Hyderabad: GHMC areas projected to produce 1L tonnes of e-waste; MA&UD intensifies enforcement drive
The rapid increase in the use of electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, and household appliances has led to a corresponding surge in e-waste generation
By - Newsmeter Network
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Hyderabad: Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department has intensified enforcement of e-waste management norms across Telangana.
The move assumes significance as electronic waste poses a serious threat to public health and the environment.
All Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) have been directed to ensure segregation of e-waste at source and its safe transfer to authorised recycling centres.
Growing use, mounting waste
The rapid increase in the use of electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, and household appliances has led to a corresponding surge in e-waste generation.
Discarded electronic equipment contains hazardous substances like lead, cadmium, and mercury, which pose severe risks to soil, water bodies, and air if disposed of improperly.
Officials warned that heat-triggered chemical reactions during unscientific disposal can further aggravate environmental damage, making e-waste one of the fastest-growing pollution challenges globally.
One lakh tonnes annually in GHMC limits
Projections indicate that e-waste generation within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits alone could reach nearly one lakh tonnes annually in the coming years. The problem is also spreading to semi-urban and rural areas, underlining the need for a State-wide, structured response.
CDMA issues instructions to Municipalities
Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration (CDMA), T.K. Sridevi, has issued detailed instructions to all ULBs in the State, excluding GHMC, outlining the procedures to be followed for e-waste collection, segregation, and disposal.
Municipal commissioners have been asked to ensure that electronic waste is separated from regular household garbage during door-to-door collection and transported only to authorised recycling facilities.
Central rules in force since 2022
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change notified comprehensive E-Waste Management Rules in 2022, mandating scientific collection and recycling of electronic waste to minimise health and environmental risks.
The Telangana State Pollution Control Board has urged the State government to strictly implement these rules, prompting the MA&UD Department to step up monitoring and compliance at the municipal level.
Training for sanitation workers
As part of the enforcement drive, sanitation workers will be trained to identify and safely handle e-waste during garbage collection. Dedicated arrangements are also being made for its transport to recycling units.
At present, 24 authorised e-waste recycling centres are operational in Telangana, most of them located in and around Hyderabad.
Focus on Public Health, Environmental Safety
Officials said effective e-waste management is critical to preventing long-term ecological damage and safeguarding public health, stressing that compliance by local bodies would be closely monitored.
