<p>The success registered in managing e-waste at educational institutions, apartments and private offices has now goaded an NGO associated with this programme to spread its reach.<br /><br />Saahas, the Jayanagar-based NGO involved in this pioneering effort, plans to hold campaigns in government offices within two weeks to create awareness about e-waste and the need to dispose it safely, said Padma Shastri, Co-ordinator of its e-waste programme. Old and end-of-life mobiles, CDs, VCDs and other computer parts are found dumped in the e-waste bins they have installed in residences and offices presently. These bins will come up at government offices, including the BBMP and KSRTC, in the near future.<br /><br />According to Wilma Rodrigues, the NGO's Founder-Member, 34 schools, 28 apartments and 56 offices in the City are provided with e-bins presently. “The e-waste is collected from apartments once a week or fortnight while in the case of offices it is done twice or thrice a week due to the huge volumes generated,” she said.<br /><br />The organisation had worked closely with the Hazardous Waste Management Programme (HAWA), Karnataka, for two years on issues related to e-waste flow, recycling and final disposal. A study done by Saahas some years ago revealed that Bangalore generated around 8,000 tonnes of e-waste annually. IT companies had emerged as the single largest contributor for e-waste since 30 percent of their products are rendered obsolete each year.<br /><br />With the ever-increasing and changing technological developments, the waste generated is only bound to shoot up sharply with each year.<br /><br />Kanwarpal, Principal Secretary, Department of Forests, Environment and Ecology, had also addressed the issue recently. He said the State government was serious about safe management of e-waste and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board was planning to hold talks with the BBMP on installation of e-bins in the City.</p>
<p>The success registered in managing e-waste at educational institutions, apartments and private offices has now goaded an NGO associated with this programme to spread its reach.<br /><br />Saahas, the Jayanagar-based NGO involved in this pioneering effort, plans to hold campaigns in government offices within two weeks to create awareness about e-waste and the need to dispose it safely, said Padma Shastri, Co-ordinator of its e-waste programme. Old and end-of-life mobiles, CDs, VCDs and other computer parts are found dumped in the e-waste bins they have installed in residences and offices presently. These bins will come up at government offices, including the BBMP and KSRTC, in the near future.<br /><br />According to Wilma Rodrigues, the NGO's Founder-Member, 34 schools, 28 apartments and 56 offices in the City are provided with e-bins presently. “The e-waste is collected from apartments once a week or fortnight while in the case of offices it is done twice or thrice a week due to the huge volumes generated,” she said.<br /><br />The organisation had worked closely with the Hazardous Waste Management Programme (HAWA), Karnataka, for two years on issues related to e-waste flow, recycling and final disposal. A study done by Saahas some years ago revealed that Bangalore generated around 8,000 tonnes of e-waste annually. IT companies had emerged as the single largest contributor for e-waste since 30 percent of their products are rendered obsolete each year.<br /><br />With the ever-increasing and changing technological developments, the waste generated is only bound to shoot up sharply with each year.<br /><br />Kanwarpal, Principal Secretary, Department of Forests, Environment and Ecology, had also addressed the issue recently. He said the State government was serious about safe management of e-waste and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board was planning to hold talks with the BBMP on installation of e-bins in the City.</p>
