– particularly because of growth in the ICT branch.
The export of software and its enabled services grew
from US$ 12.9 billion in 2003-04 to US$ 31.3 billion
in 2006-07. India’s share of global sourcing between
2001 and 2006 climbed from 62% to 65% for IT, and
from 39% to 45% for business process outsourcing.
Despite the extensive increase in ICT, professional
treatment of e-waste is said to have a long road
ahead. Owing to the substantial profits available,
many recyclers have set up small-scale units: India
is home to some 270 large and medium-sized scrap
dealers but more than 2000 small recycling opera-
tions have grown up around e-waste.
According to Dr Sandip Chatterjee, Director at
India’s Ministry of Telecommunications, there are
just a few worldwide recyclers in the organised sec-
tor – among them Trishiraya Recycling of Chennai
which became part of the Sims Group in late 2007,
TES-AMM Recycling, also of Chennai, and Cimelia
Resources of Hyderabad.
Although imports of e-waste are banned by the
Supreme Court of India and also contravene the
Basel Convention, large quantities of discarded
hardware equipment are arriving in India for disas-
sembly and disposal through non-official channels.
A recent study has estimated that some 50 000 to
70 000 tonnes of e-waste is imported annually into
India. ‘The key concerns of the e-waste crisis in India
are not just the steady rise of domestic inventory,’
warns Dr Chatterjee, ‘but also large accumulation
of imported waste materials; and, more importantly,
these volumes of materials are being recycled in the
unorganised sector in non-scientific ways.’
According to Dr Chatterjee, a holistic approach is
needed to address India’s e-waste management chal-
lenge. ‘You cannot only stress environmental aware-
ness among consumers, producers, institutions, pol-
icy-makers and legislators; you should also provide
alternative solutions to address the socio-economic
issues involved with e-waste management.’
A possible approach for units
within the unorganised sector
could be to concentrate on collec-
tion, dismantling and segregation
while metal extraction, recycling
and disposal would be the respon-
sibility of the organised sector. Dr
Chatterjee observed: ‘This would
create a win-win situation for the
recyclers.’
advertisement
Conference
proceedings for sale
The complete proceedings of
the 7th International
Electronics Recycling
Congress can be purchased
from congress organiser
ICM for Euro 350/US$ 480,
including economy postage
& packing.
For more information or to
purchase the proceedings,
visit: www.icm.ch
E L E C T R O N I C S R E C Y C L I N G
A highly feminine Austrian ‘rock’n roll’ band added lustre to the networking
dinner.
RI_008 Review IERC:Opmaak 1 28-02-2008 15:49 Pagina 35
