Navigating a silent crisis: Understanding the impact of e-waste on low and middle-income countries

Salman, aged eleven, starts his day early as the sun rises over his neighborhood of Seelampur in north-east Delhi. The lanes around his brick-and-mortar tenement are already bustling with activity as dump trucks and carts arrive crammed with electronic junk of all kinds. Salman, whose father is a scrap dealer, sets out for his day with a bunch of cartons, and with practised hands scavenge through the heaps of discarded electronics. He is aware which product is worth picking up and is also skilled at identifying the valuable parts from which he can extract precious metals like copper, lead, aluminium, brass, silver and even gold. In Seelampur, one of India's biggest e-waste hubs, many kids like Salman navigate this labyrinth of e-waste everyday, putting their lives at risk by working in hazardous conditions for a mere wage of anything between 200 to 500 rupees a day.
Unorganised e-waste recycling units like Seelampur serve as the primary backbone of many low and middle-income countries (LMICs), where formal waste management infrastructure is lean and ill-equipped. This reliance on informal recycling operations highlights a significant global concern, as it underscores the systemic challenges LMICs are facing in managing the ever-growing tide of electronic waste.
With limited resources and inadequate regulatory oversight, LMICs are currently struggling to establish strong formal waste management systems which can handle the scale and complexity of e-waste disposal. This reliance on informal channels is posing big risks such as health hazards, environmental degradation, and social inequities. The need for effective regulation and international cooperation to address this silent crisis has never been more urgent.
The great e-waste gloom over LMICs
E-waste, comprising of discarded electronic devices such as smartphones, computer parts, wires, circuit boards, calculators, gaming consoles, motherboards etc. is turning into a growing concern worldwide. The Global E-waste Monitor 2024 reports that 62 billion kg of e-waste was generated globally in 2022¹. Only 22.3% of this e-waste was documented as formally collected and recycled in an environmentally sound manner². It further notes that since 2010, the growth of e-waste generation is outpacing the formal collection and recycling by almost a factor of 5.³
India, which reportedly produced 4,100 million kg of e-waste in 2022, is the third largest contributor to the global e-waste burden currently, next only to China and the United States⁴. While India is a forerunner in Asia when it comes to e-waste legislation and infrastructure for collection and recycling, a whooping 95%⁵ of the country’s e-waste is recycled in the informal sector. However, it is only by formalising this sector that India and other LMICs can tackle the health, environment and human-rights implications of e-waste management.
Why formalisation matters
Strengthening formal e-waste management is vital for several compelling reasons. Primarily, it plays a pivotal role in environmental protection. Currently, the global e-waste trade sees developed nations exporting their electronic waste to less regulated regions, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, where disposal regulations are lax and costs are lower. Consequently, these regions have become de facto dumping grounds for hazardous electronic waste, resulting in widespread soil and water contamination and adverse health effects for local populations. Informal recycling methods prevalent in LMICs often exacerbate these issues by releasing hazardous toxins into the environment, further contributing to environmental degradation. By implementing environmentally sound recycling practices, formal e-waste management systems can help mitigate these harmful effects, preserving ecosystems and safeguarding public health.
Secondly, formalisation is crucial for public health in LMICs, where workers in the informal e-waste sector face significant health hazards. There are many other bustling e-waste centres in the country like Seelampur which are poorly regulated and have generations of workers breaking down electronics with crude tools for decades. Within New Delhi itself there are several other e-waste underbellies such as Krishnamurthy Nagar, Loni, Mundka, Mandoli, Mayapuri and Shastri Park . Beyond the capital, thriving centres include Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, Roorkee in Uttarakhand, Howrah in West Bengal, Perungudi, Ambattur and Guindy in Tamil Nadu, and Peenya in Karnataka.
In all these hubs forming India’s unorganised e-waste recycling sector, the challenges remain strikingly consistent. These individuals, often working under unsafe conditions without proper protective equipment, engage in the dismantling of electronic devices to extract valuable materials like copper, gold, and silver. However, this process releases toxins such as lead, mercury, and cadmium into the environment, posing grave risks to both workers and nearby communities. Strengthened formal management would prioritise the safety of both workers and communities by enforcing stringent health and safety standards. This would not only reduce the incidence of occupational illnesses and injuries but also mitigate the broader health impacts of e-waste exposure on local populations.
Formalisation also offers an opportunity for LMICs to enhance resource recovery efficiency. E-waste is rich in valuable materials such as copper, gold, and silver among others. However, without formal management systems in place, the extraction of these resources is often inefficient and environmentally damaging. By formalising e-waste management processes, LMICs can optimise resource recovery methods, ensuring the sustainable use of valuable materials while minimising waste generation. This not only promotes environmental sustainability but also contributes to the economic development of LMICs by harnessing the economic potential of e-waste recycling.
Policy interventions crucial to mitigate e-waste burden in developing countries
In India, significant strides have been made in addressing the challenges posed by electronic waste through legislative measures. The first E-waste Management and Handling Rules were notified in 2011 by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the governing body responsible for waste-related legislation in the country6. Since their inception, these rules have undergone regular updates and amendments to adapt to evolving environmental concerns and technological advancements. The latest amendment, which came into force in April 2023, reflects the government's ongoing commitment to enhancing e-waste management practices.
Notably, the E-waste Rules also incorporate a schedule akin to the EU RoHS Directive, which regulates the use of certain hazardous substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE)⁷. This schedule restricts the utilisation of such substances if safer alternatives are available, underscoring India's proactive approach to mitigating the environmental and health risks associated with e-waste.
Policy interventions are in fact crucial to enhance e-waste management across all LMICs. These interventions should prioritise several key areas to effectively address the e-waste crisis and mitigate its adverse impacts on public health, the environment, and social equity. Firstly, there is a pressing need to bolster infrastructure development and technological capabilities for e-waste management in LMICs. This includes investing in the establishment of specialised recycling facilities and waste management systems tailored to handle the unique challenges posed by e-waste disposal. Additionally, allocating sufficient financial resources to support these initiatives is crucial to ensure their successful implementation and sustainability over the long term.
In addition, raising public awareness about the environmental and health risks associated with improper e-waste disposal is essential to foster a culture of responsible consumption and waste management practices among the population. Education campaigns and community outreach efforts can help inform individuals about the importance of recycling electronic devices responsibly and encourage them to participate in formal e-waste collection and recycling programs.
Rejecting ‘Planned Obsolescence’ in order to move towards a circular economy
In 2023, the Indian smartphone market witnessed 30.6 million unit shipments in the first quarter of the year, highlighting the rapid turnover in the smartphone market⁸. This trend reflects a broader pattern where technology products, especially phones, are built in a way that they become obsolete faster, contributing to the growing issue of e-waste. This has given traction to the term "planned obsolescence", exemplifying the need for heightened awareness and accountability within the tech industry. Recognising the prevalence of planned obsolescence is essential for transitioning towards a circular economy.
As consumers discard older electronic devices for newer models, a substantial portion of these devices turn into e-waste, exacerbating waste management challenges. In India, the growing middle class has been mindlessly embracing this culture of planned obsolescence, perpetuating the cycle of e-waste accumulation. To address this issue, the government is focussing on frameworks promoting the right to repair. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs set up a committee to come up with a right-to-repair framework, with an initial focus on mobile phones, tablets and consumer durables. The Right to Repair Portal India of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, also provides warranty and post-sales information, by consumer brand, to consumers in India8. This is a necessary policy intervention to ensure that electronic products have extended lifespans.
To address the e-waste crisis, international efforts have been made through regulatory frameworks such as the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes. Additionally, initiatives like the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and the Circular Economy approach advocate for responsible consumption and production patterns, emphasising the need to reduce, reuse, and recycle electronic products to minimise e-waste generation.
Addressing the e-waste crisis requires global cooperation and concerted efforts. Strengthening enforcement mechanisms, promoting sustainable practices, and supporting LMICs in developing their e-waste management infrastructure are essential steps. Education and awareness campaigns are also crucial to promote responsible e-waste disposal practices among consumers, businesses, and policymakers. By fostering a culture of environmental stewardship and accountability, it is possible to work towards a future where e-waste is managed responsibly, protecting both people and the planet.
Citations:
The Global E-Waste Monitor 2024
Down To Earth
The Economic Times
This article has been produced for education and awareness purposes only, on behalf of Project E-waste by Times Internet’s Spotlight team.