ASSOCHAM-KPMG study warns India on rising e-waste levels

By Anil Mathews (ScrapMonster Author)

May 26, 2016 08:01:41 AM

NEW DELHI (Scrap Monster): The joint study conducted by the Associated Chambers of commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) and professional service company KPMG has warned India on rising e-waste volumes in the country. The study states that India is currently the world’s fifth largest e-waste producing nation.

Growing mobile market

According to the study, India has emerged as the second largest market in the world for mobile phones. Out of nearly 18.5 lakh tonnes of electronic waste generated in India every year, telecom equipment accounts for nearly 12%. The study found that over 100 crore mobile phones are in circulation in the country currently. The number is expected to multiply in the upcoming years. Surprisingly, almost one-fourth of the mobile phones end up in e-waste, as people switch to better and latest versions of mobiles.

As per estimates, over 100 million handsets were manufactured during the entire year 2015. The telecom operators in the country have made huge investments in the past one-and-a half years. The investment during this period is almost 30% of the total investment made during the past twenty years. There is an urgent need for proper mechanisms to treat the rising electronic waste in environmentally-responsible manner.

E-waste collection targets

The ASSOCHAM-KPMG study proposes to introduce e-waste collection targets in a phased manner. The targets must be practically achievable and must start at lower range and gradually be raised.

Mumbai-The e-waste capital

According to an earlier study conducted by ASSOCHAM in partnership with Frost & Sullivan, Mubai tops the list of e-waste generating cities with an estimated 1.2 lakh metric tonnes per year, followed by Delhi-NCR with 98,000 metric tonnes and Bangalore with 92,000 metric tonnes. The other top cities to feature in the list are Chennai (67,000 mt), Kolkata (55,000 mt), Ahmedabad (36,000 mt), Hyderabad (32,000 mt) and Pune (26,000 mt). Further, the study forecasts that India’s e-waste volumes are likely to soar to 30 lakh metric tonnes per year by 2018.

The study revealed that only 2.5% of the country’s total e-waste gets recycled. Also, 95% of the scrap is managed by unorganized sector, where e-waste is handled in most unscientific ways.

New E-waste Rule

Meantime, the Indian government has notified E-Waste (Management) Rules 2016 which will supersede the e-waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2011. The new e-waste rules are more stringent and shall be applicable to every manufacturer, producer, consumer, bulk consumer, collection centre, dealer, e-retailer, refurbisher, dismantler and recycler involved in manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, collection, storage and processing of e-waste or electrical and electronic equipment.

Under the new law, to come into force effective October 1st, 2016, it will be the responsibility of the manufacturer to collect e-waste generated during the manufacture of any electrical and electronic equipment and channelize it for recycling or disposal. In addition, the manufacturer must also ensure that no damage is caused to environment during storage and transportation of e-waste.

The producer is responsible for implementing the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) and to provide information on the implementation of Deposit Refund Scheme to ensure collection of end-of-life products. The import of electronic and electrical equipment shall be limited to producers having EPR authorization.

About ASSOCHAM

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) is one of the apex trade associations of India. The organisation represents the interests of trade and commerce in India, and acts as an interface between industry, government and other relevant stakeholders on policy issues and initiatives. The goal of this organisation is to promote both domestic and international trade, and reduce trade barriers while fostering conducive environment for the growth of trade and industry of India.

About KPMG

KPMG is a professional service company, being one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, EY and PwC. Seated in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, KPMG employs 174,000 people and has three lines of services: audit, tax, and advisory.