CRITICAL STUDY OF E-WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA-WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO UNORGANIZED E-WASTE WORKERS

“Let every individual and institution now think and act as a responsible trustee of Earth, seeking
choices in ecology, economics and ethics that will provide a sustainable future, eliminate pollution,
poverty and violence, awaken the wonder of life and foster peaceful progress in the human adventure.”
-John McConnell, founder of International Earth Day
The sayings of John McConnell is finding its relevance in the present time too as now we all
need to stand together for the protection of Mother Earth irrespective of our religions and nationality.
Almost in all the countries in the world the problem of waste management is raising their head
andnow it has become an issue of international concern.
E-waste is a crucial part of a solid waste stream. “E-Waste is a term used to cover items of all
types of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and its parts that have been discarded by the owner
as waste without the intention of re-use1.”
Definition of E-waste as given in E-waste Management and Handling Rules 2011 says “e-waste
means waste electrical and electronic equipment whole or in part or rejects from their manufacturing
and repair process, which are intended to be discarded2.” The stream of e-waste is increasing day
by day as the new inventions in the technology are taking place. Due to upgraded technology the
life span of electronic and electrical devices is shorten. Transboundary movements of e-waste from
developed countries to the developing countries is one of the important sources of e-waste generation
in a country like India. In spite of having Basel Convention on transboundary movement of hazardous
waste, illegal movement of e-waste is a matter of concern for developing countries.
The problem of management of e-waste is different than that of other waste stream because
e-waste is complex in nature. It is combination of hazardous as well as nonhazardous waste. It
contains metals like lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominated flame retardants as well assecondary
scrap i.e. copper, steel, and plastic, etc. Thus it requires the separate disposal treatment than that of
other waste stream. For the appropriate e-waste management, the procedure of segregation as well as
disposal of it should be prescribed by taking into consideration the nature of e-waste. There cannot
be straight jacket formula in application of disposal procedures used for e-waste management unlike
other ordinary waste management.