(Will India still be in the fifth position as largest producer of E-waste?)

E-Waste is an area of a seriously immediate and long term concern as its unregulated and recycling can lead to major environmental degradation which will pose a major threat to human health and society. Revolution in the field of Information Technology, new and innovative technologies and globalization of the economy has made new electronic products available and even more affordable to buy today.

But on the other hand, it has also led to unrestrained resource consumption and Electronic-Waste generation. Developed countries such as the United States of America as well as developing countries such as India faces the problem of E-Waste. The rapid growth of technology, up gradation of technical innovations and high Obsolescence rate have led to one of the fastest growing waste streams consisting of old electrical and electronic equipment’s and products. Electronic-Waste comprises of a whole range of electronic and electrical items and equipment such as computers and the printers, mobile and smart phones, music players, refrigerators, washing machines etc.

Minimization of waste

Development of cleaner products

Environmentally sustainable recycling

Disposal of waste

E-waste policy initiatives

Adoption of scientific methods of recycling

Disposal of E-Waste.

These are the main issues which need to be addressed to mitigate the effects of E-Waste.

Analysts forecast the E-Waste Market in India to grow at a C.A.G.R. of 26 plus percent over the period 2014 to 2019. With more than 100 crore plus mobile phones in circulation, nearly twenty-five per cent ends up in e-waste annually. India, which has emerged as the world’s second largest mobile market, is also the fifth largest producer of e-waste, discarding roughly 18.5 lakhs tonnes of electronic waste each year, according to a study. Telecom equipment alone accounts for more than 12% of the e-waste, a joint study as found. The rising levels of e-waste generation in India have been a matter of concern in recent years.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has notified e-waste management rules, 2016, in which producers are for the first time covered under extended producers’ responsibility also called E.P.R.

Waste collection target

The rules prescribe a waste collection target of 30% waste generated under the E.P.R., for the first two years, progressively going up to seventy percent in the seventh year of the rule.

The rules prescribed stringent financial penalties for non-compliance. However, the study said the unorganized sector in India is estimated to handle about 95% of the e-waste produced in the country. Given the huge user base and vast reach of telecom in India, it is practically difficult and expensive for the handset manufacturers to achieve the targets prescribed in the rules from the first year.

“It is suggested that electronic waste collection targets are implemented in a phased manner with lower and practically achievable target limits. Also, detailed implementation procedures for collection of electronic waste from the market need to be followed.”