No e-waste, vows MMRDA.........Ashwin Aghor

After municipal solid waste, electronic waste stands as the biggest worry for the civic administration in near future. With advancement in technology, electronic gadgets become obsolete very fast, thereby adding to the e-waste.

The environment protection society of MMRDA has initiated a process to establish coordination among various government agencies like BMC, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and some private parties for effective management of e-waste generated in the metropolitan region. The process to tackle the problem has already begun and will soon be finalised.

"The waste from electrical and electronic equipment was envisaged in the usual waste streams since the use of electronic and electrical appliances for household and commercial purposes registered a steep rise in the 20th century,? said MR Shah, principal adviser, Solid Waste Management cell of MMRDA.

According to Shah, not being actively involved in solid waste management of the region MMRDA will play a nodal role to establish desired coordination among government agencies and private parties for e-waste management in the region.

"MMRDA will help in scientific development of landfill sites and assist in terms of providing land for dumping and scientific disposal of e-waste generated in the region," said Shah.
According to a study conducted by MPCB, the e-waste inventory based on the obsolescence rate in India for 2005 was estimated at a whopping 1,46,180 tonnes and it is expected to increase to 8,00,000 tonnes by 2012.

MMRDA has already started the process and after a few meetings with government officials concerned, the concept of joint management of e-waste has been approved. The modality of implementation of the e-waste management project will be finalised soon, Shah said.

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