E-waste management

Indiscriminate and unplanned dumping of e-waste is having a terrible impact on the country’s ecology, human health, aquatic lives, and flora and fauna, since there are no specific rules and regulations in the country to deal with them.

The fact should have been noted a lot earlier with the booming of the local electronic and IT industry. In fact, poor planning or unplanned and unregulated growths of many industries have wreaked unimaginable havoc – until the Department of Environment (DoE) was forced to introduce and enact rules to deal with huge waste deposits.   

Around 70-80 per cent e-waste are generated by products manufactured by various local companies

According to the DoE, around 70-80 per cent e-waste are generated by products manufactured by various local companies. The DoE has prepared  draft rules keeping a provision for the “Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)” policy under which producers are given a significant responsibility—financial or physical—for the treatment or disposal of electronic items.

Every year, around 296,302 TV sets are scrapped and generate about 0.17 million tonnes of e-waste in Bangladesh. Besides, every year more than 15 per cent of child workers die due to e-waste recycling, while more than 83 per cent become sick and are forced to live with long-term illnesses. On the whole, some 10 million tonnes of e-waste was generated in FY2013-2014 alone.

The DoE is reported to have sent a draft, titled “E-waste management rules-2017” to the environment and forest ministry three months ago. This rule will be implemented under the DoE’s existing laws and those flouting the rules will face two years’ jail term or both jail and fine. However, the DoE will be able to finalise the rules by November after consultation with different stakeholders. The 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) method will be followed to manage e-waste in the country. Additionally, the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) will conduct a study to quantify how much e-waste is generated across the country.

The point, however, is, be it waste management or traffic management, the problem in Bangladesh is never with the laws – but the implementation of the laws. With the new year not too far away, we may become equipped with a new set of legal code for managing e-waste but if it’s not implemented under close monitoring throughout the country – it will be of little use.

With the introduction of the new laws we call for the manufacturing companies also to be a part in the implementation programme. They should not only be held responsible for the 3Rs and proper dumping, but carry out countrywide campaigns for spreading the message along with the DoE.

 

E-waste management

Indiscriminate and unplanned dumping of e-waste is having a terrible impact on the countrys ecology, human health, aquatic lives, and flora and fauna, since there are no specific rules and regulations in the country to deal with them. The fact should have been noted a lot earlier with the booming of the local electronic and IT industry. In fact, poor planning or unplanned and unregulated growths of many industries have wreaked unimaginable havoc until the Department of Environment (DoE) was forced to introduce and enact rules to deal with huge waste deposits. Around 70-80 per cent e-waste are generated by products manufactured by various local companies According to the DoE, around 70-80 per cent e-waste are generated by products manufactured by various local companies. The DoE has prepared draft rules keeping a provision for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy under which producers are given a significant responsibilityfinancial or physicalfor the treatment or disposal of electronic items. Every year, around 296,302 TV sets are scrapped and generate about 0.17 million tonnes of e-waste in Bangladesh. Besides, every year more than 15 per cent of child workers die due to e-waste recycling, while more than 83 per cent become sick and are forced to live with long-term illnesses. On the whole, some 10 million tonnes of e-waste was generated in FY2013-2014 alone. The DoE is reported to have sent a draft, titled E-waste management rules-2017 to the environment and forest ministry three months ago. This rule will be implemented under the DoEs existing laws and those flouting the rules will face two years jail term or both jail and fine. However, the DoE will be able to finalise the rules by November after consultation with different stakeholders. The 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) method will be followed to manage e-waste in the country. Additionally, the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) will conduct a study to quantify how much e-waste is generated across the country. The point, however, is, be it waste management or traffic management, the problem in Bangladesh is never with the laws but the implementation of the laws. With the new year not too far away, we may become equipped with a new set of legal code for managing e-waste but if its not implemented under close monitoring throughout the country it will be of little use. With the introduction of the new laws we call for the manufacturing companies also to be a part in the implementation programme. They should not only be held responsible for the 3Rs and proper dumping, but carry out countrywide campaigns for spreading the message along with the DoE.