Electronic waste (e-waste) usually includes computer monitors, motherboards, mobile phones and chargers, compact discs, headphones, television sets, air conditioners, and refrigerators. According to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2017, India produces 2 million tonnes (MT) of e-waste annually after the US, China, Japan and Germany and ranks fifth among e-waste producing countries. In 2016-17, India treated only 0.036 MT of its e-waste.
Only 20 percent of global e-waste is recycled. The United Nations report states that due to poor extraction technology, the total recovery rate of cobalt (metal which is in great demand for laptops, smart phones and electric car batteries) from e-waste is only 30 percent.
The report states that a recycler in China already produces more cobalt (by recycling) in a year than the country's mines. Recycled metals are 2 to 10 times more energy-efficient than smelting metals from virgin ore.
The report states that reducing the amount of electronics entering the waste stream and improving life handling is essential for building a more circular economy, where waste is minimized, conserving resources And new products are fed back into the supply chain.
On a positive note, media reports state that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic medals will be made up of 50,000 tons of e-waste. The organizing committee will make all the medals from old smartphones, laptops and other gadgets. As of November 2018, the organizers had collected 47,488 tonnes of equipment, of which about 8 tonnes of gold, silver and bronze would be extracted to produce 5,000 tonnes. About 1,600 or 90 percent of municipal authorities in Japan were involved in collection activities.
The rule extended its products as well as components or consumables or parts or parts of electrical and electronic components (EEE). Governance has strengthened Extended Product Responsibility (EPR), a global best practice to ensure take-back of end-of-life products.
To further strengthen the EPR, a new system called Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) has been introduced. The producers have to meet the target, which should be 20 percent of the waste generated from their sales. This will be an increase of 10 percent annually for the next five years. The law also states that the responsibility of producers is not limited to waste collection only, but also to ensure that the waste reaches the authorized recyclers / disclaimers.
And despite new regulations to safely process this hazardous material, close to 80 percent of e-waste - old laptops and cell phones, cameras and air conditioners, televisions and LED lamps - continue to break down, a huge health issue. Create and environmental costs pollute groundwater. And soil by informal sector.
E-waste is growing at around 30 percent annualized annual growth rate (CAGR) in the country. ASSOCHAM, one of India's top trade associations, estimated that in 2016 e-waste production was 1.8 metric tons per year and by 2020 will reach 5.2 metric tons per year.
There are now 178 registered e-waste recyclers in India, which are recognized by state governments for processing e-waste. But many of India's e-waste recyclers are not recycling waste at all. While some people are storing it in hazardous conditions, others also do not have the capacity to handle such waste, as per the report of Union Ministry of Environment.
Initiative to create awareness in e-waste management
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meaty) has launched an e-waste awareness program under Digital India with industry associations since 2015, to create public awareness about the dangers of e-waste recycling by the unorganized sector. Educate them about alternative methods of disposal of your e-waste.
The program emphasizes the need to adopt environmentally friendly e-waste recycling practices. The program has adopted best practices for globally available e-waste recycling so that the region can create jobs as well as viable business prospects for local people.
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