India alone generates around 2,500 kgs of e-waste every minute.
3 things that make us E-waste culprits
Inadvertently and with no firm understanding on the e-waste most of us tend to be unmindful of the evils of e-waste. E-waste as a problem is growing every day and if not checked today it would face us starkly with its harmful ill effects to our health and environment. 15 million metric tonnes of e-waste is generated every year in a developing country like India. Sensing the burgeoning numbers that would be added in the future all countries including India have put various legislations to contain if not mitigate the damaging effects E-waste would cause. Containing poisonous substances e-waste disposal warrant careful handling. Since we all use electronics and electrical appliances we need to be also responsible in their handling when they aren’t useful to us anymore.
“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”
We all are accountable and have to be responsible towards our future. Pretty laid back in our approach we run the risk of becoming E-waste culprits ourselves ruining our today and tomorrow. There are 3 ways that make us E-waste Culprits:
- 1. Being an E-Waste Sleeper
- 2. Discarding / dumping e-waste at wrong places
- 3. Selling e–waste to kabadiwala
We have to understand that these equipment have a life and if these are not making any utility sense then it would be our duty not to let the e-waste accumulate at our places. In their productive life these are friends but at the end they are nasty foes so care has to be shown in their disposal. In no circumstances these should be thrown as garbage in and around our areas of inhabitation or elsewhere. It is also very wrong to sell these articles to the usual kabadiwalas or scrap dealers. They lack the understanding and scientific methods to handle toxic elements inherent to these wastes.
Fortunately we have ZeroWaste a company which is all geared and constituted for the great mission to clear up all the E-wastes which lie in our closets and cabinets. It also offers money for the gadgets you give to it. The amount received would be as per the best salvage value and moreover relieves us from the piles of waste littering our closet, tables and racks responsibly.
Note: This post was originally published in January 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Lets Include Electronic Waste in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
“Be the change you wish to see in the world” — Mahatma Gandhi
“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” — Charles Darwin
First of all I thank our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, for starting Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and calling the people to participate in creating a clean India beyond politics.
India is aiming towards becoming an economic superpower and in such circumstances cleanliness becomes more logical. A clean home is more hospitable to its visitors and subsequently brings greater investment to Indian economy. Cleanliness directly promotes social growth and economic activity.
The Prime Minister’s call for Digital India has created great enthusiasm among people of India as well as abroad. Digital infrastructure, delivery of services and digital literacy are the aims of Digital India and electronic inclusion of people will strengthen Indian democracy with highly accountable and transparent government. It is evident that this electronic inclusion will gear up the generation of electronic waste with computers, laptops, mobile phones and other telecommunication equipment as major source of E-Waste.
E-waste consists of waste electrical & electronic equipment that are to be discarded. India generates about 1.5 Million tonnes of E-waste each year. UN predicted that by 2020 e-waste from computers would jump by 500 percent and from discarded mobile phones would be 18 times higher than 2007 level in India. Electronic waste itself does not cause direct damage to us but unscientific processing of this scrap is detrimental to human health and wellbeing.
WHO in its E-Waste and Child Health Initiative report has warned about these consequences of e-waste. National Green Tribunal has also expressed similar concern about e-waste causing broad spectrum of ecological damage. Therefore, its about time that e-waste be managed through environmentally sound processes causing least harm to human health and environment and checking its diversion to landfills or incineration plants.
Indian government has recognised the problem of e-waste and has made E- waste (Management & handling), Rules, 2011 but due to lack of proper awareness among the private and government bodies the problem is being ignored. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan puts focus on awareness and aims to ensure 100% collection and scientific processing/disposal reuse/recycle of Municipal Solid Waste. Therefore, its only logical that Electronic Waste is included in this campaign. This will generate awareness among citizens and will ensure proper management of e-waste.
I started this petition because I want the e-waste problem to be included in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to minimize damage to human health and environment.
Please join us in calling our Prime Minister to include the E-Waste in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for a responsible Electronic Democracy and YES!!!! for a better tomorrow.
Note: This post was originally published in January 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.