Old electronic equipment is easily replaced by new models due to rapid technological advancements and the production of newer electronic equipment. It has resulted in an exponential increase in e-waste, particularly in India. People tend to upgrade to newer models and cutting-edge technologies, and product life spans also shorten over time. However, the issue of e-waste management in India and its challenges remain.

E-waste is defined by the International Telecommunication Union as any electrical or electronic equipment that has been discarded as waste with no intention of reuse. Equipment such as televisions, monitors, laptops, notebooks, and tablets; cooling and freezing equipment such as refrigerators and freezers; and other large and small appliances such as washing machines, clothes dryers, dish-washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and microwaves are examples of this waste. E-waste also includes ventilation equipment, telecommunications equipment such as GPS, pocket calculators, routers, personal computers, printers, and telephones, among other things.

Attero recycling pvt ltd explains that the nature of the material from which e-waste is made is one of the most serious issues when dealing with it. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), lead, mercury, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and other valuable metals such as aluminium, copper, steel, iron, and the infamous plastic, are all found in e-waste. All of these materials require special treatment, and because they are hazardous in nature, they cannot be disposed of in landfills.

The Prime Minister of India has set an ambitious target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy generation in India by 2030, as well as a reduction in total projected carbon emissions of one billion tonnes by 2030. To meet these targets, India will need to significantly increase grid storage and the number of electric vehicles on the road (EVs). This, however, necessitates and requires increasing local manufacturing, exploring new avenues, and allowing global competition in emerging sectors such as energy storage.

An increase in the number of electric vehicles necessitates an increase in the production of batteries for energy storage. Lithium-ion battery waste is expected to increase by 40–80% year on year as India continues to leapfrog and prepare for the EV era. To prepare for this revolution, we should start thinking about how to manage and recycle the lithium-ion waste that these cars will generate.

Over 50,000 tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste is generated in India each year, and Attero recycling reviews nearly a thousand tonnes of lithium-ion batteries using its globally patented and NASA-approved technology. In India, Attero provides world-class Li-ion battery recycling solutions. To meet the increased demand for Li-ion battery recycling and to ensure that no waste is disposed of, Attero recycling Pvt ltd offers a 360-degree recycling process that includes collection, logistics, handling, and packaging of lithium-ion batteries, safe destruction, and 100% recovery of valuable battery materials for reuse in new batteries.

India has realised the potential of recycling and understands its vital role in creating a sustainable country. Attero recycling reviews that the government has been working to promote a circular economy and the idea of recycling. Recycling of e-waste is the most effective way to ensure the long-term development of our country. The circular economy encourages material recirculation for pollution prevention and secondary material management. The generation of e-waste poses a serious threat to the environment. It can also become an urban mine for future resource supply due to its rich repository of valuable and critical raw materials. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) can be one of the tools used to access secondary raw materials embedded in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) streams and mitigate future supply chain risks.

Consumers are critical to improving e-waste management in India. Extended Producer Responsibility; Design for the Environment; and (3Rs) Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle technology all aim to encourage consumers to properly dispose of e-waste, with increased reuse and recycling rates, as well as adopt sustainable consumer habits.

The Indian government has put in place strong mechanisms to handle and treat e-waste in a safe and sustainable manner. A comprehensive approach is required to address India’s e-waste management challenges. A suitable mechanism must be developed in order to integrate small units from the unorganised sector and large units from the organised sector into a single value chain.

The government must also look at eradicating the lack of awareness about e-waste management and recycling in India. It is possible to accomplish this through educational campaigns, capacity building, and awareness-building programmes. Increased efforts are urgently needed to improve current collection schemes and management practices.