Context:

A recent report by the Indian Cellular and Electronic Association (ICEA) in collaboration with Accenture has shed light on a pressing issue – approximately 206 million electronic devices, including smartphones and laptops, are currently unused in households.

Key Findings:

• Device Hoarding: 40% of respondents admitted to hoarding four or more unused devices for extended periods.
• Lack of Awareness: Alarming data reveals that two out of five consumers have not considered recycling their electronic devices.
• Continuous Accumulation: In 2021 alone, a staggering 75 million devices were added to the growing pool of idle inventory.
• Informal Sector Dominance: 90% of end-of-cycle phones are collected, and 70% of recycling is still carried out by the informal sector.

About E-Waste:

• Definition: E-waste encompasses discarded electronic equipment that is either malfunctioning, beyond repair, outdated, or commercially unviable.
• Toxic Threat: E-waste releases hazardous substances such as mercury, lead, cadmium, polychlorinated biphenyls, benzene, and dioxins into the environment.
• Legal Framework: Since 2011, India has introduced laws like the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, and the recent E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, to formalise e-waste management.
• E-Waste Clinics: The first e-waste clinic in Bhopal specializes in segregating, processing, and disposing of household and commercial e-waste.
• Nairobi Declaration 2006: The Nairobi Declaration, adopted during COP-9 of the Basel Convention, aims to regulate the trans-boundary movement of hazardous waste.

Challenges in E-Waste Management:

• Health Hazards: The escalating e-waste crisis, as per WHO, is jeopardising lives and health, particularly for around 12.9 million women employed in the informal waste sector. They face risks like negative birth outcomes, neurological disorders, and DNA damage.
• Illegal Dumping in India: Despite the government’s ban on e-waste imports and its listing under the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, there have been 29 cases of illegal e-waste importation between 2019 and 2021.
• Environmental Pollution: Improper disposal or recycling of e-waste allows hazardous materials to seep into soil and water, posing severe threats to ecosystems, human health, and wildlife. 
  • Studies in Delhi’s Krishna Vihar industrial area have uncovered toxic heavy metals leaching into soil and groundwater.
• Rapid Device Replacement: The swift pace of technological advancement encourages consumers to discard functional but outdated devices in favour of newer models, exacerbating the e-waste issue.
• Consumer Behaviour: Factors like inadequate economic incentives, emotional attachment to devices, and low awareness contribute to low e-waste recycling rates.

The Way Forward:

• Circular Economy: Transition from a linear “take, make, and dispose” model to one that emphasises restoration and regeneration. ICEA-Accenture predicts a $13 billion market for circular electronics by 2035.
• Right to Repair: Advocate for consumers’ rights to independently repair and modify their electronics, combating manufacturer restrictions.
• LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) Approach: Encourage repairing and prolonged device use, e-recycling, the use of rechargeable lithium cells, and cloud storage over hard drives.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, implement EPR, obligating electrical and electronic equipment producers to meet annual e-waste collection and recycling targets based on prior sales.
• Donate E-Waste: Facilitate the donation of unused electronics to those in need, benefiting both donors and receivers.

Conclusion:

Nations must strive for effective and sustainable e-waste management to mitigate environmental and health repercussions while maximising economic gains from recycling and resource recovery.