India’s E-Waste Generation Rises

Policymakers flag gaps in Extended Producer Responsibility implementation at Paryavaran NITI Manthan. India loses recoverable e-waste materials worth nearly ₹51,000 crore.

E-Waste Management in India:

Dimension	Key Details
Global Position	India is the 3rd largest e-waste generator globally.
E-Waste Generation	E-waste generation has increased from around 2.76 MMT in 2020 to around 6.19 MMT in 2024.
Projection	E-waste generation is projected to reach 14 MMT by 2030.
Recoverable Value	India loses recoverable e-waste materials worth nearly ₹51,000 crore.
Weak Enforcement	Weak enforcement allows spurious and non-operational recyclers to distort EPR markets through fraudulent certification.
Formal Recycling Rate	India’s formal recycling rate is 10%, compared to the global average of around 22% and 56% in the USA.
EPR Coverage	EPR coverage in e-waste recycling is limited to gold, copper, iron, and aluminium.
Other Issues	Other issues comprise low skills, limited access to advanced recycling processes, collection inefficiencies, and low consumer awareness.
E-Waste Rules	The E-Waste Management Rules, 2022 strengthen the EPR framework for producers and recyclers.
EPR Portal	The EPR E-Waste Portal and Trading Platform has been developed by CPCB for registration, tracking, monitoring, and EPR certificate trading.
Battery Waste Rules	The Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 mandate collection, recycling, and refurbishment targets and prohibit landfill disposal and incineration.
National Critical Mineral Mission	The National Critical Mineral Mission provides for domestic recycling capacity for critical minerals from lithium-ion batteries, e-waste, and industrial scrap.