‘West Delhiites are more aware of e-waste hazards than south’
22 March 2013 6:28 AM IST
The students of Bhaskaracharya College of Delhi university conducted a survey on e-waste management. Over 1,000 people from four localities in New Delhi were surveyed.
The survey aimed at identifying and discussing the major challenges associated with management of e-waste among the various stakeholders from different strata of the society and work culture for accountability, traceability, and transparency of e-waste related information systems.
The initial findings of the project show interesting results. Maximum percentage of people who were aware of the environmental hazards of e-waste was from west Delhi and least number aware of this environmental problem was from south Delhi.
Gender based analysis showed the e-waste awareness level of men is 70 per cent and women just 30 per cent. Among various age groups, it was observed that although 50 per cent of surveyed subjects, up to 25 years, were aware of environmental hazards of e-waste and only 12.44 per cent above the age of 50 were sensitive to it.
The project also aimed at surveying the consumption pattern of mobile phones in Delhi. The students carried out a structured survey to study the consumption, mindset and awareness of Delhiites about the e-waste generated from mobile phones.
The project also found the concentration of some of the heavy metals in the printed circuit board (PCB) of branded as well as local make mobiles. This study has an important environmental aspect since undue presence of such metals due to improper disposal of e-waste tends to bio-accumulate in the food chain through soil and their carcinogenic properties can be harmful to us.
Bhaskaracharya college also believes in sensitising the students and faculty to dispose their electronic waste properly. An e-waste bin has also been installed within the college premises for the same.
The survey is being organised in joint collaboration with GIZ-IGEP (Indo-German Environment Partnership); who are actively involved in assisting the government in managing urban and industrial development to achieve resource efficiency and sustainable development.
The principal investigators of the project, professors Manoj Khanna, Geeta Bhatt and Balaram Pani, observed that the race of technological advancements has made the average life of electronic gadgets shorter, resulting in accumulation of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
The survey aimed at identifying and discussing the major challenges associated with management of e-waste among the various stakeholders from different strata of the society and work culture for accountability, traceability, and transparency of e-waste related information systems.
The initial findings of the project show interesting results. Maximum percentage of people who were aware of the environmental hazards of e-waste was from west Delhi and least number aware of this environmental problem was from south Delhi.
Gender based analysis showed the e-waste awareness level of men is 70 per cent and women just 30 per cent. Among various age groups, it was observed that although 50 per cent of surveyed subjects, up to 25 years, were aware of environmental hazards of e-waste and only 12.44 per cent above the age of 50 were sensitive to it.
The project also aimed at surveying the consumption pattern of mobile phones in Delhi. The students carried out a structured survey to study the consumption, mindset and awareness of Delhiites about the e-waste generated from mobile phones.
The project also found the concentration of some of the heavy metals in the printed circuit board (PCB) of branded as well as local make mobiles. This study has an important environmental aspect since undue presence of such metals due to improper disposal of e-waste tends to bio-accumulate in the food chain through soil and their carcinogenic properties can be harmful to us.
Bhaskaracharya college also believes in sensitising the students and faculty to dispose their electronic waste properly. An e-waste bin has also been installed within the college premises for the same.
The survey is being organised in joint collaboration with GIZ-IGEP (Indo-German Environment Partnership); who are actively involved in assisting the government in managing urban and industrial development to achieve resource efficiency and sustainable development.
The principal investigators of the project, professors Manoj Khanna, Geeta Bhatt and Balaram Pani, observed that the race of technological advancements has made the average life of electronic gadgets shorter, resulting in accumulation of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
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