Important Facts For Prelims
India’s First e-Waste Clinic
- 05 Oct 2019
- 3 min read
India’s first e-waste clinic for segregating, processing and disposal of waste from household and commercial units will soon be set-up in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) for its establishment.
- The clinic is a three-month pilot project. If it would be a success, then the same would be replicated throughout the country.
- Electronic waste will either be collected door-to-door or could be deposited directly at the clinic by individuals.
- The CPCB will provide technical support at the unit and the collected hazardous waste will then be sent to Bengaluru for recycling.
- This would ensure scientific handling and disposal of electronic waste generated from households and commercial establishments.
- The clinic is being conceived in compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. These rules also focus on segregation of waste at source and charge user fees for collection, disposal, and processing from the bulk generator.
- In the absence of a safe disposal mechanism, currently, the electronic waste which includes defunct and useless electrical or electronic devices is being discarded along with other household waste. Therefore, there was a dire need for such a clinic that could efficiently and safely segregate and dispose off the hazardous waste.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
- It is a statutory organization that was constituted in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
- CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
- Principal functions of the CPCB are:
- to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States through prevention, control, and abatement of water pollution, and
- to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country.
- It also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests regarding the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
