In his last Mann Ki Baat, which is telecast every last Sunday of the month, Prime Ministry Modi talked of e-waste. Today, with the use of electronic devices increasing many fold, it is high time that a proper strategy is made for its recycling and extracting precious metals from it. Now that the Prime Minister has taken this up personally I am confident its implementation will gather speed.
I would also like to point out that a proper system of disposal of dry cells is also needed. We are disposing off button cells, pencil batteries, mobile batteries so often. And where do we dispose them - in the dustbin along with the other household waste. This trash is then taken to the land fill sites. This is so hazardous.
A system must be developed to collect these batteries and then to dispose them is a manner which will cause least effect to the environment. I am informed there are agencies in some major metros which are doing this collection and disposal. But not many know?
A massive promotion drive is needed to educate citizens of the seriousness of this problem. Government agencies must take this up urgently, allot enough funds for its promotion and engage people to take proper care of these used batteries.
Voluntary organisations or NGOs, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), other social organisations like the Rotary, Lions, Jaycees etc, community associations should also address this issue. The immediate task is to apprise the commoner of the dangers associated with this. How this would effect the health of the commoner in the long run, is one basic question which must be let known to all.
It must also be noted that the use of batteries is very high in rural areas, because of lack of regular power supply. The efforts needed to educate, to collect these batteries from the rural masses is all the more difficult.
I would request all, who are more interested to know of this hazard, to read one study report released by Toxics Link. The link to this is http://toxicslink.org/docs/Dead%20And%20Buried.pdf
1 comment:
This message must go down to the village level and safe method for collection and disposal to be implemented thank you vijay
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