The Hindu : Front Page : ‘Safe burial’ for E-waste in city soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 05, 2007
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‘Safe burial’ for E-waste in city soon

Facility to get rid of obsolete electronic devices to come up at Maheshwaram

A File Photo

Hazardous material: Obsolete electronic devices classified as unsafe will soon have a safe disposal facility in the city in the form of E-waste Management Facility.

HYDERABAD: The increasing piles of obsolete electronic devices such as discarded computers, cellular phones, calculators, audio and video devices, scanners and printers in the city will soon have a safe disposal facility in the form of E-waste Management Facility.

A first of its kind facility in the State and second one in the country, the facility is being set up by G.J. Multiclave on a 5-acre site at Maheshwaram of Ranga Reddy district. The A.P. Pollution Control Board has already issued consent for the Rs.5-crore project which is expected to be ready in another seven months time.

Most of the discarded devices grouped together as Waste from Electronic and Electrical Equipments (WEEE) contain hazardous substances and chemicals and have been causing concern over the adverse impact due to unscientific disposal. “Many of these are toxic in nature and are likely to create adverse impact on environment and health if not handled properly,” points out S. John Robert, Manager, G.J. Multiclave.

Apart from computers and telecommunication devices, the E-waste is broadly categorised as comprising household appliances such as refrigerators and ovens, vacuum cleaners, television sets, fluorescent tubes, electronic toys, medical appliances and instruments.

The chemical elements contained in this waste include lead, tin, copper, silicon, carbon apart from small amounts of cadmium and mercury. Traces of germanium, barium, nickel, palladium, arsenic, boron and titanium are the other components.

Top generator

According to G.J. Multiclave project report, an estimated 1,46,000 tonnes of WEEE is generated in the country with the State figuring in the list of top E-waste generators. Another estimate put the E-waste generated in the city and surroundings at 1,600 tonnes per year including 520 tonnes of discarded computer, 447.5 tonnes of discarded television sets, 200 tonnes of discarded telephones, mobiles and other communication items, 350 tonnes of discarded air-conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines apart from around 50 tonnes of discarded electronic surgical equipment, toys and others.

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