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Context:  

According to data presented by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, India witnessed a surge in electronic waste (e-waste) generation over the past five years, rising from 1.01 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2019-20 to 1.751 million MT in 2023-24.

India’s e-waste surges by around 73 per cent in five years

About E-Waste:

E-waste is electronic products that are unwanted, not working, and nearing or at the end of their “useful life.” Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are everyday electronic products.

The ongoing challenge of how best to dispose of used and unwanted electronics isn’t a new one and dates back at least to the 1970s. But a lot has changed since then, particularly the number of electronics being discarded today.

Reasons for the growth:

The growing adoption of electronic products, fueled by technological advances and affordable access to the Internet, has greatly improved living standards around the world.

However, this digital revolution has also led to a significant increase in electronic waste (e-waste).

The sharpest increase in e-waste occurred in 2019–20 and 2020–21 due to the demand for electronic devices due to working from home and distance learning during the pandemic. 

Challenges 

Environmental and Health Issues: E-waste contains toxic substances such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, which can harm the environment and human health if not properly managed.

Lack of data at the state level: There is no data on e-waste generation; instead, national-level figures are estimated from data on sales and the average lifespan of electronic items.

Recycling challenges: Low recycling rates are attributed to ineffective stakeholder engagement.

Lack of tax incentives: The government has not implemented a tax credit system to encourage manufacturers to design recyclable and sustainable electronics.

Informal Sector: A large, unregulated informal sector complicates monitoring and compliance with environmental standards.

Privacy Concerns: Many consumers hesitate to recycle devices due to privacy concerns.

Government Initiatives:

The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to ensure that producers are responsible for recycling and disposal through authorized recyclers.

EPR mechanism: Manufacturers are assigned annual recycling targets based on e-waste generation and product sales. To meet these targets, they must purchase EPR certificates from registered recyclers.

The Basel Convention controls the movement of hazardous wastes across national borders and their disposal. It is a comprehensive environmental agreement that aims to address issues related to hazardous waste, including e-waste, and its management.

The role of the circular economy: The circular economy seeks to reuse electronic components rather than simply salvage them. This model emphasizes that every material is a resource, not a waste.

India needs policies to encourage manufacturers to reuse old components, similar to China's goal of using 35% secondary raw materials by 2030.

Way forward:

 E-waste is a global crisis that needs fair, cross-border e-waste management strategies to mitigate the "environmental and health damage" caused by high-income countries exporting their e-waste to low-income regions.

Public institutions (schools, government offices) are considered bulk customers and must ensure that their e-waste is handled by registered recyclers.

There is a call for public-private partnerships to establish reverse supply chains for device collection and recycling.

And focusing on a circular economy for e-waste is essential, especially with the supply of new components dwindling. Formalizing the recycling process and getting full value from electronics will require capital and better pooling of resources.

The role of the informal sector in collection and disposal must be integrated with formal systems.

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e-WASTE

E-WASTE

E-WASTE RULES

Source:

Downtoearth