Many electronic companies still have no take-back system: Report -Governance Now

Many electronic companies still have no take-back system: Report

According to the latest study by Toxics Link, the unmanaged e-waste is increasing due to disoriented take-back and collection system by producers

Rahul Trivedi | February 21, 2019 | Delhi

#waste generation #electronic waste #e-waste #Toxics Link #extended producer responsibility

In 2016, 44.7 million tonnes of e-waste was generated globally which is expected to increase to 52.2 million tonnes in 2021. As of 2016, it was found out that India is the second and fifth highest generator (in Asia and globally respectively) of e-waste with 2 million tonnes. The mounting pile of e-waste has become one of the major concerns globally.

Toxics link, an environmental research and advocacy organisation, has released, ‘Time to Reboot-III’, its latest report which says that eight years after the first e-waste rules were notified in India in 2011, the producers are still shying away from fulfilling the responsibility under extended producer responsibility (EPR). The report raises a question that whether the electronic giants, many of them multinationals, are even doing their bit to manage the end of use electronics?

The report assesses and rates 54 major electrical and electronics brands on implementation of EPR. It has grouped companies into four categories based on their initiatives and systems. It reveals that out of 54 companies only seven have been put up in the good category and have initiated measures for implementing efficient take-back systems. 13 brands have been assessed as average while 29 brands have performed below average. Still, five companies have been put up in the poor category as they have performed very poorly on their EPR compliance.

Most of the companies in this category are from the lighting industry.

The findings of the report suggest that most of the companies are probably making attempt to be seen as complying but not making any serious efforts to ensure that e-waste is collected and channelised in a sound way.

Satish Sinha, associate director, Toxics Link, says, “Things have been better since our first report came out in 2014 where performances of top 50 electronic and electrical brands were tested and out of those 17 were poor performers but it is not enough.”

The several criteria on which companies were assessed and rated include take-back policy, restrictions of hazardous substances (RoHS) compliance, e-waste collection target achieved and consumer awareness. The ground collection system and information provided by the company representatives on company’s take-back were also looked at.

Priti Mahesh, chief coordinator, Toxics Link, who has worked closely on the entire study says, “We are really disappointed to see that the companies are still reluctant to set up effective take-back systems. Helplines with no information and so may non-functional collection centres are clear indications that companies are not making any serious effort.”

Ravi Agarwal, director, Toxics Link said, “The need of the hour is to strengthen the regulatory bodies and improve monitoring and enforcement and companies with no take-back system on ground should not be allowed to sell within the country.”

Key findings

54 producers rated in four categories; red, yellow, blue and yellow with red as worst and green as good.
5 out of the 52 producers feature in red category, suggesting minimal or no effort towards e-waste management.
3 producers scored zero in the rating system.
Almost 60 percent of the companies’ helpline numbers had no information on take-back systems.
Only four companies had an operational collection centre or pick up service.
EPR roll out still remains unsatisfactory, especially on ground.

Comments

Other News

An engineering disaster

After passing the 12th board exams in 2014, Vikas Kumar, of Madhepura in Bihar, took a year’s break to prepare for the engineering entrance exam. The hard work paid off and he managed to score high enough to qualify for admission to one of the prestigious National Institutes of Technology (NITs), whe

Why AAP-Congress alliance could be a threat for BJP

The Congress party has unanimously supported Sheila Dikhshit`s decision to reject an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi. With the Congress shutting the prospect of alliance, the national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has slammed the party saying that when the whole nation

Who benefits from India-Pakistan conflict?

The dastardly attack on the personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) of February 14 in Pulwama that killed forty men has already turned a new page in the India-Pakistan ties. The loss of precious human lives caused immense resentment across India against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, for the Jaish-

Mumbai bridge collapse: BMC preliminary report in 24 hrs

The blame game between the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Railways continues after a foot overbridge collapsed near Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus on March 14. Six people have killed and over 31 injured in the mishap. The BMC has been directed to submit its preliminary report with

Priyanka’s ill-advised photo op with Azad reveals Congress diffidence in UP

Here is a picture of the late 1970s: prime minister Indira Gandhi calls on an ailing Sheikh Abdullah at a hospital in Srinagar. He had just been released and had taken over the reins of Jammu and Kashmir after elections. The picture shows Gandhi offering her hand while Sheikh is lying in bed. Yet, the pers

Control rooms set up ahead of elections to report black money use

To curb the use of black money in the coming 2019 General Elections, gather intelligence and keep a strict watch over movement of cash and valuables and other unlawful means of influencing elections in the constituencies of Mumbai, the Director General of Income tax (Investigation) has started a 24x7 toll

Current Issue

Video

Opinion

Twitter

Tweets by @governancenow