10 - Waste electrical and electronic equipment in India: diversity, flows, and resource recovery approaches

Abstract

The electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. The increasing “market penetration” in developing countries, “replacement market” in developed countries, and “high obsolescence rate” make E-waste as one of the fastest growing waste streams. Sustainable development goals of UNESCO address the National Environmental Policy (NEP). Thus, there is a need to facilitate the recovery and/or reuse of useful materials from waste generated from a process and/or from the use of any material thereby, reducing the wastes destined for final disposal and to ensure the environmentally sound management of all materials. The NEP also encourages giving legal recognition and strengthening the informal sectors for collection and recycling of various materials. In particular considering the high recyclable potential of E-waste, such wastes should be subject to recycling following state of the art technologies for resource recovery. Environmental issues and trade associated with E-waste and resource recovery approaches are covered in this chapter.