Indore: Ignorant of norms, only 10% file e-waste disposal returns

INDORE: Pollution Control Board has been receiving just 30 to 40 ‘Form 3’ from bulk users and manufacturers containing details on e-waste as against expected over 300 in a year. Indore generates over 5,000 tonne e-waste per year and according to E-Waste Management Rules- 2016, regional PCB should get detail on e-waste in form of ‘Annual Return in Form 3’ from every stakeholder from manufacturer to bulk users.
The PCB data stated that in financial year 2017/18, 35 Form 3 were received as against 30 a year ago. The board said, 250 tonne e-waste was disposed of last year at an authorised disposal centre in Indore.
Since 2016, there is no increase in number of Form 3 and it’s stagnant between 30 to 40. Annual returns in Form 3 for 2018/19 will come after March 2019, said the board.
PCB’s regional (Indore) officer R K Gupta said, “People are not aware about e-waste norms and due to which negligible annual return comes to us. Forms should be more and we expect that with awareness programmes we should receive more forms.”
Form 3 is a detailed format wherein a user has to furnish total quantity of e-waste collected or channelized to recyclers or dismantlers for processing during the year among other details.
E-Waste Management Rules- 2016 is applicable on bulk users, manufacturers, producers, dealers, retailers, refurnishers, recyclers and dismantlers of electronics and electrical equipment.
A PCB official said, “We are hoping to get about 10 to 15 more Form 3 this year but again a major increase is not anticipated because people are clueless about e-waste disposal and norms.”
Dr Fazal Hussain, an authorized e-waste recycler in Indore said, “The trend is very slow. In my opinion over 300 annual returns should come from Indore but a lot of people are violating the norms due to negligence and lack of knowledge.”