Rising e-waste in India necessitates management reform

India’s E-Waste Challenges

• India’s e-waste volumes have increased by 151.03% in six years, from 7,08,445 metric tonnes in 2017-18 to 17,78,400 metric tonnes in 2023-24.

• The country ranks among the world’s top ewaste generators, with a significant annual increase of 1,69,283 metric tonnes.

Impact of Improper E-Waste Management

• Improper e-waste management results in environmental degradation, social loss, and forfeiture of critical metal value.

• India forfeits over ₹80,000 crore annually in lost critical metal value due to informal recycling methods.

• At least $20 billion in annual tax revenue is lost as informal recycling is largely cash-based and unaccounted for.

Importance of Stable Pricing

• The E-waste (Management) Rules, 2022 introduced a floor price for EPR certificates, ensuring fair returns for registered recyclers.

• Stable pricing incentivizes formal recyclers to adopt safe, advanced technologies, unlocking e-waste’s valuable materials.

• Fair compensation motivates recyclers to prioritize material recovery over disposal, shrinking landfill burdens and halting the seepage of toxins.

• A floor price levels the playing field by offsetting the informal sector’s cost advantage, making formal recycling viable, reducing waste leakage, and ensuring more responsible processing.

Need for a Recycling Vision

• Inadequate pricing impairs more than profits, endangering rivers with pollution, soils and agriculture produce with harmful ingredients, damages communities with toxic exposure, and squanders valuable potential.

• Valuing recycling efforts can formalize India’s ewaste sector, spur advanced infrastructure, and champion resource efficiency.