Digitization for Transformation Of E-Waste Management Sector in India

New challenges need new solutions, and same is applicable for electronic and electrical waste (ewaste) management in every country. In India, >91% e-waste is treated by informal sector, where >65% is child labour. Government of India released E-Waste Management Rules in 2016, and it entered in force in year 2017. E-Waste Management Amendment Rules were released in year 2018, providing baseline and targets to the e-product manufacturers and producers, for EPR compliance. Broadly, aim is to: i. Prevent epollution, air/water /land pollution due to heavy metals and carcinogens ii. Inclination to change existing informal sector to formal iii. Prevent health impact and more. Inspite of great ewaste management rules in India and similar policies in various countries, there are various challenges in e-waste management sector. Few glaring issues are, lack of: i. availability of e-waste as raw material for recyclers; ii. companies meet EPR compliance, as per manual records iii. mechanism to transform informal ewaste management sector iv. sound aggregation, channelisation and recycling infra, etc. Effectively, lack of ‘transparency’, historically has been the reason of ‘environmental degradation’, ‘increasing GHG emissions’ and ‘loss of natural resources’. Thus, Sanshodhan :An EWaste Exchange innovated : 1. EWX, a digital-tech platform that enable citizens, businesses and government departments to directly channelize their e-waste to authorised recyclers, for safe & environment friendly recycling. 2.A step ahead innovation by Sanshodhan: An E-Waste Exchange is RE-CIRCULATETM , world’s first circular economy model for e-waste management sector, recognised as ‘Highly Commended The Circulars 2019

Author(s): Dr Shalini Sharma

Abstract | PDF

Share This Article