Electronic wastes, "e-waste", "e-scrap", or "Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment" ("WEEE") is a description of surplus, obsolete, broken or discarded electrical or electronic devices. Technically, electronic "waste" is the component which is dumped or disposed or discarded rather than recycled, including residue from reuse and recycling operations. Because loads of surplus electronics are frequently coming led (good, recyclable, and non-recyclable), several public policy advocates apply the term "e-waste" broadly to all surplus electronics.
Electronic Waste – or e-waste – is the term used to describe old, end-of-life electronic appliances such as computers, laptops, TVs, DVD players, mobile phones, mp3 players etc. which have been disposed of by their original users. While there is no generally accepted definition of e-waste, in most cases, e-waste comprises of relatively expensive and essentially durable products used for data processing, telecommunications or entertainment in private households and businesses.
The rising levels of e-waste generation in India have been a matter of concern in recent years. With more than 100 crore mobile phones in circulation, nearly 25 per cent end up in e-waste annually.“India has surely emerged as the second largest mobile market with 1.03 billion subscribers, but also the fifth largest producer of e-waste in the world, discarding roughly 18.5 lakh metric tonnes of electronic waste each year, with telecom equipment alone accounting for 12 per cent of the e-waste’’.
The fastest growing sources of waste and is estimated to be increasing by 16-28 per cent every five years. Within each sector a complex set of heterogeneous secondary wastes is created. Although treatment requirements are complicated, the sources from any one sector possess many common characteristics. However, there exist huge variations in the nature of electronic wastes between sectors, and treatment regimes appropriate for one cannot be readily transferred to another.
E-Waste or Electronic Waste broadly describes loosely discarded, surplus, broken, obsolete, electrical and electronic devices. E-Waste is an area of immediate and long-term concern as its unregulated accumulation and recycling can lead to major environmental degradation which will pose a major threat to human health. Revolution of IT, new and innovative technologies and globalization of economy have made new electronic products available and affordable. But on the other hand, it has also led to unrestrained resource consumption and E-Waste generation.
Electronic waste (e-waste) typically includes discarded computer monitors, motherboards, mobile phones and chargers, compact discs, headphones, television sets, air conditioners and refrigerators. According to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2017, India generates about 2 million tonnes (MT) of e-waste annually and ranks fifth among e-waste producing countries, after the US, China, Japan and Germany. In 2016-17, India treated only 0.036 MT of its e-waste. About 95 per cent of India’s e-waste is recycled in the informal sector and in a crude manner. Only 20 per cent of global e-waste is recycled.
The market in Asia-Pacific has been categorized as China, Japan, India, and the rest of Asia-Pacific. The market in Asia-Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR of 15.25% during the forecast period. Japan is expected to be a leading country-level market and is expected to register a 12.75% CAGR. India is expected to be the fastest-growing country-level market, expected to register the highest CAGR over the next few years. This is due to the growing population in the region. Also, growing awareness of e-waste recycling and government initiatives are the major factors for the growth of the market.
India is emerging as one of the world's major electronic waste generators, posing grave concerns to public health and environment alike.Industry body Assocham, said India’s ‘production’ of e-waste is likely to increase by nearly three times, from the existing 18 lakh metric tons (MT) to 52 lakh MT) per annum by 2020 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 30%.The Global Electronic Waste Recycling Market is expected to expand at 13.03% CAGR to reach a market value of 39,498.81 Million in 2024.
A mere 1.5% of India's total e-waste gets recycled due to poor infrastructure, legislation and framework which leads to a waste of diminishing natural resources, irreparable damage of environment and health of the people working in industry. Over 95% of e-waste generated is managed by the unorganized sector and scrap dealers in this market, dismantle the disposed products instead of recycling it.
Few Indian major players are as under
E-ParisaraaPvt Ltd
Attero India Pvt Ltd,
E-waste Recyclers India,
Eco Recycling Limited (ECORECO),
Hi-Tech Recycling India Pvt. Ltd.,
Ultrust Solutions Pvt. Ltd.,
