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.
