“WeP Peripherals is a corporate stakeholder in the requisite e-waste management system in the country, with a strong corporate social responsibility philosophy. WeP Peripherals is committed to practicing sustainable operations, balancing the pursuit of economic growth with environment conservation and its stakeholders’ welfare. Our employees and the management has been driving the citizen’s movement to ensure that we reach out to all and help support the simplistic solution to manage commonly generated e-waste” says Maclean S Raphael, vice president, HR management support, WeP Peripherals Limited in an interaction with Genevieve K of CIOL.

CIOL: What is present quality of e-waste piled up in India? What are the ways to get rid of them?
Maclean S Raphael: Some data on the E-waste scenario:
A recent study reveals that near 3.3 lakh tons of e-waste is generated annually in India, while an additional 0.5 lakh ton is illegally imported into the country. However, only 0.19 lakh tons of this is recycled in the country and due to poor awareness and insufficient recycling infrastructure. Currently e-waste recycling, especially processing, remains concentrated in the informal sector, which due to poor processing technologies and very small capacities, contributes significantly to pollution and environmental degradation. It is estimated that e-waste generated in India will touch 4.7 lakh metric tons by 2011.

Bangalore, which is acclaimed as the IT capital of India is also looked upon as the city where the best practices of e-waste management shall evolve and as the city that will demonstrate for the rest of the country to follow.

While businesses see Bangalore as a technology hub, environmentalists claim India is the world's dumping ground for old computers. And this is threatening the health of some of the country's most vulnerable people.

Safe disposal and recycling methods is key to making this environmentally hazardous industry a commercially viable one with minimum hazards. We need to encourage safe e-waste disposal as a discipline and also hand hold the unorganized sector to evolve with environmentally friendly processes.

CIOL: How many NGOs are presently involved in this campaign to get rid of e-waste? To what extend have they been successful?
M.R: There is a network of NGOs in Bangalore and in cities like Mumbai and Delhi working towards e-waste disposal. WeP Peripherals along with NGO partner Saahas has initiated a pioneer programme towards providing practical solutions towards safe e-waste disposal for households, corporates, schools etc.

This programme has more than 100 set-ups in the city of Bangalore and collects a huge amount of household e-waste like batteries, CDs and floppies through its monthly collection.

There are regular awareness programmes for corporates, households, schools and colleges, which help us to spread the word.

CIOL: These day's its cheaper to buy a new PC than to upgrade the new one? If yes justify?
M.R: It may not always be true that its is costlier to upgrade an old system rather than buying a new one – with higher incomes today people find it more attractive to spend a little more and upgrade to new systems easier. It’s the hassle of trying to revamp an old system and no consideration to the growing e-waste dumping that makes us indiscriminate in throwing the old one and buying the latest.

CIOL: What are the harmful effects to the environment?
M.R: Heavy metals (lead, zinc, mercury, chromium etc) accumulate in the body due to various forms of exposure - and their concentrations keep increasing. These heavy metals do not leave the body through the normal excretion systems. As the concentrations increase various health effects are noticed, Lead affects the nervous system and intelligence. They effect children the most – sad to note that most of the unorganized scrap dealers employ child labour indiscriminately.

Even very low quantities of heavy metals contaminate the land or water body extensively, even half a teaspoon of mercury is hazardous for an entire lake – can effect aquatic life.

CIOL: E-waste, often ends up in landfills or incinerators instead of being recycled. What precautions are being taken to reduce emissions and exposure to workers and the environment?
M.R: The precautions lie in the safe mechanism of disposal which needs to be implemented in the scrap dealer yards. E-Parisara in Bangalore is a great example of a safe disposal yard.

CIOL: Are the local computer manufacturers also joining in to install only components that could be recycled?
M.R: There are some manufacturers trying to utilize less harmful material at the manufacturing stage to curb hazards. WeP was the first IT peripherals company to initiate e-waste recycling commercially. WeP’s GREEN range of products is available throughout the country where refurbished printer parts are sold to customers. WeP is also implementing RoHS – a European standard to reduce harmful substance in e- equipment at manufacturing stage. This is a proactive measure as such a regulation does not exist in India yet.

CIOL: Are cell phones that are collected for reuse or recycling going to be managed in the safe way? Which wireless devices can be recycled or reused?
M.R: All such material should be sent to authorized recyclers for safe disposal.

CIOL: How are the big corporate industries adapting to this threat?
M.R: Corporates need to gear up to reducing e-waste and sending all e- Scarp to authorized dealers only. Awareness campaigns are also an imperative to educate employees on the issue. Safe disposal set ups need to be implemented across the country.

Companies also need to start recycling e-waste internally and look at RoHS certifications at the manufacturing level.

CIOL: Has the western world found ways to recycle wires and other harmful materials that could not be recycled earlier?  What is the role of EPA(Environmental Protection Agency)?
M.R: EPA is facilitation agency for issues like WEEE. Western countries have a limited concept of recycling due to high labour costs. India fares much better towards recycling of waste.

CIOL: What products can be made from these recycled materials?
M.R: Refurbished parts, Recycled Lead solder, floor and wall paper with plastic recovered, electroplating of material through gold and other materials recovered, reuse of recovered copper etc are just some of the basic uses.

CIOL: What is the Plug-In To eCycling Program? 
M.R: You could contact our WeP Saahas partnership to set up a collection centre at your place – in office, school or residential area. Authorized recyclers could also be contacted for corporate dumps.

CIOL:  What is the role of WeP Peripheral in ewaste management and how eco friendly are your products?
M.R: WeP was the first IT peripherals company to initiate e-waste recycling commercially. WeP’s GREEN range of products is available throughout the country where refurbished printer parts are sold to customers. Wep is also implementing RoHS – a European standard to reduce harmful substance in e- equipment at manufacturing stage. This is a proactive measure as such a regulation does not exist in India yet.

WeP has tie ups to dispose its e-waste to authorized recyclers through out the country.

As a corporate social responsibility initiative WeP Peripherals along with NGO partner Saahas has initiated a pioneer programme towards providing practical solutions towards safe e-waste disposal for households, corporates, schools etc.

This programme has more than 100 set ups in the city of Bangalore and collects a huge amount of household e-waste like batteries, CDs and floppies through its monthly collection.

There are regular awareness programmes for corporates, households, schools and colleges which help us to spread the word.

There are regular awareness programmes for corporates, households, schools and colleges which help us to spread the word.