BBMP to start e-waste collection centres soon

BANGALORE: If everything goes according to plans, next time when ‘pourakarmikas’ come to collect garbage from your house, they will have to ask you to dump e-waste in a separate dust bin.The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to start e-waste collection centres in Bangalore very soon.Every year, an estimated 12,000 metric tonnes of ewaste are collected in the city.The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has authorised 15 companies to collect e-waste, which is expected to reach 34 companies by next year, sources in KSPCB told The New Indian Express.A number of IT companies, banks and colleges give e-waste to these companies.They have also authorised Sahas, an NGO which collects e-waste from door to door at Koramangala, to collect the e-waste.KSPCB will implement a new set of rules for e-waste management from 2012.“According to these rules, the city corporation will start ewaste collection centres,” the officials said.A senior official from BBMP said that if electronic goods like computer, TV, refrigerator and other e-waste are ready to be disposed, one should contact BBMP which in turn will dispose the ewaste.“BBMP is going to start e-waste collection centres shortly,” the official said.However, some officials are skeptical about this.“Though people have old computers and other electronic goods which is as good as waste, they would rather keep it in their house than dumping,” they said.As much as 12,000 metric tonnes of e-waste are being collected every year, but there is more waste than this.People should come out of this mentality to preserve worn out e-goods and do away with them, they felt HEALTH HAZARDS ■ Circuit boards and batteries contain cadmium which causes various types of cancer.■ Improper disposal of e-waste will affect the quality of ground water.■ Lead is also found in the Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) of computer and television monitors which causes damage to the nervous system.■ Old models of televisions and computer monitors contain at least 5 pounds of a poisonous metal - lead.