Brief Context
Context Thailand seized 284 tonnes of US imported e-waste falsely labelled as scrap metal, highlighting concerns over transboundary hazardous waste and “exporting pollution.” What is E-Waste? E-waste refers to discarded electrical and electronic devices such as computers, circuit boards, mobile phones, and appliances. It contains hazardous materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants.
Source Content
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
Context
- Thailand seized 284 tonnes of US imported e-waste falsely labelled as scrap metal, highlighting concerns over transboundary hazardous waste and “exporting pollution.”
What is E-Waste?
- E-waste refers to discarded electrical and electronic devices such as computers, circuit boards, mobile phones, and appliances.
- It contains hazardous materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants.
- Improper disposal leads to soil contamination, water pollution, and health hazards.
Why Do Developed Countries Export E-Waste?
- Recycling e-waste is technologically complex and costly in developed countries.
- Developing countries usually have lower environmental regulations and cheaper labour for informal recycling.
- This leads to the phenomenon of “waste colonialism”, where pollution is shifted to poorer nations.
India’s E-Waste Scenario
- India ranks as the third-largest producer of electronic waste globally, following China and the United States.
- According to the Global E-waste Monitor, E-waste generation in India has increased from ~2.76 MMT in 2020 to ~6.19 MMT in 2024 and is projected to reach 14 MMT by 2030.
- Computer equipment accounts for the largest share of the E-waste stream (65%), followed by large appliances and medical equipment (15%), telecom equipment (12%), and consumer electronics (8%).
Challenges in E-Waste Management
- Rapid Growth of E-Waste: The fast pace of technological advancement and short product life cycles leads to a continuous rise in e-waste generation.
- Dominance of Informal Sector: In countries like India, 90–95% of e-waste is processed by the informal sector, using unsafe methods such as acid leaching and open burning, causing severe pollution.
- Inadequate Infrastructure: Limited number of authorized collection centres, recycling units, poor logistics and weak reverse supply chains hinder effective waste collection.
- Poor Tracking: Lack of reliable data on quantity generated and recycling rates enables leakages into informal channels.
Initiatives for E-Waste Management in India
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Producers, importers, and brand owners are made responsible for managing their product’s end-of-life waste.
- An online EPR E-Waste portal has been developed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) where entities such as producers, manufacturers, recyclers, and refurbishers of the e-waste are required to be registered.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has comprehensively revised the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022.
- India’s first e-waste clinic was inaugurated in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- It’s a facility for segregating, processing, and disposing of e-waste from both households and commercial units.
- The Ministry of Mines launched a Pan-India E-Waste Recycling Drive as part of Special Campaign 5.0 (in 2025), aimed at promoting Swachhata in government offices and ensuring scientific disposal and resource recovery from electronic waste.
Basel Convention
- The Basel Convention is a global treaty aimed at controlling the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal, ensuring that such wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner.
- It mandates:
- Prior informed consent of importing countries.
- Environmentally sound management of hazardous waste.
- Return of illegal waste shipments at the exporter’s expense.
- It was adopted in 1989 and entered into force in 1992.
- India is a party to the Basel Convention.
Way Ahead
- Countries must strengthen domestic recycling infrastructure to manage their own waste.
- There is a need for stricter enforcement of the Basel Convention, global tracking systems for hazardous waste shipments, promotion of circular economy practices.
- Developed nations must take full responsibility for their waste, ensuring sustainable and ethical environmental governance.
Source: TOI