E-Waste Management in India

• Context (TH): As per GoI data, over 5 lakh tonnes of e-waste has been collected and processed in the year 2021-22.
• E-waste refers to electronic products that are unwanted, not working, or nearing or at the end of their “useful life.”

Status of E-Waste in India

• As per Global E-waste Monitor 2020, India is the 3^rd largest electronic waste producer in the world, generating about 2 million tons of e-waste annually, with its share increasing by 31%.
• Around 95% of e-waste is recycled informally by unorganized workers.

Importance of e-waste management

• Environmental conservation: Improper disposal of waste leads to the release of various harmful toxins like lead, mercury, cadmium, etc.
• Resource conservation: Recycling of e-waste reduces the need for new resource extraction as e-waste contains various valuable materials like gold, silver, etc.
• Economic opportunities: Provide filip to a circular economy, create employment opportunities and promote entrepreneurship.
• Sustainable development: Aligns with the principles of environmental, social and economic aspects by promoting environmental stewardship.

Challenges in e-waste Management

• Poor infrastructure: Shortage of authorised recycling facilities and collection centres leads to waste ending up in unregulated facilities exacerbating environmental degradation.  
• Absence of a clear mechanism for collecting and transporting e-waste from consumers to recyclers.
• Inadequate regulatory design and enforcement compounded by a lack of coordination and cooperation among various stakeholders and authorities involved in e-waste management.
• Fragmented supply chain: 95% of waste is recycled by the informal sector which often operates in unsafe and unregulated working conditions.
• Lack of reliable information on e-waste generation rates, its types making it difficult to plan and implement effective policies and strategies.
• Lack of awareness: Many consumers and stakeholders are not aware of the environmental and health impacts of e-waste, or the benefits of proper disposal and recycling.

Way Forward

• Provide market information about e-waste prices to create a transparent and competitive market for e-waste collection and recycling.
• Incentivizing formal e-waste recycling by providing financial support, tax benefits, subsidies, or recognition to formal e-waste recyclers.
• Recognize informal sector as the stakeholder in future e-waste regime and integrating them into the formal system through certification, registration, or partnerships.
• Developing innovative technologies for processing new forms of e-waste.
• Enhancing coordination and cooperation among various stakeholders and authorities involved in e-waste management.