Industry body Assocham has said the government should not allow dumping of e-waste in the national capital region, bring in a legislation to prevent child labour in collection and disposal of the waste.

The states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka generate over 25,000 tons of e-waste, of which 50 per cent is dumped in and around the capital, chamber President Sajjan Jindal said.

He said e-waste from Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore made its way to Delhi as there is a ready market for glass and plastic in the NCR.

Nearly 30,000 people are employed in the city's scrap yards and unauthorised recycling units. Of these, 6,000 are 10-15 year olds who are engaged in collecting, segregating and distributing the waste without adequate protection.

Workers have to handle lead, zinc, mercury and various other toxic elements, which harm human health and environment.

In terms of the total e-waste produced internally or brought from outside for recycling, Delhi's e-waste weighs over 15,000 tons per year, against 10,000-12,000 tons per year in the last 2-3 years.

The chamber said the Delhi government should plant over 10-20 lakh saplings every year near scrap yards and industrial centres to minimise the environmental hazards arising out of medical and industrial wastes.

The total e-waste generated in the country is about 3.8 lakh tonne annually, against 20 million tonnes per year worldwide.