Understanding E-waste Management Challenges and Solutions | UPSC

Introduction

• E-waste recycler Attero has announced entry into the D2C sector with the launch of an integrated e-waste Consumer Take-Back platform– Selsmart.
•  The platform aims to transform the e-waste recycling landscape and combat India’s burgeoning e-waste crisis, projected to reach 14 million tonnes by 2030.

What is E-waste?

• Definition: E-waste consists of all waste from Electronic and Electrical Equipments (EEE) which have reached their end- of- life period or are no longer fit for their original intended use and are destined for recovery, recycling or disposal.  
• Categories:  It covers the three broad categories of electronic goods:
  • • White: Refrigerators, washing machines and air-conditioners
    • Grey: Desktop computers, laptops, cellphones and printers and 
    • Brown: Television sets, cameras and recorders. 
    • Half of the e-waste these products generate is iron and steel, 21% plastic and 13% copper, aluminium and precious metals. 
• Composition: The composition of e-waste is diverse and falls under ‘hazardous’ and ‘non-hazardous’ categories. 
  • • The hazardous and toxic substances found in e-waste include lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in printed circuit boards (PCBs). 
    • Aluminum found in electronic goods, copper and gold in computer parts are considered to be non- hazardous. Plastic and glass parts are generally not hazardous as well.

Why is There Need to Manage E- waste?

• Global Situation: According to Global E-waste Monitor 2024, the world’s generation of electronic waste is rising five times faster than documented e-waste recycling.
  • • Worldwide, the annual generation of e-waste is rising by 2.6 million tonnes annually, on track to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030, a further 33% increase from the 2022 figure. 
    • Countries in Asia generate almost half of the world’s e-waste (30 billion kg) but have made limited advances in e-waste management and relatively few of them have enacted legislation or established clear e-waste collection targets. 

• Ecological Imperative: Recycling and management of e waste can shield living beings and the environment from toxic substances, such as brominated flame retardants (BFR) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), found in many electronic devices. 
• Economic Value: The world produces as much as 50 million tonnes of electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) a year. Only 20% of this is formally recycled. 
  • • Improper management of e-waste is resulting in a significant loss of scarce and valuable raw materials, such as gold, platinum, cobalt and rare earth elements. 
    • The Global E-waste Monitor describes e-waste as an ‘urban mine’ because the critical and non-critical metals in it can be recycled as secondary raw materials.
• Security Reasons: For security reasons, it is important not to dispose of your electronic gadgets carelessly, as personal data may still remain even after deletion. 
  • • Before a device is disposed of, it can be thoroughly cleaned by recycling businesses, making it difficult for cybercriminals to access any remaining information.
• Impacts Human Health: Polychlorinated biphenyl found in capacitors and transformers is known to be highly toxic, impacting the immune and reproductive systems and possibly even causes cancer. 
  • • Open burning of circuit boards and polyvinyl chloride-insulated copper cables, releases pollutants, causing respiratory damage.

• Environmental Hazard: Open incineration and acid leeching often used by informal workers are directly impacting the environment and posing serious health risks. 
  • • The informal disposal of e-waste contaminates water, soil and air and eventually reaches our food streams too. 

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Global Initiatives for E-waste Management

• Basel Convention: The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is the most comprehensive global environmental agreement.
  • • It was signed on 22 March 1989 and entered into force on 5 May 1992.  The Convention. India is a member of the Basel Convention.
    • It aims to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects resulting from the generation, transboundary movements and management of hazardous wastes and other wastes.
    • The Nairobi Declaration was adopted at COP9 of the Basel Convention on the Control of the Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous Waste. It aimed at creating innovative solutions for the environmentally sound management of electronic wastes. 
• Bamako Convention: The Bamako Convention is a treaty of African nations prohibiting the import into Africa of any hazardous (including radioactive) waste. The convention came into force in 1998.
• Rotterdam Convention: It regulates trade in hazardous wastes but contains no commitment to reduce their use and release. 
  • • Adopted in September, 1998, the Rotterdam Convention came into force in February, 2004.  India acceded to the Convention in 2006.
• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive of the European Union:  The objective of the Directive is to promote re-use, recycling and other forms of recovery of WEEE.
• Global E-waste Monitor: The Global E-waste Monitor is a collaborative effort between the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Sustainable Cycles (SCYCLE) Programme currently co-hosted by the United Nations University. It provides the most comprehensive overview of global e-waste statistics, including an overview of the magnitude of the e-waste challenges in different regions. 

E-waste in India  

E-Waste in India:

• • •  E-waste has become a significant toxic waste stream in India, which is both an emerging economy and the second most populous country globally.
    • The rapid growth of India’s IT sector has led to an increase in the use of electronic products.
    • Technological advancements have also shortened the life cycle of these products.
    • According to the Global E-waste Monitor 2020, India is now the world’s third-largest source of e-waste, following China and the US.
    • The Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) Industry Report 2021 projects that India’s electronics industry will grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.6%, rising from USD 215 billion in FY19 to USD 540 billion by FY25, contributing to higher volumes of e-waste.

Generation of E-Waste

• • • According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India generated over 10 lakh tonnes of e-waste in 2019-20, up from 7 lakh tonnes in 2017-18.
    • Despite this increase, the e-waste dismantling capacity has remained at 7.82 lakh tonnes since 2017-18.

Waste Importation: 

• • • India is one of the largest importers of waste globally.
    • Various types of waste, including hazardous and toxic materials, are imported as cheap raw materials.

E-Waste Management:

• • •  E-waste in India is primarily managed by two sectors:
    • Formal Sector: Regulated and organized sector.
    • Informal Sector: Unregulated and often involves informal practices.

 

E-waste Recycling in India: Informal and Formal Sectors

Informal Sector

• Overview: E-waste management in India is predominantly handled by the informal sector, which primarily operates in the urban slums of major cities and mini-metros.
  • • Over 95% of e-waste is recycled by scrap dealers who engage in unscientific disposal methods, posing health and environmental risks and reducing the recovery of precious metals.
    • Non-formal e-waste recycling units are scattered across India, with significant clusters in Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, and others.
    • These units typically collect e-waste from rag pickers, disassemble products to retrieve usable parts, and then chemically treat the remaining materials to recover valuable metals.
      • Inadequate treatment methods can lead to the leaching of hazardous substances into air, soil, and water.
      • The recycling process is less efficient, recovering only valuable metals like gold, silver, aluminum, and copper, while other materials such as tantalum, cadmium, zinc, and palladium are often not recovered.

Formal Sector

• Overview: The formal e-waste management sector in India consists of government-authorized companies or agencies responsible for environmentally safe collection, recycling, and disposal of e-waste.
  • • These entities use modern equipment and ensure a safe and healthy environment for workers, promoting efficient recycling and disposal practices.
      • Advanced processes and technologies are employed for effective metal recovery.
      • The high cost of capital equipment and techniques is offset by the volume of e-waste processed, making the recovery economically viable.
    • The efficiency of recovery in the formal sector is high, with capabilities to recover metals at trace levels and some technologies employing a zero-landfill approach.
    • Clients of formal recyclers include multinational companies that seek to maintain an environmentally friendly image and prevent their products from entering the grey market and competing with new products.

Government Initiatives in India

E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022

• • • Applicability: Effective from 1 April 2023, these rules apply to all entities involved in the manufacturing, sale, transfer, purchase, refurbishing, dismantling, recycling, and processing of e-waste and electronic equipment.
    • Restrictions: The rules mandate the reduction of harmful substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium in electronic equipment to protect human health and the environment.
    • EPR Certificates: Companies are required to secure Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates, which certify the amount of e-waste collected and recycled annually. Companies can trade surplus quantities to help others meet their obligations.
    • Strict Monitoring: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will conduct random sampling of electrical and electronic equipment to ensure compliance with hazardous substance reduction provisions.
    • Reuse and Recycling: Manufacturers must use technology that makes products recyclable and ensure compatibility of components from different manufacturers to reduce e-waste.
    • Disposal: Manufacturers are responsible for collecting and ensuring the recycling or disposal of e-waste generated during production. However, this does not apply to waste batteries, packaging plastics, micro enterprises, and radioactive waste.

Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS)

• • • Incentive: Provides a 25% financial incentive on capital expenditure for establishing modern recycling facilities that extract precious metals from e-waste.

E-Waste Awareness Programme

• • • Objective: Run by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, this program aims to raise awareness about the environmental and health impacts of polluting recycling technologies used in the unorganized sector.

Department of Information Technology (DIT) Initiatives

• • • Focus: Encourages research and development to create cost-effective and eco-friendly e-waste management methods.

Hazardous Wastes Amendment Rules, 2019

• • • Regulation: Prohibits the import of solid plastic waste into India within Special Economic Zones (SEZ).

E-Waste Recyclers

• • • Notable Recycler: E-Parisaraa in Bengaluru is India’s first government-authorized electronic waste recycler, focusing on eco-friendly handling, recycling, and reusing of e-waste. There are currently 567 authorized recyclers operating across the country.

Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO)

• • • Role: Established under the E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016, PROs act as intermediaries between electronic goods manufacturers and formal recycling units, equipped to recycle end-of-life electronic goods safely and efficiently.

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Challenges in E-waste Management in India 

Health Hazard

• • • Informal workers, often known as ‘waste pickers,’ face significant health risks due to inadequate access to healthcare, food security, and fair wages.
    • These workers often operate without protective gear, such as gloves or masks, leading to dangerous working conditions.

Inefficient Legislation

• • • The unorganized sector lacks clear guidelines for handling e-waste, leaving informal e-waste workers without legal rights and adequate social protection, such as pensions and health insurance.
    • Despite their substantial contribution to the labor market and economy, informal sector workers are not regulated by the government, contributing to the sector’s status as a grey labor market.

Lack of Clarity

• • • There is confusion regarding the differentiation between banned e-waste and permissible second-hand electronic goods, leading to the continued influx of restricted e-waste into the informal sector.

Lack of Incentives

• • • There are no incentives to encourage informal sector workers to transition to formal e-waste handling practices.

Gender and Waste Nexus

• • • Women represent a significant portion of waste pickers in lower-tier roles, such as collectors and crude separators at landfill sites. Men predominantly hold skilled positions, including managers, machinery operators, truck drivers, scrap dealers, repair workers, and recycling traders.

E-Waste Imports

• • • A major challenge is the cross-border flow of e-waste, with 80% of e-waste from developed countries being sent to developing nations like India, China, Ghana, and Nigeria for recycling.

Security Implications

• • • End-of-life computers often contain sensitive personal information and bank details, which can pose security risks if not properly deleted.

Reluctance of Authorities

• • • There is a lack of coordination among authorities responsible for e-waste management and disposal, including limited involvement of municipalities.

Lack of Capital

• • • The absence of a robust e-waste collection chain in India hampers recycling efforts. Recycling is largely conducted by the informal sector using manual dismantling, open burning, melting, and uncontrolled leaching methods.

Poor Infrastructure

• • • India has limited infrastructure capacity for large-scale e-waste management, with government-approved recycling centers handling only about one-fifth of the total e-waste generated annually.

Lack of Awareness

• • • Public awareness of e-waste hazards is low in India, resulting in minimal recycling efforts.

Way Forward

Circular Economy (CE)

• • • Concept: The Circular Economy is a sustainable alternative to the traditional linear economic model (take-make-dispose). It focuses on reducing waste by reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling materials and products.
    • India’s Context: Although India has abundant iron ore and bauxite, it relies on imports for essential materials like copper, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths needed for electronics production.
    • Advantages: Adopting a Circular Economy approach can help manage e-waste effectively while fostering growth in the domestic electronics manufacturing sector. End-of-life electronics contain valuable secondary materials such as precious metals, steel, aluminum, copper, and plastics.
    • Outcomes: Transitioning to a circular electronics sector could benefit producers, consumers, society, and the environment.

Need to Increase Collection

• • • Investment: Greater investment in environmentally friendly waste-recycling technologies is needed to develop the domestic recycling industry through blended financing options.
    • Innovation: This will encourage innovation, create new business models, and integrate the informal sector into formal recycling efforts.

Engaging the Consumers

• • • Awareness: Educate consumers about their role in safe e-waste management.
    • Incentives: Implement incentive systems for consumers to return e-waste to authorized collectors.
    • Convenience: Make e-waste collection easy and hassle-free by offering home-collection services.
    • Policy: Develop an Electronic Upgradation Policy that mandates manufacturers to receive, upgrade, donate, or resell their products.

Infrastructure

• • • Development: Build sustainable infrastructure for e-waste management, including disposal zones, green transport in the supply chain, and warehouses for e-waste storage.
    • Manufacturing: Enhance manufacturing capabilities to produce durable products with longer lifespans and effective end-of-life procurement.

Technology

• • • Advancement: Invest in or develop technology for the sustainable extraction of valuable metals from e-waste to prevent wastage.

Monitoring

• • • Accountability: Implement accountability and transparency in the reverse supply chain and recycling processes.
    • Feedback Loop: Establish a feedback and monitoring system for all stakeholders, including consumers, producers, and repairers.
    • Tracking: Ensure that each electronic device’s unique product number is tracked throughout its lifecycle and recycling process.

Partners

• • • Network of Networks: Given the dominance of the informal sector in e-waste recycling, a network of networks approach is suitable. This includes collaborating with NGOs, rag-pickers associations, and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) experienced in solid waste collection from initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Policy

• • • Holistic Approach: Develop a comprehensive e-waste policy that defines a sustainable reverse supply chain and regulates the informal sector.
    • Incentives for Training: Incentivize producers and companies to provide training and certification for informal sector players involved in repairing, recycling, and reselling electronic products.