similar Indian workshops were 5-20 times more than background levels.

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