Stepped Recycling: The Solution for E-waste Management and Sustainable Manufacturing in India

Abstract

Recycling of wastes to recover raw materials is key aspect which leads to sustainable manufacturing. Wastes from Electrical and Electronic Equipment often abbreviated as “E-Waste” is one of the most threatening and fastest growing waste problems of the entire world. Developing countries like India are at a greater risk because of illegal imports and increasing domestic generation of e-wastes is observed and also since there are very little or no regulations or laws regarding e-waste management. 90% of all the million tons of e-waste of India are discarded by informal recyclers who use rudimentary methods of processing, thus causing air, water and ground pollution. A key factor in sustainable manufacturing is safe disposal and seeing as e-waste is the result of mass manufacturing of electronic goods, it is pivotal to dispose it safely. This paper highlights the present situation of e-waste management in India and its effects so far and presents a new, unique management model, as the best solution for management of e-waste in India. This model takes into account the financial dependency of the informal sector on recycling, incorporates them into the model, and initializes an inter-dependent system of recycling, thus making is profitable for every concerning party involved in the recycling process. Necessary changes in rules and regulations as well as methods to implement this model with ease are described in this paper.