E-WASTE AND THE HIDDEN COST OF TECH IN GOA

Goa's embrace of technology has been swift. Smartphones, laptops, smart TVs and wearables now sit at the centre of daily life.

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But each upgrade leaves behind a trail of electronic waste- or e-waste, and the question grows sharper: what happens to the devices we discard?

Unlike paper or glass, e-waste isn't ordinary trash. Discarded chargers, batteries, laptops and phones often contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium; when dumped or burned, these can contaminate soil, water and air and carry serious health risks, especially for children and pregnant people. The World Health Organisation and other bodies have documented links between informal e-waste handling and neurodevelopmental and respiratory harms.

For a coastal state like Goa, with fragile aquifers and ecosystems, the stakes are higher.

At the national level, India generated 12,54,286.55 metric tonnes of e-waste in FY 2023-24, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The figure rose to 13,97,955.59 tonnes in 2024-25, underscoring a steady upward trend as device use expands.