New draft guidelines raise recycling costs from Rs 6-25/kg to Rs 80/kg, leading to concerns of impractical over-regulation by manufacturers
India generates 1.6 million tonnes of e-waste annually, with 67% unprocessed, causing long-term environmental and health risks
90% of e-waste recycling is handled by the informal sector, often in unsafe conditions, contributing to inefficient waste management
Since 2011, e-waste rules have expanded, introducing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and mandatory online registration for manufacturers
Despite stricter rules, enforcement remains weak, and the informal sector's low costs act as a barrier to organised recycling efforts
While addressing environmental issues, the government must balance regulation with livelihood concerns for the 1 million workers in the e-waste sector