India’s rising e-waste, the need to recast its management, Pg6

• India’s e-waste generation rose 151% between 2017–18 and 2023–24.

  • India ranks among the top 5 e-waste generators globally, alongside China and the U.S.

  • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mandates producers to manage product lifecycle waste.

  • Only 10% of e-waste is processed via formal channels, the rest through informal, unsafe recycling.

  • E-waste management contributes to urban pollution, toxic exposure, and $10 billion loss annually.

  • The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 introduced a floor price to stabilise and reform recycling practices.

• Informal sector dominance in e-waste management results in:

  • Unsafe recycling using acid baths, open burning.

    • Leaching of toxic metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, and pollution of soil and water bodies.

    • Health threats for workers due to poor safety standards.

  • Economic costs include:

    • $20 billion in lost value.

    • $10 billion in damages from environmental degradation.

  • The EPR floor price mechanism is designed to:

    • Ensure stable prices for recyclers.

    • Shift focus toward resource efficiency and responsible disposal.

    • Promote formalisation of the recycling industry.

  • Challenges:

    • Potential cost inflation due to higher EPR prices.

    • Industry resistance citing affordability.

    • Ensuring compliance and enforcement, especially among producers and brand owners.

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Environmental policy that holds producers responsible for post-consumer stage of a product’s lifecycle.

  • Toxicology: Understanding the effects of e-waste chemicals like lead and mercury on human and ecological health.

  • Circular Economy: Economic model focusing on reusing, recycling, and reducing waste to maintain material value in the economy.

• E-waste recycling is critical for India’s resource security, urban environmental health, and green technology leadership.

  • Aligns with India's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

  • With global e-waste growing rapidly, India’s proactive stance signals potential leadership in circular economic practices.

Mains Mock Question:

Discuss the importance of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in India’s e-waste management strategy. How does the 2022 E-waste Management Rules address the key challenges?