PPCB issues notices to 26 e-goods manufacturers

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has issued notices to 26 major electronic goods manufacturers for failing to properly collect and recycle electronic waste generated in Punjab.

Although most of these companies are registered on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal and obtain recycling certificates from facilities located outside the state, PPCB said that very little e-waste is actually being collected or recycled within Punjab.

PPCB Chairperson Reena Gupta said paper compliance alone would no longer be accepted. The companies earning revenue from Punjab must take responsibility for managing the electronic waste they generate, Gupta stressed.

To address the growing problem, Punjab is planning to establish a large, state-of-the-art e-waste eco-park under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, using global best practices and low-impact technologies. Companies summoned by the board were asked to jointly support the project and strengthen their e-waste collection networks across the state for easy disposal of old electronics.