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City Generates 9000 Tonnes Of E-waste: StudyBy parul118, Section News
A study by Jadavpur University and Toxic Link, an NGO, has revealed that around 9,000 tonnes of ewaste was generated last year from the disposal of television sets, refrigerators and computers in Kolkata. This had led to hazardous disposal and recycling of toxic substances like lead, cadmium and mercury.
If you are taken aback by the figure, then hold on. This is just a conservative estimate. For, the survey did not consider tubelights, cellphones, airconditioners, washing machines and every conceivable electrical and electronic gadget that have come to be a part of our everyday lives. Product durability has dropped and consumer behaviour has changed. Now, people frequently change their cellphones and television sets. "In the next few years, the quantum of ewaste will go up by around 30% each year. Then it will shoot up even further," said Toxic Link senior programme officer Priti Mahesh, who mapped ewaste hotspots at Chandni Chowk, Prinsep Street, Manicktala, Phoolbagan, Kadapara, Rajabazar, Grey Street and Topsia in Kolkata and Bajrang Bali and Ghusuri in Howrah.
"The problem is not the quantity of ewaste, but how we are dealing with the problem. At present, metals are recovered using primitive techniques that are detrimental to health. There are 500 such units located in the city," said Sadhan Ghosh of Centre for Quality Management Systems at Jadavpur University.
The study has found out that there was little awareness among consumers regarding the hazards of improper disposal of ewaste. Scrap dealers employ women and children for manual and rudimentary processes of recovering these materials, segregating parts of discarded electronic gadgets with bare hands and use of harmful methods like acid bath stripping and open burning. "Till now, concerns and institutions have been stacking up old computers and peripherals in store rooms. There's a genuine need for an ewaste legislation and a proper disposal plant before these items enter the junk stream. Producers and manufacturers of electronic and electrical gadgets must also take responsibility and initiatives in managing the ewaste," Ghosh said. Source:The Times Of India,25-09-07
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