Current Trends, Regulations, Challenges, and Management Strategies of E-Waste in India

Introduction

E-waste is now the waste stream with the highest growth rate in the world. Rapid socioeconomic growth and technical progress are the primary forces behind this trend. The harmful chemical constituents of e-waste have the potential to cause harm. Effects on ecosystems and human health if not adequately managed. This is an immediate obstacle to accomplishing sustainable development objectives. Although technologically advanced nations are the primary producers of e-products and generators of e-waste, due to travel and transfer from e-waste source nations, the amount of garbage created in emerging and transitioning nations has also increased. Consequently, developing nations are in a precarious position owing to a lack of inventory data and waste management. Environmentally sound management practices and modern technologies (Alam et al., 2022)

This research intends to illustrate that the current global e-waste scenarios and associated health risks may delay the fulfilment of sustainable development goals. This research demonstrates situations from several vantage points and highlights issues about e-waste. Identifies information gaps and offers a foundation for knowledge and awareness building and technical advancement to promote long-term sustainable development on a global scale (Arya et al., 2020).

What is E-Waste?

E-waste presents a serious threat to the environment, wildlife, and people. Plastics, metals, cathode ray tubes (CRTs), printed wires, circuit boards, and other materials are often found in e-waste. A schematic is shown in Figure 1. for the sources of E waste generation. Once the e-waste is properly handled, precious metals including Cu, Hg, Au, and Pt may be recycled. It is extremely dangerous if e-waste is disassembled and synthesized in an imprecise manner using rudimentary techniques because it contains toxic materials like liquid crystal, Li, Hg, Ni, Se, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), toxic chemicals, Ba, Br fire retardants, heavy metals, Cr, Cu and Zn, brass, and Pb. Fractions of metals presents in various sources are shown in Figure 2. Then they are no longer suitable for use, electronic devices such as computer, mainframes, Printing and scanning machines, compact discs (CDs), copiers, calculators, batteries, cellular phones, medical equipment, iPods, household appliances become e-waste. Even in trace amounts, heavy metals and extremely poisonous chemicals like Hg, Pb, Be, and Cd represent a serious hazard to the environment (Askarzai et al., 2011).

Figure 1.

Sources of E waste generation through daily needful things

Figure 2.

Percentage of metal fractions present in electrical and electronic equipment

Forecasts For The Development Of E-Waste

Employing a model of economics that is circular for e-waste may result in a rising number of economic advantages. The disposal of electronic trash is estimated to total more than 50 million tons annually, according to current forecasts. Only around 20% of this garbage gets recycled at any one time (Babel et al., 2020).