Why is it in the news?

• Recently, the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) released a report on the circular economy in the Indian electronics sector, focusing on e-waste management.
• A circular economy aims to reintroduce e-waste components and precious metals into new electronics, reducing waste.

Report Suggestions

• The ICEA report suggests public-private partnerships to establish a comprehensive reverse supply chain for e-waste.
• Recommendations include creating auditable databases of collected materials and developing recycling clusters.
• Incentivizing high-yield recycling centres is crucial for maximizing product value.
• Encouraging repair and product durability is another policy recommendation to reduce environmental impact.
• The report suggests harnessing e-waste for economic opportunities and sustainability.

E-Waste Management in India

• E-Waste stands for Electronic Waste, referring to discarded electronic appliances and their components.
• E-waste management in India is primarily informal, with about 90% of collection and 70% of recycling handled by the informal sector.
• Informal sector specializes in salvaging older devices for parts and repairs.
• Industrial hubs like Moradabad extract precious metals like gold and silver from printed circuit boards (PCBs).
• Policy measures are needed to encourage manufacturers to reuse old components, as seen in China’s efforts.

Challenges in E-Waste Management in India

• Limited involvement of people in recycling electronic devices.
• Involvement of child labour in E-waste activities.
• Ineffective legislation and lack of public information.
• Health hazards from toxic materials in E-waste.
• Lack of incentive schemes for the unorganized sector.
• Cross-border flow of waste equipment into India.
• Reluctance and lack of coordination among authorities.
• Security implications, as end-of-life computers may contain sensitive data.

Provisions regarding E-Waste in India:

• India has had laws to manage e-waste since 2011, with the E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016 enacted in 2017.
• E-Waste Management Rules, 2016, amended in 2018.
• The Union Government introduced the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 to digitize and monitor e-waste management.
• Producers under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for collection and disposal.
• Introduction of Deposit Refund Scheme.
• Role of State Governments in ensuring safety and skill development.
• Penalties for rule violations.
• Urban Local Bodies tasked with collection and channelization of orphan products.
• Allocation of space for e-waste dismantling and recycling.

E-Waste Recycling Practices in India

• Informal sector handles 95% of e-waste, while the formal sector manages 5%.
• Non-formal units collect, disassemble, and chemically treat e-waste.
• Formal sector uses advanced processes and technologies, leading to efficient recovery.
• Recycling in the formal sector is economically viable due to shared capital equipment.
• Formal recycling has high efficiency and recovers trace-level metals.

Preliminary steps in E-Waste Disposal and Management

• Purchase fewer items and opt for recyclable or long-lasting products.
• Donate or give away electronics that are no longer needed.
• Consider selling unused electronic products.
• Raise awareness about e-waste recycling possibilities.

Way Forward

• Engage with informal sector workers for better e-waste management.
• Generate employment through cooperatives and expansion of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016.
• Encourage consumer participation in responsible e-waste disposal.