E-Waste Management

Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to electrical and electronic devices that have become old or are not functional such as mobile phones, computers, UPS etc.
E-waste contains many toxic chemicals including metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury and nickel.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, 106 electronic equipment are being regulated under the E-Waste Management Rules 2022.
Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 have been notified for the management of waste batteries, which covers all types of batteries i.e. electric vehicle batteries, portable batteries, automotive batteries and industrial batteries.
Under the rules, the producers, including importers, have been given mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets for collection and recycling or refurbishment of waste batteries.
The Central Pollution Control Board estimates e-waste generation annually at the national level.
According to this, about 13.97 lakh tones of e-waste has been produced in the year 2024-2025.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has taken the following steps for effective management of e-waste rules-

An online e-waste EPR portal has been developed wherein entities such as producers, manufacturers, recyclers and refurbishes of e-waste are required to register.
Guidelines for scientific and environmentally sound management of e-waste have been framed by CPCB.
Registered entities are required to submit their compliance through quarterly and annual returns on the e-waste portal.
The rules provide for verification and audit by the Central Pollution Control Board or any designated agency to ensure compliance with these rules through random inspections and periodic audits, as required, so that action can be taken against violations of these rules.

SOURCE – PIB WEBSITE