E-Waste in India

Definition: Electronic waste, commonly known as E-waste, refers to discarded and end-of-life electronic products, including computers, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment, home appliances, audio and video products, and their peripherals. E-waste contains various substances such as heavy metals, plastics, and glass, which can pose potential environmental and human health hazards if not managed in an environmentally sound manner.

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Hazardous Elements in E-Waste:

E-waste contains hazardous elements, including:

Lead, primarily found in all electronic products and assemblies, cathode ray tubes (CRTs), etc.
Cadmium, present in monitors and CRTs.
Mercury, which may be found in switches and flat-screen monitors, as well as in CFLs, relays, and specific products.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), found in capacitors and transformers.

E-Waste in India:

In the year 2020-2021, India processed approximately 3.4 lakh tonnes of E-waste. However, only 22.7 percent of the E-waste generated in India during 2019-20, which amounted to 10,14,961.21 tonnes, was properly collected, dismantled, recycled, or disposed of.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the generation of E-waste continues to increase by more than 3 percent annually.

E-Waste (Management) Rules:

The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, include provisions for:

Recycling targets for those dealing with electrical/electronic components, assemblies, or equipment (producers).
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Authorization to be obtained by producers from CPCB for implementing their EPR and providing details of their dismantlers/recyclers.
Mandatory registration on a portal developed by CPCB for all manufacturers, producers, refurbishers, and recyclers.
Prohibition of any entity from conducting business without proper registration.
Notification of 106 types of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022.

Loopholes in Implementation:

Several challenges exist in the proper management of E-waste in India, including:

E-waste is growing in India at the rate of 10%. Major recycling of e-waste is carried out in the non-formal sector using elementary and hazardous methods.
The limited number of authorized dismantlers and recyclers (approximately 569 across 22 states), which hinders the proper handling of all generated E-waste.
E-waste is often does not includes in the municipal waste collection lists, leading to inadequate collections.
Lack of clarity and awareness among the public regarding E-waste, causing mismanagement.
The rapid growth of the electronics market has not been met with a corresponding increase in waste management facilities.

India’s Timeline for Environmental Laws

1972: Wildlife (Protection) Act.
1973: Chipko movement.
1974: Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
1980: Forest (Conservation) Act.
1981: Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
1983: Appiko movement.
1985: Conversion of the National Council for Environmental Policy and Planning into the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
1986: Environment (Protection) Act.
1988: National Forest Policy.
1989: Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules.
1991: Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification.
1995: National Environmental Tribunal Act.
1998: Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules.
2000: Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, Ozone-Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules.
2001: Energy Conservation Act, Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules.
2002: Biological Diversity Act.
2006: Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act.
2010: National Green Tribunal Act, E-waste (Management) Rules.
2016: Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, Plastic Waste (Management) Rules, The Solid Waste (Management) Rules.
2017: Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules.
2022: Forest (Conservation) Rules.