Bangalore: Ash Recyclers of Bangalore, started by social activist A. Syed Hussain, offers to pick up any obsolete electronic equipment and even pays for it as part of its effort to reduce more hazardous methods of recycling electronic waste.

In a newsletter, Janaagraha, the movement for citizens' participation in civic governance, says Ash Recyclers also conducts programmes on e-waste and its effect on the environment and health of the underprivileged people engaged in taking discarded electronic equipment.

What the organisation does as an alternative is to donate refurbished computers to schools which cannot afford new ones with the agreement they are handed back after their lives end for safe recycling.

Ash Recyclers has a well-established methodology and documented procedures that comply with Waste from Electronic and Electrical Equipment Regulations, says Uma Shankari of Janaagraha.

Precious metals

Bangalore has more than 500 recyclers of discarded computers and components. They are believed to sell used parts to computer assemblers in the grey market and often use child labour for extracting precious metals through crude methods.

Besides gold and silver, e-waste can yield quantities of platinum, silicon, cadmium, nickel, copper, lead and iron during recycling. Once the precious metals are extracted, the rest, mostly plastics, are burnt or dumped near residential areas.

Toxic substances

Toxic and possibly carcinogenic substances are released into the air, soil and ground water. Expectant and nursing mothers and children are badly affected. Studies carried out at St. John's Medical College warn of child workers in the recycling business being vulnerable to lead poisoning.

The State Government has established a 120-acre e-waste handing unit, Hazardous Waste Management in Dobbespet Industrial area, near Bangalore, with German collaboration. It has treatment, storage and disposal facility with a secure landfill where highly hazardous material can be stored.

The Ash Recyclers' initiative follows the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board authorising E-Parisara Pvt. Ltd. and Ash Recyclers to handle e-waste generated in the city.

E-Parisara has the capacity to recycle up to 3 tonnes of waste a day, but it is dealing with only one tonne at present. Many Information Technology majors such as IBM, Tata Elxsi and Philips are among its clients. Wipro has already announced its willingness to offer a free e-waste disposal service to its customers.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail