318
obsolescence rate was high for institutional usage, and for household use, the families with low income attributed frequent change of goods as they tend to buy cheaper
goods. The upper-income group was seen to be discarding goods before the longevity came to an end as they opted for an upgraded version (Table 18.4).
In Kolkata, like the rest of the developing world, most of the operations related
to E-waste are performed manually and informally, and there is lack of awareness
too. For this there are open burning of plastic waste, exposure to toxic solders,
leaching of acids and widespread general dumping which in turn cause serious environmental problems. When the question of disposing gadgets was raised, most were
concerned about the price, and least were concerned with the environment. The only
silver lining was that many opted for lucrative exchange offer which in turn ensured
a systematic disposal of the goods indirectly at least (Fig. 18.4).
This backyard recycling and handling E-waste is mostly illegal and processes are
highly polluting. Occupational safety and environmental protection are not prioritized. Instead of proper recycling, they are engaged in rustic dismantling and are
interested in sale of dismantled parts and valuable metallic resources. It was estimated that around 1400 stakeholders are involved in the KMA’s E-waste recycling
industry (IMRB 2010).
In India, Moradabad of UP and Seelampur in north-east Delhi are the most prominent informal E-waste recycling hubs. In the case of Kolkata, the industry is spread
across the city. From the primary survey, interesting facets were divulged about the
area-wise adeptness in e-waste handling in the city: Chandni Market (handles the
largest volume and specializes mainly in reusing of parts of computers and peripherals, mobiles), Princep Street (television), Hazra Crossing-Richie Road (refrigerators and air conditioners), Khidderpore-Metiaburuz area (secondhand mobile hub),
Girish Park, Raja Bazar (aluminium extraction), Topsia-Tiljala Belt (plastic shredding) and Kankurgachi-Kadapara-Phool Bagan belt (copper extraction and smelting
of lead battery).
The household residents were open about their electronic and electrical gadget
usage and disposal, but the institutional users like IT sector, hospitality sector and
educational institutions mostly avoided the question of scrap disposal and were
guarded about the informal recycling. Scrap dealers from unorganized backyard
workshop were quite frank, and few even confided that they also handled E-waste
from neighbouring states and also from Khidderpore dock area, hinting transboundary import of E-waste (Map 18.1).
Table 18.4 Observed general obsolescence rate of E-goods
Items for household
consumption
Discard/replace
rate
Items for household
consumption
Discard/replace
rate
Desktops
5–7 years
Mobile handsets
1–2 years
Laptops
2–4 years
Televisions
8–10 years
Printers
3–4 years
Refrigerators
10–12 years
(Primary Survey, 2018)
A. Basu
obsolescence rate was high for institutional usage, and for household use, the families with low income attributed frequent change of goods as they tend to buy cheaper
goods. The upper-income group was seen to be discarding goods before the longevity came to an end as they opted for an upgraded version (Table 18.4).
In Kolkata, like the rest of the developing world, most of the operations related
to E-waste are performed manually and informally, and there is lack of awareness
too. For this there are open burning of plastic waste, exposure to toxic solders,
leaching of acids and widespread general dumping which in turn cause serious environmental problems. When the question of disposing gadgets was raised, most were
concerned about the price, and least were concerned with the environment. The only
silver lining was that many opted for lucrative exchange offer which in turn ensured
a systematic disposal of the goods indirectly at least (Fig. 18.4).
This backyard recycling and handling E-waste is mostly illegal and processes are
highly polluting. Occupational safety and environmental protection are not prioritized. Instead of proper recycling, they are engaged in rustic dismantling and are
interested in sale of dismantled parts and valuable metallic resources. It was estimated that around 1400 stakeholders are involved in the KMA’s E-waste recycling
industry (IMRB 2010).
In India, Moradabad of UP and Seelampur in north-east Delhi are the most prominent informal E-waste recycling hubs. In the case of Kolkata, the industry is spread
across the city. From the primary survey, interesting facets were divulged about the
area-wise adeptness in e-waste handling in the city: Chandni Market (handles the
largest volume and specializes mainly in reusing of parts of computers and peripherals, mobiles), Princep Street (television), Hazra Crossing-Richie Road (refrigerators and air conditioners), Khidderpore-Metiaburuz area (secondhand mobile hub),
Girish Park, Raja Bazar (aluminium extraction), Topsia-Tiljala Belt (plastic shredding) and Kankurgachi-Kadapara-Phool Bagan belt (copper extraction and smelting
of lead battery).
The household residents were open about their electronic and electrical gadget
usage and disposal, but the institutional users like IT sector, hospitality sector and
educational institutions mostly avoided the question of scrap disposal and were
guarded about the informal recycling. Scrap dealers from unorganized backyard
workshop were quite frank, and few even confided that they also handled E-waste
from neighbouring states and also from Khidderpore dock area, hinting transboundary import of E-waste (Map 18.1).
Table 18.4 Observed general obsolescence rate of E-goods
Items for household
consumption
Discard/replace
rate
Items for household
consumption
Discard/replace
rate
Desktops
5–7 years
Mobile handsets
1–2 years
Laptops
2–4 years
Televisions
8–10 years
Printers
3–4 years
Refrigerators
10–12 years
(Primary Survey, 2018)
A. Basu