What Is E- Waste?

As per the E-Waste Rules 2022, E-waste means electrical and electronic equipment, whole or in part discarded as waste by the consumer or bulk consumer as well as rejects from manufacturing, refurbishment, and repair processes.

E-waste is any discarded electronic products or electrical components. Thus, any discarded product that functions with electricity or battery is E-Waste. These once useful items cover a range of electronic items including televisions, computers, mobile phones, kitchen appliances and white goods.

So, what’s the issue?

Technological devices such as computers, servers, printers and phones have significantly improved our world and the way we do business. All that technology, along with the built in obsolescence, is inevitably going to result in a lot of electronic waste being produced. Unfortunately, as devices reach their end-of-life or become obsolete it becomes potentially hazardous electronic waste (or e-waste) with ensuing disposal and device data protection becoming a growing concern.

The world is producing more than 40 million tons of e-waste annually, and at least some of it incorporates hazardous materials. In 2017 alone, more than 44 million tons of electronic and electrical waste were produced globally, which equates to more than 13 lb. for every person on the planet. “This is equivalent in weight to all the commercial aircraft ever built,” According to a recent PACE/UN report, global e-waste production is on track to reach 120 million tons per year by 2050 if current trends continue.

It’s a global thing. Why should it bother us?

New innovations in information technology because of the rising demand for higher efficiency and productivity in the businesses has led to rapid technology changes and falling prices which have increased the obsolescence rates of the electronic devices. With new cheap devices, society has reaped tremendous benefits. What was new yesterday becomes obsolete today. As Indians become richer and spend more on electronic items, has led to a rapidly escalating issue of end-of-use electronics or e-waste. Lack of awareness of the perils of e-waste and its harmful effects on the environment leads to its improper storage and sales to kabadiwallahs or followed by dumping in municipal waste bins.

According to an Assocham-KPMG study India is the third largest producer of E-waste discarding roughly 20.3 million tonnes. It noted that only 5 per cent of our country's total e-waste gets recycled due to poor infrastructure, and over 95 per cent of e-waste generated is managed by the un-organised sector (Kabadiwalas) and scrap dealers in this market who dismantle the disposed products instead of recycling it.