The Cuttack Municipal Corporation announced its plans to establish an eco park aimed at facilitating the recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) by the end of June. It was stated by the CMC commissioner Bijay Dash that at the eco park, environmentally hazardous waste such as e-waste and other waste would be recycled, and the precious metals from the waste would be retrieved for reuse.
Dash mentioned that the city's e-waste had seen a rapid increase due to the pervasive presence of technology and gadgets in daily life, leading to high waste generation. However, he noted the absence of a proper platform for dumping or recycling this waste. He further stated that land had been identified for the purpose, a design had been finalised, and a team had been engaged to carry out the construction work. The construction was in its final stages, and the eco park was expected to commence operations by the end of June.
According to Dash, the eco park would receive all types of electronic waste, and a recycling plant had been set up to process the materials. He emphasized that within the park, the e-waste would be dismantled, refurbished, recycled, and manufactured in a manner that was both scientifically and environmentally sound, ensuring proper reuse.
The establishment of this e-waste eco park was anticipated to significantly reduce the pollution caused by e-waste in the city.
Additionally, recent articles were published, including one detailing a method for extracting gold from e-waste using old milk. It was reported that scientists at ETH Zurich had developed an innovative method utilising milk-derived aerogel for extracting gold from e-waste, presenting a sustainable solution. This advancement not only revolutionized gold recovery but also aligned with principles of the circular economy for responsible waste management.
