Patna: The Patna Municipal Corporation has announced a new initiative to tackle the growing problem of electronic waste, offering to directly purchase discarded devices from households, offices and institutions across the city.
Under the scheme, e-waste will no longer be treated as ordinary household rubbish. Instead, it will be collected through an authorised agency and sent for scientific recycling, with citizens paid according to a newly released rate chart covering a wide range of electronic items.
Municipal officials said the move was prompted by the sharp rise in e-waste generation and the environmental risks associated with its improper disposal. Electronic waste often contains toxic substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium, which can contaminate soil, water and air if dumped in landfills or burned.
To address these concerns, the corporation has awarded a tender to a specialised agency responsible for the collection, transportation and safe recycling of e-waste.
According to the rate chart, items in the computer and IT category will attract varying prices. A complete CPU set will fetch Rs140 per kilogram, while a CPU box alone will be priced at Rs85 per kilogram. Keyboards will be bought at Rs20 per kilogram, LED monitors at Rs35 per kilogram and CRT monitors at Rs1 per kilogram. Laptops, tablets and notepads have been given the highest rate, at Rs150 per kilogram.
The scheme also extends to large household appliances. Split air conditioners with copper components will be purchased at Rs100 per kilogram and window ACs at Rs80 per kilogram. For aluminium-based split ACs, the rate is Rs70 per kilogram, while aluminium window ACs will be priced at Rs60 per kilogram. Refrigerators will be bought at Rs20 per kilogram, and LED and LCD televisions at Rs30 per kilogram.
To ensure public participation, the municipal corporation plans to launch an awareness campaign in the first and second weeks of February. Four on-ground sessions, each lasting about 45 minutes, will be organised across the city to explain the dangers of improper e-waste disposal and the benefits of responsible recycling.
Environmental experts have welcomed the initiative, saying it combines public awareness with financial incentives. They argue that the programme could significantly reduce pollution while encouraging citizens to see old electronics not as waste, but as a resource with economic value.
