BHUBANESWAR: In an effort to minimise the unscientific disposal of electronic waste, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is gearing up to devise plans for an efficient mechanism to segregate, collect and dismantle e-waste from municipal solid waste (MSW) within the civic limits.
While the State has witnessed a significant surge in consumption of electronic gadgets and appliances in the past one decade, over 95 per cent of these items are sold to scrap dealers after second and third uses.
The project aims at generating awareness among consumers and households regarding e-waste so as to increase collection volumes and responsible waste practices, and establish an effective e-waste collection system in the city with the active participation of the manufacturers of electronic items.
“A dedicated team of officials will identify, develop and establish a sustainable e-waste management ecosystem comprising all stakeholders.
The team would execute and establish a working model for e-waste management in the city with the aim of incorporating best practices,” said Deputy Commissioner Srimanta Mishra. The request for proposal (RFP) for the project will be prepared within two months, he added.
As prescribed in Rule-17 (Schedule-IV) of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, e-waste if found to be mixed with MSW has to be properly segregated, collected and channelised to authorised dismantler or recycler. Same applies to abandoned e-waste too.
Recently, a team from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) with e-waste expert Dr Bernd Kopacek analysed the facilities for collection and dismantling of e-wastes in and around the Capital City. The team will soon submit a report for establishment of a working model for e-waste collection on a pilot basis, sources said.
The IFC with Swachh Bhubaneswar Abhiyan (SBA) Cell of the BMC visited three sites including Greenex India Private Ltd at Kalinga Vihar, Transit Transport Station (TTS) near Sainik School and Sani-Clean, a facility to collect and dismantle e-waste, at Gurujanga in Khurda.
“The team reviewed the facilities including their capacities to handle and its TTS, whether any e-waste is coming with the MSW or not. Under the IFC-EU Eco-Cities Programme, a study will also to be conducted to know what is the potential of e-waste generated in the city,” a member of the technical committee said.