PCB Data Reveals TG Recycles Fraction of E-waste Capacity

TELANGANA has approved 21 e-waste recyclers and two refurbishers with a combined capacity of over 3.6 lakh tonnes per annum (TPA). Yet in 2023-24, only 64,635.56 tonnes were formally collected via the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal, data from the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TGPCB) revealed.

- KHYATI SHAH @Hyderabad

Of this, 24,497.67 metric tonnes of recoverable metals like iron, copper, aluminum and gold were extracted, while another 24,433.03 MT was classified as miscellaneous waste. The wide gap between processing capacity and actual inflow reflects systemic issues: underreporting, poor enforcement and the dominance of informal recycling networks.

"Our data doesn't match what's happening on the ground," said Asha Reddy, an environmental science researcher. "We need stringent audits, not just registrations."