Global E-Waste Crisis: How India Can Turn the Problem Into an Opportunity

As tech becomes increasingly ingrained into our everyday lives, e-waste piles mount. India is one of the world’s largest producers of e-waste, and it would seem that India needs to gear up for another massive waste management problem facing us.

Currently generating over 1.7 million tonnes, e-waste generation has surged by about 73 percent over the past five years, and it is stated to still rise to over 29 million tonnes by 2030. 

Rising consumerism, disposable income, and technological advancements have contributed to this rapid growth. E-waste primarily includes computer equipment, telecommunication equipment, electrical equipment, batteries, medical equipment, etc.

It can contain lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and highly flammable lithium, amongst other problematic ingredients. The problem with e-waste going untreated is huge. Lead, mercury, and cadmium can leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater, thus affecting ecosystems and agricultural areas.

Due to the presence of flammable elements, improper disposal and burning of e-waste releases dioxins, etc, degrading air quality. With increasing adoption of EVs and portable electronics, battery waste is a rapidly growing component of e-waste.

There has been an explosion in the adoption of electric vehicles, smartphones and other portable electronics, which has given rise to an unprecedented demand for lithium ion batteries, adding to the growing e-waste mountain.

Lithium batteries, especially, are a concern due to their complex chemistries which have not yet been standardised, and can contain a host of toxic elements in unknown quantities, and they are quickly piling on the growing e-waste mountain. 

The e-waste sector is dominated by the informal recycling sector, such as waste pickers and scrap dealers. Exposure to e-waste can cause a host of problems in humans. Much of the time, people at the frontline of e-waste management are without proper safety measures and are directly exposed to toxic substances, hence facing respiratory problems and skin disorders.

It is known that prolonged exposure to mercury and cadmium is linked to neurological disorders and cancer, though data is not sufficient to state that the same is the case for e-waste pickers in India but it can surely be inferred. The toxic exposure for informal sector recyclers happens due to open burning (to recover valuable metals, recyclers burn off plastic casings and wires) acid baths, manual dismantling, etc. all of which release toxic fumes. Ewaste can be bulky and overfill landfills. Global trade also must be addressed, as developed nations often export their e-waste, taking advantage of stringent environmental regulations in third world countries.

It is not all bad news. Along with hazardous chemicals, e-waste also contains gold, silver, copper and rare earth metals. Batteries, especially considering they are a highly important component of e-waste, are a veritable mine from which metals can be recovered and reused. The current infrastructure is inadequate to recycle all e-waste generated, as in 2022 India only recycled 32 percent of the e-waste generated that year.

When it comes to the battery component of e-waste, India generates about 70000 tonnes annually, and that is stated to increase. The Indian e-waste management market is valued at an estimated 1.66 billion dollars and is projected to reach over 5 billion.

India can formalise the e-waste infrastructure to address a range of these problems, and turn the same problems to opportunities. Strengthening infrastructure can establish authorised recycling facilities and promote responsible recycling. Mandating safe-handling recycling will also definitely curb the release of toxic materials from improper handling and protect waste pickers and informal sector players from occupational hazards as well as standardise pay and provide opportunities for growth in a sector they are already involved in.  

Being a mine for valuable metals, e-waste can be used as a source of valuable metals. Recovering metals from waste contributes to resource efficiency and thus saves costs as well. Recycling e-waste scrupulously can ensure a circular economy of metals and reduce import and mining dependence. There is a huge opportunity in battery recycling as this can create a circular economy for battery materials like lithium cobalt nickel, which India is trying to secure supply for.

The government is making a push to secure the critical mineral needs of the country; hence, sourcing from recycled metals presents a huge opportunity, and recycling must be enabled. Overall, recycling e-waste will reduce the load on landfills and, by extension, the environment. Using recycled materials in manufacturing can reduce the environmental footprint of production as well.

The growing e-waste sector presents an attractive investment opportunity, and the market itself is expected to experience significant growth in the coming years. A strong regulatory framework and incentivising recycling will help realise the economic potential of recycling. Investment development and tech advancement will also be propelled when recycling is encouraged and enabled with investment to process maximum e-waste; recycling can create huge value out of waste. 

By strategically addressing the e-waste challenge, India can unlock significant economic opportunities and establish itself as a leader in sustainable resource management.

Manikumar Uppala is Co Founder and Chief of Industrial Engineering at Metastable Materials. Views expressed are the author's own.