E-Waste Crisis in India Completely Explained

Why in the News?

India’s rapid digitalisation, from smartphones to smart homes, has boosted convenience but generated 2.2 million tonnes of e-waste in 2025, making it the third-largest global producer (after China and the USA). At current rates, this volume may double by 2030, posing serious environmental and public health challenges.

What is E-Waste?

E-waste refers to discarded electrical and electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, TVs, and appliances, which can release toxic substances if not properly managed.

Why is E-Waste a Concern in India?

1. Rapid growth: India’s e-waste rose from 71 MT in 2017–18 to 2.2 MT in 2025.
2. Urban hotspots: 65 cities contribute over 60% of total e-waste; key areas include Seelampur (Delhi), Mustafabad (Delhi), Moradabad (UP), and Bhiwandi (Maharashtra).
3. Informal recycling dominance: More than 50% of e-waste is processed informally, exposing workers and communities to hazards.

How is E-Waste Processed Informally?

1. Manual dismantling (by kabadiwalas, scrap dealers, and slum-based workshops) without protective equipment.
2. Open-air burning of wires and circuit boards.
3. Acid leaching and dumping of components without gloves, masks, or protective clothing.
4. Toxins released: Heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium), POPs (persistent organic pollutants), and 5/PM10.
5. 5 levels in hotspots often exceed 300 µg/m³, over 12 times the WHO safe limit.

What are the Health Impacts of E-Waste?

1. Respiratory illnesses: Chronic bronchitis, asthma, wheezing, breathlessness.
2. Neurological and developmental damage: Lead, mercury, and cadmium affect children’s IQ, attention, and behavior.
3. Skin and ocular disorders: Chemical burns, dermatitis, eye irritation from acids and heavy metals.
4. Genetic and systemic effects: DNA damage, oxidative stress, immune alterations.
5. Syndemic risks: Poverty, malnutrition, and unsafe housing worsen health outcomes.
6. Studies and Data:
   1. In Benin, West Africa, exposed workers had higher respiratory ailments than non-exposed control groups, and in India, around 80% of informal e-waste workers report similar health issues.
   2. Studies from China and WHO data show that millions of children exposed to hazardous lead from informal e-waste face all the above impacts.
   3. WHO reports 18 million children and 13 million women live or work near informal e-waste zones. In India, children often dismantle electronics, facing serious health risks.

What are the Environmental Implications?

1. Air pollution:5/PM10 from burning electronics.
2. Soil and water contamination: Heavy metals and POPs accumulate in the ecosystem.
3. Bioaccumulation: Toxins enter the food chain, affecting humans and animals.

What Policies Exist to Manage E-Waste in India?

1. E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022:
   1. Strengthened Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
   2. Mandatory registration for recyclers and dismantlers.
   3. Incentives for formalisation and scientific handling.
2. Implementation gaps:
   1. Only 43% of e-waste is formally processed (2023-24 data).
   2. Legal disputes over EPR credit pricing hinder enforcement.
      1. EPR credit pricing is the price producers pay to recyclers to meet their responsibility of safely collecting and recycling e-waste. Low or capped prices can discourage proper recycling and affect compliance.

Challenges and Way Forward

Conclusion

India faces a toxic crossroads where digital growth must not compromise public health or environmental safety. Rising e-waste demands urgent systemic reforms, guided by science, justice, and a vision where technology protects human dignity and health.