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A recent study disclosed that developing countries like India and China are creating a novel but dangerous waste. The e-waste is giving a serious emerging threat to environment. The reports brought out by a leading environment group, Greenpeace India, says that these booming economies are more and more dependent on electronic and electrical equipments which is giving rise to electronic waste.

“Primitive recycling or disposal of e-waste to landfills and incinerators causes’ irreversible environmental damage by polluting water and soil and contaminating air,” states the report titled as “Take Back Blues - An assessment of e-waste take-back in India”.

It is poisoning our soil and water, causing serious health problems. The report showed that in 2007 India generated 380,000 tonnes of e-waste from discarded computers, televisions and mobile phones. This, the report said, was projected to more than double by 2012, to 800,000 per annum with a growth rate of 15 per cent.

Shocked by the findings, Abhishek Pratap, Greenpeace Toxics campaigner and the principal investigator for the study questioned, “It seems like e-waste take-back in India is in no way a priority for global brands. Otherwise, how else can one explain the irresponsible conduct of brands like Sony, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, Samsung and Philips, which have no take-back service in India whatsoever?”

“Long-term exposure to deadly component chemicals and metals like lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury and polyvinyl chlorides (PVC) can severely damage the nervous systems, kidney and bones, and the reproductive and endocrine systems, and some of them are carcinogenic and neurotoxic,” the report mentions.

Now the question is how to tackle the problem before it becomes seriously out of control. Greenpeace Toxics campaigner Rampati Kumar said that the only way to tackle this novel threat is eco-friendly equipment. He believes that global and domestic brands manufacture should ensure eco-friendly equipment to control the threat.

“The solution lies with the brand owners or manufacturers of electronic products, which need to bear responsibility for financing the treatment of the own-branded e-waste discarded by their customers. If brands follow the ‘cradle to grave’ approach by ensuring take-back and bring back responsibility, it might work,” he says. ”

It was found in the study that half of the global brands have no take-back service in India. Nine out of 20 brands surveyed have no take-back service. The nine brands include Apple, Microsoft, Panasonic, PCS, Philips, Sharp, Sony, Sony Ericsson and Toshiba. Only two brands, HCL and WIPRO, stand out as having the best take-back practice in India and have come out publicly in support of e-waste legislation in India.

“As part of HCL’s eco safe programme, we give booklets along with our products that address waste disposal and inform customers of take back policies, we also host customer seminars telling them about the importance of electronic waste disposal,” George Paul, executive vice-president marketing, HCL Info Systems, said.

“Customers have to incur the cost of giving back the equipment; thus they prefer to sell it to local scrap dealers for a nominal price. Unlike in Europe where once a week the local municipality picks up the electronic waste for a charge levied at the time of purchase of goods, in India the consumer is still at a fairly nascent stage of understanding waste disposal.” He added.

Even as India heads for an e-waste crisis, most of the global electronic brands have no functioning e-waste take-back services in India.

The findings have sounded an alarm of emerging e-waste crisis and if not dealt properly at time, this e-waste will be proved harmful to the economy as well as to the global environment.

Tags: Apple, Bones, carcinogenic, China, Domestic Brands, E-waste, Eco safe, Economies, Electrical, Electronic, Endocrine Systems, Environment, Europe, Global Brands, Greenpeace India, Greenpeace Toxics, HCL, India, Kidney, Microsoft, neurotoxic, Panasonic, PCS, Philips, polyvinyl chlorides, PVC, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, Wipro

Driving is considered an environment threatening practice but if a few tips are followed, you can drive eco-friendly regardless of the vehicle you drive. These tips will make your driving efficient. An efficient drive will not only save money on gas but your car’s emissions are also lessened.  Here are the ways which can help you to achieve these goals:

1. Dive less aggressively: Studies have shown that fuel efficiency is affected by the way you drive just before the red lights. If you rush up to a stop light and then brake hard at the last minute, more gas will be used. Same thing happens while you leave at a green light. It was found that you can increase your fuel efficiency from 5% up to about 33% if you ease into a red light and ease out of a green light.  Following these two little rules can be very much beneficial for you.

2. Limit the speed: CNNMoney.com article from 2006 states, “When you drive faster than 60 mph, you get less mileage for your money (up to 23 percent less, or 67 cents a gallon).”  This is a significant change and some lawmakers are even considering a bill to re-instate a national speed limit of 55mph to help counter the effects of higher speed limits in certain areas. So drive below 60 mph and have a safe journey too.

3. Limit the idle time of your car:  Leaving the car idle eats up gas. If you are waiting for some one, then it is better to turn off your engine. Additionally, leaving the car idle will also adds a dense amount of pollution to the immediate area. You’ll increase your gas mileage and reduce your emissions by quitting the engine.

4. Care your Car’s maintenance:  Car should be maintained properly for higher fuel efficiency. Improperly inflated tires, clogged filters and the incorrect weight of motor oil could all reduce your car’s fuel efficiency and thus increase the car’s emissions.  Regular maintenance will also increase the life of the car.

5. Combine your trips:  Commuting with someone in your office is a great way to be a green motorist without plunking down some serious money on a hybrid or more fuel-efficient vehicle.  If you’re a parent who stays home with the children, consider planning one day for your errands.  The less you drive the less pollution you’ll add to the environment.  UPS has taken this one step further and plans their delivery routes to consist solely of right turns.  Studies have shown that right turns are better on gas mileage.

These tips will definitely benefit you and the environment in the immediate area. The tips are easy to follow and should be implemented to increase your gas mileage as well as reduce your emissions footprint. Have an eco-friendly and safe drive!

Tags: Car Maintenance, Driving, Driving Tips, Eco Friendly Driving, Environment

India witnessed the launch of its first hybrid car, the modified sedan Civic, launched by the Japanese car major Honda Motors Co. this Wednesday, running on a petrol engine and electric battery, priced at a high Ex-showroom price of 21.5 lakhs (for Delhi).

Its major features include:

• 1.3 litre petrol engine (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control)
• 47% fuel efficient electric motor
• Integrated computer that controls consumption and helps battery charge itself up automatically

The first of its class was launched way back in the 1995, and has been introduced in 32 countries before this making India the 33rd launch country for the fuel efficient vehicle.

Honda Siel Car India president and CEO Masahiro Takedawa promised the introduction of more such new vehicles in the years to come and expressed his satisfaction over the good number of enquiries made across India explaining his aim not being the sale of a huge number but the introduction a fuel efficient and eco friendly vehicle system. He also added that he hopes that the Indian government, as like other countries, would lower its import duty for promoting eco-friendly cars among the masses and completely ruled out the possibility of the manufacture of the sedan in India or any other country outside Japan due to technical constraints. With a promise of a healthier environment, Honda sure burns a hole in the pocket. To this Mr. Masahiro blamed the India’s import duty system CBUs cars that impose 104% of import duty.

Against the huge price and keeping in mind its sale of 2,60,000 units across the world since 1995, the expectations are high, rest keeping to the selling statistics and user reviews in the months to come.

Tags: car, Eco, Environment, Honda, Hybrid Car, India, Petrol

Plastics are used in our daily life for many purposes. Carrying and transporting from small to big things, plastics are the first preference. But do you think where it goes after use? What is the final disposal of plastic?

Plastics are non-biodegradable and hence they remain in environment as it is for a long period of time. Plastic bags are the most common and most used plastic for routine tasks. But where they go after use? They can be seen here and there around us fluttering in whatever they got entangled. People left them after use without having a second thought about where these go eventually.

The plastic bags are also responsible for choking the water canals and drains. Piles of plastic bags got stick on the way of water and choke the canals and drains. It wastes water and increases pollution too.

The piles of rubbish can be seen that dot our urban and rural landscapes. This is where our cattle and other animals ingest these while foraging for food and then die a slow painful death. The same fate befalls the marine species. In fact so wide spread is the menace of plastic that camels die after ingesting them in the unforgiving deserts of Arabia, cows die on our streets and already endangered species die in our oceans worldwide.

From every side we have loses of using the plastic. Then why we use it? Is there no alternative for it or we don’t care of other alternatives? One way to contribute environment protection is to say ‘No’ to plastic. Use of bio degradable bags like jute or paper bags can help to save the environment and keep the earth clean. A little contribution by few people can inspire others to take part in this campaign. And slowly the little contribution will give tremendous effect.

An effective way to prevent the use of plastic is adopted in some countries. The supermarkets charge a small surcharge for every plastic bag. Indian customers being prudent spenders would not want to pay each time they use a plastic bag. Hence it can be a good idea to keep people away of plastic bags.

Till very recently Indians used the reusable cloth bags called Jhola for shopping. Though the practice is out in urban society and is blurred in other areas also but it was an environment friendly practice. Cloth bags are reusable and degradable. It’s time to reclaim the jhola. Giving a modern definition it can surely come back to scene.

Hence to keep the Earth clean contributes a little effort. Say ‘No’ to plastic and use the reusable Jholas or paper bags.

Tags: Environment, India, Jute, Plastics