The Puducherry Pollution Control Committee (PPCC) has launched a comprehensive e-waste inventorisation survey across the Union Territory to tackle the growing challenge of electronic waste from households, offices, institutions, and industries.

This initiative, in collaboration with the National Productivity Council (NPC), aims to compile a comprehensive inventory of bulk consumers, quantify e-waste generation, map sources, repair and dismantling units and evaluate current handling practices to build a sustainable management system.

According to an official, “Puducherry has been facing increasing environmental challenges associated with waste generation and management. E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams and scientific assessment and proper management of e-waste are essential to protect public health, conserve valuable resources, and prevent environmental contamination.”

At present, PPCC only receives data from industrial sources that voluntarily report their e-waste figures. The collected e-waste is sent to an authorised centre at Oulgaret, which is further sent to dismantlers in Chennai and Bengaluru. However, information from the informal sector largely remains unknown.

E-waste challenges

According to N. Ramesh, Member Secretary of PPCC, “Electronic equipment from refrigerators and washing machines to computers, mobile phones, televisions, and small appliances often become obsolete after use. In the absence of proper collection and scientific recycling systems, a significant portion of e-waste is being handled by the informal sector through unsafe practices such as open burning and unscientific dismantling.”

He added, “These practices release toxins such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, polluting air, soil, water, and endangering health while wasting recoverable resources. A proper inventory will enable formal collection, recycling, and a circular economy approach.”

As a part of inventorisation, the PPCC has initiated a comprehensive survey and data collection exercise on electrical and electronic waste generation and management across the U.T. in collaboration with the National Productivity Council (NPC).

To assess the quantity, sources, and current handling practices of e-waste in Puducherry, the NPC has launched a detailed study. The inventorisation covers households, government departments, educational institutions, commercial setups, and industrial units across the U.T.

PPCC has urged all stakeholders, including government departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), educational institutions, commercial establishments and industries, and the general public to provide accurate data on electrical and electronic equipment currently in use, as well as obsolete and discarded electronic items, to facilitate the e-waste inventory across the U.T.

The initiative is expected to provide a scientific basis for policy formulation, infrastructure planning, and strengthening the formal collection and recycling system for e-waste in the U.T. A scientific e-waste inventory supports resource recovery, prevents contamination, and strengthens sustainable development. It promotes responsible disposal by citizens and formalizes operations, reducing informal sector risk, according to PPCC.