Team Herald
PANJIM: Panjim is amongst the 10 cities in the country selected for the electronic-waste collection and scientific disposal project by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
NASSCOM has roped in Communicare Trust in Goa to carry out the 10-day e-waste collection in Panjim along with creating awareness for proper disposal of waste.
While the organisers do not have figures of the estimated e-waste that the city generates, environmental consultant from Communicare, Sushant Figuerido said that currently 90 percent of the e-waste is recycled by the informal sector, which is hazardous as proper disposal is not ensured.
He said, “While mobile phones, laptops and other such accessories find a genuine method of disposal as they have monetary value, the biggest challenge is posed by tube lights and bulbs as they do not have monetary value and also pricey while disposing.”
Responding to a question on the challenges that the organisers foresee, Nalini Elvino De Souza, “When we conducted workshops in schools and we asked students what is e-waste, at first nobody could answer and finally one student did say electronic waste. So creating awareness about the effects of e-waste itself is a big challenge.”
Stating that the government has set up a task committee involving Goa State Pollution Control Board and Corporation of the City of Panaji amongst others, Figuerido said that though government offices have to follow a tedious process of condemnation before disposing off e-waste through a tendering process, a circular has been issued to offices to participate in the special drive.
He said that since the State does not have an e-waste disposal plant or mechanism, the waste will have to exported to other cities or to manufacturers of electronic goods.
The 10-day drive beginning Monday, will have five collection centres which include the three Goa Handicrafts Emporias at KTC, in Mala and opposite Institute Menezes Braganza, CCP Animal Shelter in St Inez and Government Polytechnic at Altinho. Workshops and plays too will be organised for schools, polytechnic and Goa University.
