ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS

Question No - 460
:
Answered Date : 10.11.2010
Subject : DUMPING OF E-WASTE

 

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state:-


(a) whether as per an estimate, the dumping of e-waste in India is likely to go up by 50% in the next 10 years; 

(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereon; 

(c) whether large consignments of e-waste are coming to India from developed countries; 

(d) if so, the present regulations regulating the import of e-waste in the country; 

(e) whether the Government proposes to amend the relevant laws and also ban import of e-waste; and 

(f) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH) 

(a) to (f): The Ministry of Environment and Forests has notified the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008, for proper management and handling of hazardous wastes, including e-waste. As per these Rules, import of such wastes, for dumping is not permitted. Import is permitted only for reuse or recycling or reprocessing with the permission of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Units handling e-waste are required to obtain registration and authorization from the concerned State Pollution Control Board. The Ministry has constituted a Coordination Committee to oversee the implementation of Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008, especially for tackling illegal traffic of hazardous wastes, including e-waste. As per these Rules, the Customs authorities are required to ensure that every shipment is accompanied by a movement document and random samples of the consignments are taken and analyzed to prevent misdeclaration. 

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has published the draft notification of e-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2010 for seeking comments from all stakeholders. These draft rules prescribe the responsibility of the Producers, Distributers, Refurbishers, Consumers, Bulk Consumers, Dismantlers and Recyclers for safe handling of e-waste.