New Guidelines Enforced for E-Waste Disposal in Himachal Pradesh

Shimla, February 15: The Department of Environment, Science, Technology, and Climate Change announced today that new regulations are now in place to address the growing concerns of electronic waste (e-waste) management in Himachal Pradesh. According to a spokesperson, all government departments, boards, corporations, and commissions in the state will now be required to dispose of e-waste in compliance with Rule-9 of the ‘E-Waste (Management) Rules-2016.’

The new rules mandate that e-waste be delivered exclusively to authorized dismantlers or recyclers through authorized collection centers, manufacturers’ dealers, or take-back service providers designated by the manufacturers. Only e-waste collection centers, manufacturers’ dealers, dismantlers, and recyclers registered with either the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPPCB) or the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will be eligible to participate in the auctioning process of e-waste.

The spokesperson highlighted that previous disposal practices in Himachal Pradesh did not fully adhere to the ‘E-Waste (Management) Rules-2016’ set by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, nor did they align with the guidelines from the HPPCB. This lack of compliance posed environmental and public health risks due to the toxic substances contained in e-waste, which require careful handling.

In light of this, the department emphasized the need for responsible e-waste disposal. Citizens have been urged not to discard their electronic waste in open spaces or mixed with regular garbage. Instead, residents are encouraged to deliver their e-waste directly to certified recycling centers.

To ensure proper adherence to these new guidelines, the department has issued directives to all government agencies to implement the e-waste disposal regulations strictly, in order to mitigate environmental damage and safeguard public health.