INDIA'S RISING E-WASTE, THE NEED TO RECAST ITS MANAGEMENT

India's journey toward Viksit Bharat is being powered by a rapid digital transformation, with an increasing reliance on electronic devices.

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From smartphones and laptops to advanced industrial and medical equipment, technology has become the backbone of economic growth, connectivity and innovation. However, this growing dependence on electronic devices has a by-product — electronic waste (e-waste) — which must be managed effectively to ensure sustainable progress. Ranking among the world’s top e-waste generators (China, the United States, Japan, and Germany) India confronts a formidable challenge of managing e-waste. India's e-waste volumes soared by 151.03% in six years, from 7,08,445 metric tonnes in 2017-18 to 17,78,400 metric tonnes in 2023-24, with an annual increase of 1,69,283 metric tonnes.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mandates producers, importers and brand owners to manage waste from their products' end-of-life. It holds them accountable for environmental impacts throughout the product lifecycle, promotes sustainable design, integrates environmental costs into pricing, and supports efficient waste management, reducing the burden on municipalities.

The consequences of improper e-waste management extend beyond environmental degradation.

India loses more than $10 billion annually due to water pollution from the disposal of cyanide and sulphuric acid solutions, air pollution caused by lead fumes, open coal burning, and plastic incineration, and soil pollution.

Beyond the environmental impact, improper e-waste recycling causes a social loss of over $20 billion annually, as most of the hazardous processing is conducted by informal, illegal recyclers (women and children comprise the majority workforce). Tragically, their average lifespan is less than 27 years due to prolonged exposure to toxic substances.