E-Waste Management Rules 2022: Issues And Solution For Environmental Protection

Abstract

An important global concern is the handling of electrical and electronic waste, particularly in India, a rapidly growing electronics market. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated demand and growth, with India contributing over two million tonne’s of its electronic waste every year. India produced 1.6 million tonne’s of e-waste in the fiscal 2021–22, ranking third in the world, however, only half a million tons was gathered and treated. As India transforms to a digital economy, and electric mobility, this number is anticipated to rise dramatically as a result of the rising usage of the electronic gadgets, solar panels, and electric automobiles. E-waste must be managed carefully because it contains dangerous materials that, if improperly handled or disposed of, are damaging “to the environment and human health.” In its 192nd Report on the “Functioning of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Department of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science, Technology, Environment, and Forests came to the conclusion that e-waste will become a significant issue in the future” due to modern lifestyles, rising living standards, and increased economic growth. In order to control e-waste and safeguard the environment in India, this article examines the problems and potential solutions. It also critically evaluates the recent legal adoption and effective execution “of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, which went into effect on April 1, 2023, These regulations mark the beginning of a new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for recycling e-waste.”