Indian Tech Industry Pushes for E-waste Laws

E-waste dumping abroad continues to be a significant issue that nations are working to address. Along with Greenpeace, India’s IT industry is urging for change in the country’s environmental laws to solve the problem of improperly managed of electronic waste.

While some IT companies in India employ eco-friendly policies, the industry as a whole is pushing for nationwide legislation. Photo: AvWijk, Wikimedia

While current laws regulate hazardous materials, they are focused more on industrial waste, rather than waste generated by electronics such as computers, according to PC World.

Greenpeace and the IT industry are now pushing for legislation called “E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2008″ under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986. The proposal calls for producer responsibility throughout a product’s life cycle.

The issue is one that involves the U.S. as well. For example, the Electronics TakeBack Coalition estimates that the U.S. exports enough e-waste each year to fill 5,126 shipping containers which, when stacked, would reach eight miles high.

While a proposed U.S. bill could prohibit exports of certain types of electronics materials meant for recycling, some organizations have criticized this bill, saying it’s filled with “loopholes.”

In the meantime, some companies are taking e-waste matters into their own hands with company policies monitoring proper disposal. Recent highlights include PC manufacturers Dell, HP, Lenovo and Gateway, along with cell phone companies Samsung and Nokia.