The total generation of e-waste in India in 2016 was to the tune of 18 lakh metric tonnes by some estimates. It is likely to reach 52 lakh metrics tonnes by 2020 growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 30%.

According to UN studies, in 2016, 44.7 million metric tonnes of e-waste were generated, in which 40.7% of world e-waste was generated in Asia.

Yes, E-waste is hazardous in nature due to the presence of toxic substances in the product.

The hazardous constituents in e-waste are heavy metals like lead, cadmium and mercury, polychlorinated-bi-phenyl (PCB), brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and chromium (VI).

E-waste can be hazardous, when it is disposed and treated in environmentally unsound manner. Direct contact of the harmful materials such as lead, cadmium, chromium, brominated flame retardants or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and exposure to toxic fumes may cause serious health hazards.  Furthermore, recycling activities such as dismantling of electrical equipment without the use of Personal Protective Equipment as specified by the E-waste Management rules, 2016 may potentially bear an increased risk of injury.

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There are 2 categories covered in schedule-I of E-waste Management Rules, 2016:

Information technology and telecommunication equipment:

Centralised data processing: Mainframes, Minicomputers, Personal Computing: Personal and laptop Computers, Notebook, Notepad, (Central Processing Unit with input and output devices), Printers including cartridges, Copying equipment, Electrical and electronic typewriters, User terminals and systems, Facsimile, Telex, Telephones, Pay telephones, cordless telephones, Cellular telephones, Answering systems

Consumer electrical and electronics:

Television sets (including sets based on (Liquid Crystal Display and Light Emitting Diode technology), Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Air-conditioners excluding centralised air conditioning plants, Fluorescent and other Mercury containing lamps

Extended Producer Responsibility’ (EPR) means responsibility of any producer of electrical or electronic equipment, for channelisation of e-waste to ensure environmentally sound management of such waste. Extended Producer Responsibility may comprise of implementing take back system or setting up of collection centres or both and having agreed arrangements with authorised dismantler or recycler either individually or collectively through a Producer Responsibility Organisation recognised by producer or producers in their Extended Producer Responsibility – Authorisation.

The key roles of the producers under EPR are as follows:

• To facilitate return of used electrical and electronic equipment by providing contact details such as address, telephone numbers/helpline number of authorized collection centers to consumer(s) or bulk consumer(s)
• creating awareness through publications, advertisements, posters, or by any other means of communication and information booklets accompanying the equipment, with regard to:
• information on hazardous constituents as detailed in sub-rule 1 of rule 13 in EEE
• information on hazards of improper handling, accidental breakage, damage and/or improper recycling of e-waste
• instructions for handling the equipment after its use, along with the Do’s and Don’ts

affixing a visible, legible and indelible symbol on the products or information booklets to prevent e-waste from being dropped in garbage bins

We should dispose off our e-waste in proper manner so that it reaches to the authorised recycler for recovery of precious metals and protection of the environment and health from toxic substances contained in e-waste. This will help us to create a system for circular economy.

• Give your e-waste to the nearest authorised e-waste collection centres/recyclers
• Call to the producer/ manufacturers for e-waste collection
• Participate in Producers’ e-waste take-back programme
• Contact to the dealer for e-waste collection
• Participate in E-waste Awareness programme of MeitY for more information

Consumers of electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I shall ensure that e-waste generated by them is channelized through collection centre or dealer of authorised producer or dismantler or recycler or through the designated take back service provider of the producer to authorised dismantler or recycler.

• Coordination with State Pollution Control Boards/ Committees of Union territories
• Preparation of Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Management of e-waste
• Conduct assessment of e-waste generation and processing
• Recommend standards and specifications for processing and recycling e-waste
• Documentation, compilation of data on e-waste and uploading on websites of Central Pollution Control Board
• Conducting training & awareness programmes
• Submit Annual Report to the Ministry of Environment & Forests
• Enforcement of provisions regarding reduction in use of hazardous substances in manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment
• Initiatives for IT industry for reducing hazardous substances

Each stakeholder has a separate responsibility as per the E-Waste (Management) Rules 2016, the manufacture, the bulk consumer / Consumer, recycler etc. Now, that Bulk Consumers are enterprise or house of business which uses electronics in bulk for their course of business and hence is also under the rules to ensure compliance, till date for individual consumers there is no such compliance but as a key stakeholder, an individual should support the entire eco-system to ensure protection of the environment. And, is always recommended to encourage group, children, family, and friends etc not to dispose e-waste in landfill or hand-over to scrap dealers or unauthorised vendors.

E-Waste can pose serious health concerns if not handled properly, metals used in an electronic or electrical product contains hazardous elements like mercury, lead, cobalt etc. If these materials come in contact with your health, in any form through air or water, can be life threatening. And, it is mandatory for all of us to hand-over or dispose e-waste through authorised recyclers or management companies only.

The objectives of the E-waste Rules is to put in place an effective mechanism to regulate the generation, collection, storage, transport, import, export, (environmentally sound) recycling, treatment and disposal of E-wastes thereby reducing to a minimum those destined for final disposal.