Page 65 - CIJ April 2025- Digital Edition

MAKING A POINT

the e-waste chain including a major contributor as solar
manufacturers, refurbishers, adoption increases. In India,
dealers, consumers, recyclers, e-waste now includes a wide
and even state governments was range of devices from VCRs and
assigned a defined role. fax machines to smartphones,
The new definition of e-bikes, and gaming consoles.
e-waste was also more specific:
“Electrical and electronic The Informal Sector
equipment, whole or in part, Challenge
discarded as waste by the India’s e-waste management
consumer or bulk consumer, story, however, is incomplete
as well as rejects from without addressing the informal
manufacturing, refurbishment, sector, which processes over 95%
and repair processes.”
of the country’s e-waste. Lacking
regulatory oversight, these
2018 Amendment: recyclers often use crude methods
A Practical Shift that release toxic pollutants,
Recognizing implementation exposing themselves — and
challenges, the 2018 amendment especially women and children
brought flexibility to the — to long-term health hazards.
framework. Collection targets While the formal sector
were restructured -- 10% in follows the dismantling and
2017–18, 20% in 2018–19, segregation protocols laid out
increasing annually. Another in the law, it plays a limited
significant change was the role in final disposal. The
shift in responsibility for informal sector, by contrast,
market compliance testing carries out recycling but without
from producers to the Central adequate safety measures or
Pollution Control Board environmental safeguards.
(CPCB), with the government
bearing the cost of testing. Bridging the Gap
Bringing the informal sector
Why These Rules under the fold of regulation
Matter is now the most urgent need.
According to a UN report, Efforts must be made to educate,
global e-waste is increasing incentivise, and integrate
informal workers into the
five times faster than e-waste formal economy. Only then
recycling. In 2022, a record 62 can India hope to ensure the
million tonnes of e-waste were safe, sustainable, and inclusive
generated enough to circle the management of its growing
equator in bumper-to-bumper mountain of electronic waste.
40-tonne trucks. By 2030, this
is expected to rise to 82 million As technology continues to
tonnes. Rare earth elements, permeate every aspect of life,
crucial for modern technology, the 3Rs — Reduce, Reuse, and
are being squandered; only 1% Recycle — must become central
of global demand for these is to consumer behaviour, supported
currently met by recycling. by consistent enforcement and
Small household equipment widespread awareness. Only with
such a multi-pronged approach
like microwaves, kettles, vacuum can the nation hope to transform
cleaners, etc., constitutes the bulk its e-waste from a liability into an
of e-waste. Even photovoltaic opportunity.
(solar) panels, currently a small
fraction, are predicted to become Compiled by Rajashri Ramakrishnan
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www.cleanindiajournal.com•Clean India Journal•APRIL 2025