Informal E Waste Management: An Indian Perspective

Abstract

In the present world, India is among the top five e-waste producing countries. The estimated annual production is 2 million tons. E-waste management in India is dominated by the informal sectors. It is estimated that more than 90 per cent of the waste is processed in this sector. Unfortunately, unscientific practices are observed in the processing of e-waste. The poor e management processes generate several environmental and health problems. Electronic waste management is fast becoming a health concern for the informal sector that recycles e-waste in India. Materials and Methods: All the information has been collected from Government of India records, Gazettes, Newspaper interviews and reliable websites. Results: It is observed, about 76% of e-waste workers in India suffer from respiratory ailments like breathing difficulties, coughing and choking due to improper personal safeguards and unsafe working conditions. Moreover, India is facing the problem of e-waste management due to lack of awareness among people about the dangerous effects of e-waste on the environment and humans through informal e-waste collection and processing. The current practices of e-waste management in India face many challenges like the ineffective regulations, unsafe conditions of informal recycling, poor awareness etc. Conclusions: Electronic waste is a rapidly developing environmental problem for the developed and developing countries. There are expensive technological solutions for processing it, However, India is now trying her best to find out the prospective solution to overcome the e-waste management problems for the betterment of health and working environment of concerned Indian informal sectors