E-Waste Recycling in India

The focus on repairing products by harvesting components from used goods operates outside formal frameworks, hindering the potential for recycling to become a major source of raw materials.

Current Scenario

• India is pushing local electronics manufacturing, including semiconductor fabrication and electronics component manufacturing.
• Millions of tonnes of consumer electronics and appliances are disposed of yearly, with a focus on extracting valuable metals and elements.
• India accounts for about 4% of global electronics consumption.
• The government introduced a ₹1,500 crore mineral recycling scheme in September.

Recycling Initiatives and Challenges

• Recycling elements such as copper, aluminium, nickel, cobalt, and lithium is gaining importance.
• The "extended producer responsibility" (EPR) framework mandates manufacturers to collect appliances and electronics for recycling.
• The informal sector dominates e-waste recycling, frustrating policymakers due to its inefficiencies and lack of formal structure.
• Accusations of "paper trading" exist, with some recyclers overstating recycling efforts to gain incentives.

Issues and Suggestions

• Dr. Sandip Chatterjee highlights the need for third-party audits for environmental safeguarding and material traceability.
• Inventorying is critical to ensure visibility into the life cycle of products and proper e-waste tracking.
• India generated an estimated 4.17 million metric tonnes of e-waste in 2022, with only one-third processed through proper channels.

Efforts and Future Potential

• The Central Pollution Control Board has started auditing recyclers, with over 50 firms audited in recent months.
• Attero, a recycling firm, aggregates informal setups into a structured stream and emphasizes the potential for India to meet 70% of its rare earth material requirements within 18 months.
• Key materials recovered include gold, copper, aluminium, and steel.