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Picture Courtesy: The Hindu

Context

India generated 2.2 million tonnes of E-waste in 2025, making it the 3^rd largest e-waste generator globally, after China and US.

What is E-waste?

E-waste is electronic products that are unwanted, not working, and nearing or at the end of their “useful life.” Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are everyday electronic products.

E-Waste in India

• India has witnessed a rise in e-waste generation, increasing from 1.01 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2019-20 to 2.2 million MT in 2024-25
• Nearly half of e-waste remains untreated annually.
• More than 60% of E-waste originates from just 65 cities, with Key hotspots including Seelampur and Mustafabad (Delhi), Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) and Bhiwandi (Maharashtra).
• More than half of the country e-waste is still processed informally

E-waste management rules 2022

• Application:It will apply to every manufacturer, producer, refurbisher, dismantler and recycler involved in manufacturing, sale, transfer, purchase, refurbishing, dismantling, recycling and processing of e-waste or electrical and electronic equipment.
• Restrictions:The government has restricted the use of hazardous substances in manufacturing electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) following deaths due to exposure to radioactive material. 
• Extended Producer Responsibility Certificates:Draft rules aim to incentivise registered electronic waste recyclers by introducing EPR or Extended Producer Responsibility certificates (which was not part of 2016 Rules).
• Reuse and recycling:Manufacturers shall use the technology or methods so as to make the end product recyclable and shall ensure that components or parts made by different manufacturers are compatible with each other so as to reduce the quantity of e-waste.
• Monitoring: The Central Pollution Control Board shall conduct random sampling of electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market to monitor and verify the compliance of reduction of hazardous substances provisions.
• Disposal: It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to collect e-waste generated during manufacture and to ensure its recycling or disposal.
• E-waste exchange facilities: The EPR requires producers to set up e-waste exchange facilities to facilitate collection and recycling, and assign specific responsibility to bulk consumers of electronic products for safe disposal.

National and International Convention on E-waste

International

• Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989).
• Bamako Convention (1991): Prohibits the import of hazardous waste (including e-waste).
• India ratified the Stockholm Convention (2001) and implements its provisions through domestic laws.
• Minamata Convention on Mercury (2013)

National

• E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022
• Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.

Challenges

• Devices are replaced frequently due to new models or software updates. This creates massive volumes of waste at an accelerating rate.
• E-waste contains hazardous substances like: Lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic etc.
• Informal recycling sectors often use unsafe methods (e.g., open burning or acid baths).
• Illegal dumping, leading to environment hazardous events.
• E-waste contains valuable materials like gold, silver, copper, and rare earth metals, leading to economic loss.
• Citizen don’t understand the significance of proper e-waste disposal.

Way Forward

• Strengthen E-waste Legislation and its proper implementation
• Promote Circular economy i.e., Make-Use-Reuse-Recycle
• Increase Public Awareness
• Use Technology for Tracking and Collection.
• Increasing green jobs and promote green product