'Crystal' launched for recycling E-Waste

Addressing reporters after inking an MoU between an e-waste agency, Umicore of Belgium, E-Parisaraa Pvt Ltd, Bangalore and Chairman KSPCB A S Sadashivaiah said the unorganised sector faces the risk of losing jobs under new rules if it continues to follow "unhealthy and inefficient" recycling practices.

"India will lose out on its strengths of recycling in case the unorganised sector is wiped out. Hence, to have a win-win situation for both the unorganised sector and environment, Crystal is being launched", he said.

In India more than 80 per cent E-waste recycling is done by the unorganised sector. The strength of this sector lies in the extremely efficient network of collection, hand-sorting of e-waste and economically efficient processes of dismantling.
The major concerns and deficiencies in this sector's work was the final recovery of precious metals and disposal of toxic substances during the dismantling and recovery process.
"E-waste not only causes environmental problems but also severe occupational hazards.", Sadashivaiah added.

Under the pact, the three agencies will run the 18-month pilot project "Crystal", as an exercise to collect the precious metal fraction of the e-waste and undertake recovery at Umicore's plant in Belgium.