Upto 3000 tons e-waste disposed annually by CEA

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The amount of e-waste disposed annually under the E-waste Management Program of the Central Environment Authority (CEA) totals  3,000 tons, Deputy Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment Anuradha Jayaratne told Parliament last week.

Explaining the steps taken to control and follow safe disposal of growing quantities of e-waste released to the environment, Deputy Minister said: “the CEA has issued scheduled waste management licenses for e-waste generating institutes and it is renewed annually. E-waste collectors and other associates have to get scheduled waste management licenses from the CEA for e-waste management. Strict control of e-waste import is practiced and no approval  is given to import e-waste to Sri Lanka;  only particular models and properly functioning computers are permitted to be imported.

 “A national corporate program on e-waste management is implemented by CEA with the voluntary participation of 21 government and non-government institutions. E-waste Management activities implemented by licensed institutes and national cooperate program are closely monitored and controlled by CEA,” said Jayaratne who reveled the CEA is in the process of formulating a mechanism to direct the informal e-waste handlers that exist in addition to formal institutes for proper e-waste management.