E-Waste Management in India : A Study of Current Scenario

Whenever we think of waste, we think only in terms of garbage or solid/semi-solid waste and not anything else. In the last ten years, e-waste has become a global issue. India too generates a large quantity of electronic waste i.e. e-waste every year. Sadly e-waste is something which does not get much media coverage; hence people's awareness regarding e-waste is quite low. E-waste recycling is a concept barely in existent in India. As a result, the electronic waste generated is often dumped in rivers or dump yards without proper recycling or treatment. This is hazardous on various levels; for both the environment and personal health. The present paper highlights the scenario of e-waste in India and other parts of globe. It also exhibits the trends of e-waste in India through a comparison with other countries. The study reveals that Computer equipment and mobile telephones are identified as the principal e-waste generators in India. Computers contributed towards 70 per cent of the total e-waste generated in India, while telecommunication equipment accounted for 12 per cent. Among cities, Mumbai topped the list as it generated an estimated 1, 20,000 tonnes of e-waste annually. Delhi and Bengaluru ranked second and third, with 98,000 and 92,000 tonnes of e-waste generation respectively. State-wise Maharashtra is ranked first in generation of electronic waste, followed by Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Approximately 70 per cent of heavy metals found in landfills are accounted for by E-waste. The paper, in the end also offers suggestions to deal with the Challenges and problems of e-waste