JU team wages war to store, manage e-waste

The Indian Express , Monday, March 12, 2007
Correspondent : Debarati Chakraborty
Kolkata, March 11: With electronic waste, or e-waste, growing at an alarming rate, a Jadavpur University team is conducting a survey to take stock of the nature and amount of such waste to find a solution.

The university’s Centre for Quality Management System (CQMS) is conducting the survey along with a Delhi-based NGO called Toxics Link.

“The survey is the first of its kind in Kolkata,” Sadhan K Ghosh, founder and president of CQMS, said. “We will visit various industrial sites, ports, railway yards, banks, educational institutions, hospitals and recycling spots in the city to estimate the total amount of e-waste generated in Kolkata.”

Ghosh said parts of mobile phones and computers are non-biodegradable and have the potential to engender environmental disaster. “Cadmium batteries, made of lead, thermo plastics and other components pollute soil and ground water.”

According to him, the government is yet to make a law regarding storing, discarding and recycling of electronic waste. “People who are at present recycling e-waste are actually adding to air pollution,” he said. “They gain very little recycled metal in return.”

Ghosh said the survey, on for the past four months, would get over within a month, after which CQMS would be in a position to provide solutions. “The government should immediately introduce an act with directives regarding handling and recycling of e-waste without causing pollution. A network catering to e-waste collection and management needs to be developed alongside.”

He said small entrepreneurs should be imparted training on ways to use old parts like chips, metallic parts and computer cabinets. “Another major problem that needs to be addressed immediately is the influx of outdated electronic gadget from developed countries.”

Diptarup Kahali, assistant professor at All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, said the “real problem” would begin when the middle class starts dumping old computers, cellphones and other gadgetry. “We need a general disposal site to avoid e-waste accumulation. We plan to begin an e-waste management programme in Sector 5 soon.”

Expressing concern at the growing problem, mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said, “We will introduce e-waste management system in the city soon.”

 
SOURCE : The Indian Express, Monday, March 12, 2007
 


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