India’s Rising E-Waste and the Need to Recast Its Management

General Studies Paper-3

Context: India, now among the top global generators of electronic waste (e-waste), faces a critical challenge in managing the growing volume of obsolete electronic devices.

E-Waste in India

• E-waste refers to the discarded electronic and electrical devices that have reached the end of their lifespan or become obsolete due to rapid technological changes, including computers, phones, TVs, and other equipment.
• India ranks as the third-largest producer of electronic waste globally, following China and the United States.
• Growth: India’s e-waste increased by 151.03% over six years, from 7.08 lakh metric tonnes in 2017-18 to 17.78 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24.

Impact of Improper E-Waste Management

• Environmental Degradation:
  • Water Pollution: Toxic discharge from cyanide and sulphuric acid affects water bodies.
  • Air Pollution: Emissions from lead fumes and plastic burning are severe.
  • Soil Contamination: Hazardous substances leach into the soil, damaging agriculture and biodiversity.
• Social Costs:
  • Informal Sector Dominance: 95% of e-waste is recycled informally, involving mostly women and children.
  • Health Hazards: Average lifespan in informal e-waste workers is under 27 years due to toxic exposure.
• Economic Loss:
  • India is estimated to forfeit over ₹80,000 crore worth of critical metals each year, which could have been recovered and re-used in manufacturing.
  • It is estimated that India loses at least $20 billion annually in potential tax revenue due to the absence of formal accounting and regulatory oversight in the e-waste recycling sector.

Challenges in E-Waste Management

• Lack of Consumer Incentives: Consumers lack economic or logistical incentives to dispose of e-waste responsibly.
• Sparse Collection Infrastructure: There is a dearth of authorised collection centres, especially in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
• Informal scrap dealers remain the primary point of contact for most consumers.
• Unsafe Recycling Practices: Over 90–95% of e-waste is handled by the informal sector, which uses crude methods such as acid leaching, open burning, and manual dismantling without protective gear.
• Grey Channel Imports: Used electronic goods often enter India under the guise of “donations” or “refurbished items,” which eventually become waste.

E-Waste Management Framework

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Producers, importers, and brand owners are made responsible for managing their product’s end-of-life waste.
• An online EPR E-Waste portal has been developed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) where entities such as producers, manufacturers, recyclers, and refurbishers of the e-waste are required to be registered.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has comprehensively revised the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022.
• India’s first e-waste clinic was inaugurated in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• It’s a facility for segregating, processing, and disposing of e-waste from both households and commercial units.

Concluding remarks

• India’s e-waste challenge reflects a broader conflict between technological advancement and environmental sustainability.
• As the country climbs the digital ladder, it must not let toxic waste undermine its economic and ecological foundation.
• The goal should not merely be to manage e-waste, but to extract value, protect health, and foster green economic growth—all of which are essential to India’s journey toward Viksit Bharat.