E-waste Management In India

The electronics industry is the world’s largest and fastest growing manufacturing industry. Recent policy changes in India
have led to an influx of leading multinational companies to set up electronics manufacturing facilities and R&D centres for
hardware and software. This has no doubt helped the Indian economy to grow faster and fueled increase in the consumption
rate of electronics products. Along with the economic growth and availability of electronics goods in the market has
increased temptation of consumers to replace their household electronics items with newer models for various reasons. The
net effect is a higher rate of obsolescence, which is leading to growing piles of e-waste.

The aim of this article is to spread awareness among our readers about the various issues involved in generation and
management of e-waste, particularly from Indian perspective.

What is e-waste?
Electronic waste (e-waste) comprises waste electronics/electrical goods that are not fit for their originally intended use or
have reached their end of life. This may include items such as computers, servers, mainframes, monitors, CDs, printers,
scanners, copiers, calculators, fax machines, battery cells, cellular phones, transceivers, TVs, medical apparatus and
electronic components besides white goods such as refrigerators and air-conditioners.

E-waste contains valuable materials such as copper, silver, gold and platinum which could be processed for their recovery.

Is e-waste hazardous?
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E-waste is not hazardous per se. However, the hazardous constituents present in the e-waste render it hazardous when such
wastes are dismantled and processed, since it is only at this stage that they pose hazard to health and environment.

Electronics and electrical equipment seem efficient and environmentally-friendly, but there are hidden dangers associated
with them once these become e-waste. The harmful materials contained in electronics products, coupled with the fast rate at
which we’re replacing outdated units, pose a real danger to human health if electronics products are not properly processed
prior to disposal.

Electronics products like computers and cellphones contain a lot of different toxins. For example, cathode ray tubes (CRTs)
of computer monitors contain heavy metals such as lead, barium and cadmium, which can be very harmful to health if they
enter the water system. These materials can cause damage to the human nervous and respiratory systems. Flame-retardant
plastics, used in electronics casings, release particles that can damage human endocrine functions. These are the types of
things that can happen when unprocessed e-waste is put directly in landfill.

The scenario
The Basel Action Network (BAN) which works for prevention of globalisation of toxic chemicals has stated in a report that
50 to 80 per cent of e-waste collected by the US is exported to India, China, Pakistan, Taiwan and a number of African
countries. This is done be-cause cheaper labour is available for recycling in these countries. And in the US, export of e-
waste is legal.

e-waste recycling and disposal in China, India and Pakistan are highly polluting. Of late, China has banned import of e-
waste. Export of e-waste by the US is seen as lack of responsibility on the part of Federal Government, electronics industry,
consumers, recyclers and local governments towards viable and sustainable options for disposal of e-waste.

In India, recycling of e-waste is almost entirely left to the informal sector, which does not have adequate means to handle
either the increasing quantities or certain processes, leading to intolerable risk for human health and the environment.

Dynamics of e-waste generation

Telecommunications and information technology are the fastest growing industries today not only in India but world over.
Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT) has collected the following statistics on the growth of
electronics and IT equipment in India:
 1. PC sales were over 7.3 million units during 2007-08, growing by 16 per cent. There is an installed base of over 25 million
units.
2. The consumer electronics market is growing at the rate of 13-15 per cent annually. It has an installed base of 120 million
TVs.
3. The cellular subscriber base was up by 96.86 per cent during 2007-08. Its installed base is estimated to cross 300 million
mark by 2010.

E-Waste Legislation in India:

Prior to the enactment of the E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011; e-waste was covered under the Hazardous Waste
Management (HWM) Rules. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1986, the E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011
were enacted and became effective from 1st May, 2012. These Rules were brought into force to enable recovery and/or reuse of
useful material from e-waste, thereby reducing the hazardous wastes destined for disposal, to ensure the environmentally sound
management of all types of e-waste and to address the safe and environment friendly handling, transporting, storing, and recycling
of e-waste. For the first time, the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) was introduced which made manufacturers
liable for safe disposal of electronic goods.

Thereafter, the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 were enacted in supersession of the 2011 Rules and came into effect from 1st
October, 2016. A manufacturer, dealer, refurbisher and Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) were also brought under the
ambit of these Rules. PRO is a professional organization authorized or financed collectively or individually by producers, which can
take the responsibility for collection and channelization of e-waste generated from their products to ensure environmentally sound
management. An option was given for setting up of a PRO as an additional channel for implementation of EPR by Producers.
Further, collection mechanism based approach was adopted for collection of e-waste by Producers under EPR. Furthermore, the
applicability of the Rules was expanded to cover components, consumables, parts and spares of EEE in addition to the equipments
covered under the Rules.

2018 Amendment to the E-Waste Management Rules and its impact:

The E-Waste Management Rules, 2016 have recently been amended by the Centre; vide notification G. S. R. 261 (E), dated 22nd
March, 2018 to facilitate and effectively implement the environmentally sound management of e-waste in India. These amendments
have been made with the objective of channelizing the e-waste generated in the country towards authorized dismantlers and
recyclers in order to further formalize the e-waste recycling sector.

The amended Rules revise the collection targets under the provision of EPR with effect from 1st October, 2017. By way of revised
targets and monitoring under the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), effective and improved management of e-waste would be
ensured. As per the revised targets of e-waste collection, 10% of the quantity of waste generated shall be collected during 2017-
2018. Further, there shall be a 10% increase every year until the year 2023. After 2023, the E-Waste collection target has been
fixed at 70% of the quantity of waste generation.

Separate collection targets have been introduced for new producers who have recently begun their sales operations. These would
be producers whose sales operations are lesser than the average life of their product.

To undertake the activities prescribed for PROs under these Rules, the PROs shall apply to CPCB for registration. This is a
significant and noteworthy amendment as the requirement of PROs to register with CPCB would ensure that CPCB can constantly
supervise and keep a check on the activities of PROs.

The CPCB may conduct random sampling of electrical and electronic equipment placed in the market to monitor and verify the
compliance of reduction of hazardous substances provisions and the cost of sampling and testing shall be borne by the
Government. However, if the product does not comply with the reduction of hazardous substances provisions, then the cost of the
reduction of hazardous substances test will be borne by the producer.

For effective implementation of the E-Waste Rules, the producers have to take responsibility for their products. A synchronized
endeavour by the industries and the pollution control boards and local authorities is crucial to cope up with the problem of e-waste
in India. The relaxation in the EPR Plan by reduction in the e-waste collection targets and overture of realistic collection targets will
result in increased observance of the E-Waste Rules by organizations. Also, the requirement of PROs to register with CPCB would
aid in the creation of an organized and legitimate industry and would pave way for effective and improved e-waste management in
India.