Guwahati: Though a major chunk of wastes is recycled, the growing quantity of electronic waste (e-wastes) in the city is going to be a major concern as the unscientific management of lethal parts of the wastes — batteries and circuit boards — is going to create health hazard in the future, a city-based solid waste management expert recently.
According to recent data, India generated around 1.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste in 2021-22, of which only 32.92% is collected, dismantled and recycled.
The expert mentioned that majority of the e-wastes, which include out-of-order electrical and electronic devices, are composed of plastics and metals. Of those, the plastic part is largely recycled, but the metal part continues to pose a threat to the environment and human lives due to unscientific management.
He highlighted that the unscientific disposal of batteries can be extremely harmful to public health as those contain heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and beryllium.
It was noted that the wastes are primarily generated from homes and the IT sector, and proper segregation at the time of disposal could help mitigate the issue. Such actions involve removing batteries and printed circuits before disposing of them to informal sectors for recycling to avoid harm through acidic recovery processes.
The expert emphasized the difference between e-waste management practices in developed countries and places like India, pointing out the need for a more scientific approach towards harmful waste components while recycling the plastic parts.
While Guwahati lacks an e-waste management plant, the local municipal corporation, along with a city-based NGO, conducted drives to collect e-wastes, aiming to address the growing issue.
Efforts are being made to raise awareness and promote proper disposal methods to ensure the city’s environmental wellbeing and the safety of its inhabitants.
