E-waste management may end up as just junk sans policy support: Experts

The state of e-waste management in India needs a major facelift through the joint effort of stakeholders including producers, policy makers and recyclers, according to experts.

According to the United Nations University’s Global E-waste Monitor, India’s e-waste generation amounted to 2 million tonnes in 2017. Computer and telecom equipment accounted for 82 per cent of the total e-waste generated in India, according to an ASSOCHAM-KPMG study.

However, only 0 .036 million tonnes of waste was processed.

E-waste generation in India is estimated to increase by 500 per cent by 2020. Producers, recyclers and policy-makers need to work together simultaneously to cover this gap in waste-management.