Public-private partnership framework to deal with Ggn e-waste menace

Gurugram: The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has formed a framework to deal with the E-waste challenge in the city.

Under this framework, the MCG has hired a private agency for collecting and recycling e-waste from residential and commercial complexes across the city on a pilot basis, officials.

It is the first time that the civic body has taken any action regarding e-waste in the city, the MCG officials said.

Items such as laptops, computers, microwaves, tube lights, bulbs, batteries, mobile phone and laptop chargers, television set-top boxes, modems, and doorbells are classified as e-waste.

Currently, there is no data on e-waste or process in place for segregating it, which consequently ends up at the Bandhwari landfill which is already being plagued with the problem of rising mounds of garbage.

As per MCG officials, Deswal Waste Management, an agency certified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for e-waste management.

As a part of this initiative, the private firm also created 100 collection points by placing E-waste collection bins across the city to facilitate responsible dumping of E-Waste.

These bins were placed at various locations which can be accessed easily by the public.

The MCG officials said that so far they have set up e-waste management system in 17 localities across the city, including localities such as Cedar Estate, IVY Apartments, H block in DLF Phase 1, Hibiscus Apartments, Harmony Homes, Malibu Towne, Grand Arch condominium, and KPMG's India office in DLF Phase 2.

They further said that in these areas residents and corporate employees have been sensitised about the items that classify under the e-waste category, based on which they dump waste in black colour coded bins.

According to officials from Deswal Waste Management (DWM), the company has waste segregation and management point in

Manesar.

"Once the weight of e-waste exceeds 20 kg, officials from the residential or commercial complexes inform us and then we transport the waste to our management facility in Manesar where it is processed and subsequently recycled," said Rakesh Kumar, vice-president of DWM.