e-waste Guidelines: Types of e-waste

Harmful Effects

Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, a toxic substance. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide safety guidelines for how to clear up a broken fluorescent bulb. Mercury can be harmful to children and developing fetuses, so children and pregnant women should avoid being in the area whilst a broken bulb is cleared up.^[28]

Bulbs which have reached the end of their life should not be disposed of in normal trash, as this may release the mercury into the environment if the bulb is damaged. Several countries have specialised recycling or disposal systems for fluorescent bulbs

Government rules

Refer to http://www.moef.nic.in/downloads/rules-and-regulations/1035e_eng.pdf

Storage

As per Chapter IV of E-waste management and handling rules 2011

Every Producer, collection center, dismantler, and recycler may store the e-waste for a period not exceeding one hundred and eighty days (6 months) and shall maintain a record of the collection, sale, transfer, storage and seggegration of wastes and make these records available for inspection.

ELCITA ADDITIONALLY recommends THE FOLLOWING

• An area must be designated as the storage area. This area must be:
• In a secure area; the loading dock is not permissible unless in a gated area.
• An area out of the weather, so that the cardboard containers do not become wet.
• Used light tubes must be kept in a container. This can be the original box that the lights came in or in boxes for storage.
• Used Lamps must be stored in a manner that maintains the integrity of the lamps and storage containers, prevents the leakage or release of waste from the containers, and provides protection from water, rain and wind.

Disposal procedure

As per Chapter II of E-waste management and handling rules 2011

For Producers / Manufacturing Units

Refer to Page 12 of the ELCITA Member Kit for E-waste handling and disposal

For Consumers or Bulk Consumers:

a)                  Consumer or Bulk Consumers of electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule 1 of the Rules shall ensure that e-waste generated by them is channelized to the authorized collection center(s) or registered dismantlers(s) or recycler(s) or is returned to the pick-up or take back services provided by the producers.

b)                  Bulk Consumer shall maintain records of e-waste generated by them in Form 2 which is the “Form for maintaining records of e-waste handled / generated” and make such records available for scrutiny by the State Pollution Control or Pollution Control Committee.

For more information about any of the issues contained in this section, please contact Subha Niranjan:

Email: admin@elcita.in

Telephone: 080-4660 2222