Environment secretary Valsa Nair, who is also the chairperson of the MPCB, has already issued a notice to this effect.
“It is high time that e-waste management is taken up on a priority basis. Though technical guidelines have been given by the Central Pollution Control Board, there is none on the e-waste management and recycling process. The guidelines will help better management,” she said.
With the two cities projected to generate nearly 60,000 tonnes of e-waste by 2015, the guidelines are aimed to give a framework for proper disposal and management, she said. The MPCB has engaged a consultant to carry out a techno-feasibility study and ready a report within three months. Member secretary MPCB, Sanjay Khandare said the guidelines will focus on collection, dismantling, physical segregation and recovery process. At present, there is only one small facility for this process functioning at Andheri.
With the present system involving no proper direction in dismantling and recovery, Khandare said the guidelines will ensure recovery of precious metals as well as prevent hazardous impact — both on environment and people.
Khandare said the guidelines will also mention the land required for such a facility and the kind of units that needs to be set up for treating the e-waste in a safe manner.
At present, with both the municipal bodies carrying out the management with private independent parties, there is big risk to the environment involved and it may not help in the recovery process. “The guidelines will give a detailed process and channelising of this e-waste,” he added.