Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation launches doorstep e-waste collection facility

BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday launched door-to-door collection of electronic waste (e-waste). Every Saturday it will run the e-waste collection drive.
This is for the first time the drive is being introduced to stop littering and mixing of e-waste with municipal solid waste. This will help in segregation of waste at source. Initially, 10 wards of the BMC will have this facility. "During the awareness drive, the Swachh Sathis will let people know as to when they plan to visit their areas. The dumping of e-waste is voluntary. The bulk of e-waste collected will be taken to the material recovery facility (MRF), which has been opened near the micro-composting centre. The state pollution control board has authorised the e-waste collectors," said additional commissioner Laxmikanta Sethi.
In 2018, the BMC had launched an e-waste-free Bhubaneswar initiative. But now, based on fresh guidelines issued by the housing and urban development department, the e-waste collection and disposal will be carried out.
According to a source, currently disposal of e-waste in the informal sector (by scrap dealers) helps recover only 30% of metals from the waste. "But recycling in a scientific way can fetch about 90% which can be reused for various purposes. If the e-waste is properly recycled, it can reduce the pressure on environment," said a BMC officer.
The E-Waste Management Rules, 2016, has created a momentum and opportunity to strategise long-term solution for e-waste management in the smart city, a source said.