India, one of the two largest markets for mobile phones in the world along with China, faces a mounting problem — how to get rid of the discarded mobiles.
For, by the year 2020, the size of the discarded mobile mound will grow by 18 times from the 2007 level, says a United Nations Environment Programme study.
Health problems
If no proper e-waste recycling mechanism is put in place, these abandoned phones are going to create environmental damage and health problems, the study warns.
The study, ‘Recycling from e-waste to resources,' was released at a combined meeting of the bodies of UN Conventions on hazardous chemical wastes, organized by the UNEP, at Bali on February 22. It warns developing countries, especially fast growing economies like India, China, Brazil and South Africa, that if efforts are not made to recycle the abandoned electronic equipment, they will be in for big environmental trouble.
Apart from mobile phones, old computers, TVs and refrigerators added to the e-waste mountain in these countries.
For instance, computer e-waste in India will have risen by five times in 2020 from the 2007 level. Discarded refrigerators will double or even triple.
The report estimates that India's current e-waste generation is: 2.75 lakh tonnes from TVs, over one lakh tonnes from refrigerators, 56,300 tonnes from personal computers, 1,700 tonnes from mobiles and 4,700 from printers.
Source : http://www.hindu.com/seta/2010/02/25/stories/2010022551041300.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment