Nagpur: After initiating steps to lift construction and demolition debris lying in the city otherwise, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to tackle growing electronic waste menace. For the purpose, the civic body has appointed an agency — Suritex Pvt Ltd — to collect, transport and recycle e-waste.
The e-waste collection will start from December 1, confirmed municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B. In a bid to encourage citizens to help clear e-waste, Suritex will offer incentives to the disposers. “Apart from door-to-door collection, based on calls received on helpline number, the NMC will also be setting up e-waste deposit centres at all 10 zonal offices,” said the civic chief.
“As a pilot project, the agency has been appointed for three months. During this period, it will collect e-waste and recycle it on its own. The NMC will not provide any manpower or space for the purpose. We will also not charge anything or provide any financial assistance to the firm. But the agency will have to provide details of e-waste collection to zonal offices daily and submit monthly report to the head office,” said deputy municipal commissioner Dr Gajendra Mahalle.
According to Dr Mahalle, proper e-waste disposal is the need of the hour and NMC would be working on the same. On Monday, the NMC issued work order to Suritex Pvt Ltd to start collecting e-waste separately from various areas under corporation limits. Mahima Suri, director of Suritex Pvt Ltd, a government authorized e-waste recycler agency, told sources that disposers would also get some incentives for handing over the e-waste. Suri said the company has been working in the field of recycling of e-waste for eight years and its plant is situated in Butibori MIDC.
The electronic waste includes television sets, broken radios, computer/laptop circuits, CPUs, various types of chips, worn out wires, printers, mobiles, CD players, refrigerators, washing machines, microwave ovens, fans, coolers, air conditioners, cameras, headphones, chargers, pen drives, home theatres, and any electrical items. The firm has also roped in a city NGO — Swachh Association — to create awareness regarding e-waste collection. e-waste helpline number: 89991 50086
