Shangliao Sun
Research expert covering India
E-waste in India - statistics & facts
Concern over where the outdated device will end up might not be the first thing that comes to mind when someone purchases a new smartphone or TV set. With India’s growing population and emerging economy , the usage of telecom, IT, and consumer electronics, as well as home appliances has grown rapidly, especially during the last decade. Consequently, the amount of e-waste generated has also increased.
The informal sector in e-waste disposal
In the northeastern outskirts of Delhi lies Mustafabad, one of India’s biggest electronic waste graveyards. Every last bit of an electronic device is stripped down here, to extract not only iron, steel, copper, or aluminum, but also precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum. However, e-waste also contains highly toxic materials, including lead, mercury, and cadmium, which contaminate the environment, and create major ecological issues. Moreover, around 90 percent of all the collected electronic waste was processed informally in places like Mustafabad. This unregulated method of disposal found nationwide heightens the hazards posed by e-waste. Considering that India was the third largest producer of e-waste, behind China and the United States, there is a dire need for formalization.Government reforms
In response to this concern, the Government of India introduced the new E-Waste (Management) Rules in 2022. The rules came into effect on April 1st, 2023. They supersede the previous regulations established in 2016. The new rules have a broader scope of coverage, encompassing overall 100 types of electronic equipment. Under the new regulations, electronics manufacturers are also required to manage their end-of-life products and meet an annual recycling target. The government aimed to achieve 70 percent e-waste collection by the financial year 2024. However, up until 2022, less than one third of electronic waste generated in the country was recycled. A stronger push for implementing the new e-waste regulations is key to accelerating the creation of a well-organized sector. It can also help generate both revenue and employment in the long run.
