Recycling of e-waste

 The recycling of E-Waste has gradually increased in the country and the same is reflected in the table below:

Financial Year

Quantity of E-Waste processed in tonnes

2016-17

23330.3

2017-18

69,413.69

2018-19

1,64,663.0

2019-20

2,24,041.0

2020-21

3,54,540.70

2021-22

5,27,131.57

 

The above table reveals that the e waste recycling is increased 22.59 times during 2016-17 to 2021-22. The details of E-Waste collected and processed by the States/ UTs during Financial Year (FY) 2020-21 and FY 2021-22 are given at Annexure 1.

The quantity of E-Waste recycled through Registered Recyclers has increased over the years. The E-Waste recycling units adopt scientific and environmentally sound techniques for recycling of the E-Waste. The E-Waste recycling in scientific and environmentally sound manner as done by the registered recycling units helps to protect the environment and conserve natural resources. Proper recycling of E-Waste, reduces the amount of waste in landfills, number of harmful chemicals released into the environment and prevent soil and water contamination and promote sustainable development and circular economy. The recycling of E-Waste through registered recycling units helps in preventing leakage of E-Waste into informal units which adopts crude and unhealthy techniques causing harmful effects on environment and human health.

Further, Ministry has comprehensively revised the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 in November, 2022 and the same is in force since 1st April, 2023. These new rules intend to manage e-waste in an environmentally sound manner and put in place an improved Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime for e-waste recycling wherein all the manufacturer, producer, refurbisher and recycler are required to register on portal developed by the CPCB. The new provisions would facilitate and channelize the informal sector to formal sector for doing business and ensure recycling of E-waste in environmentally sound manner. Provisions for environmental compensation and verification & audit have also been introduced. These rules also promote Circular Economy through EPR regime and scientific recycling/disposal of the e-waste.

Annexure 1

E-Waste collected and processed during Financial Year (FY) 2020-21 and

FY 2021-22

 

S. No.

State/UTs

FY 2020-21 in tonnes

FY 2021-22 in tonnes

  1.  

Andhra Pradesh

229.084

2021.19

  1.  

Assam

63.2

67.00

  1.  

A&N Island

2.034

0.78

  1.  

Bihar

86

41.07

  1.  

Chhattisgarh

258.1

4167.90

  1.  

Chandigarh

30.8732

67.92

  1.  

Delhi

610.132

2130.79

  1.  

DNH&DD

586.104

12.34

  1.  

Gujarat

109463.8032

30569.32

  1.  

Haryana

---

245015.82

  1.  

Himachal Pradesh

72.944

373.20

  1.  

Jammu & Kashmir

150.559

561.61

  1.  

Jharkhand

95.316

366.71

  1.  

Karnataka

96,192.45

39150.63

  1.  

Kerala

1494

1249.61

  1.  

Madhya Pradesh

419.44

553.59

  1.  

Maharashtra

14546

18559.30

  1.  

Mizoram

19.308

14.85

  1.  

Meghalaya

6.175

---

  1.  

Nagaland

423

---

  1.  

Odisha

398.483

477.54

  1.  

Punjab

384.307

28375.27

  1.  

Puducherry

---

31.77

  1.  

Rajasthan

18742.118

27998.77

  1.  

Sikkim

35.6035

8.47

  1.  

Tamil Nadu

28305.89

31143.21

  1.  

Telangana

38346

42297.68

  1.  

Tripura

12.7812

13.67

  1.  

Uttarakhand

43150.08

51541.12

  1.  

West Bengal

416.891

320.44

 

Total

3,54,540.70

5,27,131.57