Kashi to get e-waste collection centre

摘要

The Varanasi will soon get its first electronic waste (e-waste) collection centre in Pishach Mochan at Lallapura. Presently there is no proper system of segregation or disposal of e-waste in Varanasi. There is no mechanism for segregation, collection or channelizing of e-waste to authorized collection centres or recyclers. Of the total 550 metric tonne of solid waste, about 6% constitutes electronic and electrical waste. There is no proper mechanism for collection of electronic waste in the city, Varanasi Municipal Corporation Tehsildar Avinash Kumar said. It will be opened by Sai Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), in association with a voluntary organisation and support of the Union Ministry of Electronics and IT. The waste from electronic products comprise toxic substances, like cadmium and lead in the circuit boards, lead oxide and cadmium in monitor cathode ray tubes (CRTs), mercury in switches and flat screen monitors, cadmium in computer batteries, polychlorinated biphe-nyls in older capacitors and transformers and brominated flame retardants on printed circuit boards, cables and PVC cable insulation. These products release highly toxic dioxins when burned to retrieve copper from the wires. Many of these substances are toxic and carcinogenic.