Attero recycling reviews  -  Potential of recycling e-waste in India
                     
India globally ranks fifth in generating e-waste after the US, China, 
Japan and Germany. E-waste or electronic waste is typically referred to 
discarded mobile phones, chargers, computer monitors, headphones, 
CDs, refrigerators and air conditioners among many other things. E-
waste is growing exponentially in the country. The growth of the 
information and communication technologies has catapulted and 
enhanced the way electronic products are consumed and increased 
the magnanimity of its adoption. Electronic products are prone to 
obsolescence and upgradation which speeds up the consumer 
behaviour to discard them. These discarded old products accumulate 
to form e-waste which merges with the solid waste stream and 
compounds the waste disposal woes. 
  
Majority of the e-waste recycling in India is carried out in the informal 
sector via primitive methods. Efficient handling and recycling of e-
waste requires adequate legislative measures, and solutions that are 
cost-effective, eco-friendly and use the latest technologies. 
Attero recycling pvt ltd states that electronic waste has emerged as a 
serious health and environmental issue in India. Computer devices 
account for 70% of annual e-waste that India generates, 12% is 
contributed by the telecom sector, 8% and 7% by medical equipment 
and electronic equipment respectively. The amount of e-waste 
generated in India varies from state to state. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu 
and Andhra Pradesh produce maximum amount of e-waste, followed 
by West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi, Gujarat, Punjab and 
Madhya Pradesh. 
  
The importance of effectively handling and recycling e-waste is gaining 
momentum globally. Studies reveal that by lowering the generation of 
e-waste and limiting it from entering the waste stream, and improving 
end-of-life handling, can prove instrumental and beneficial in the 
move towards building a more circular economy. In a circular 
economy, waste is reduced, resources are optimally conserved, and 
strategically fed back to the supply chain from production of new 
products.  

Attero recycling pvt ltd explains that India has had laws to manage 
e-waste since the year 2011. The law mandates only authorised 
recyclers and dismantlers to collect e-waste. The E-waste 
Management Rules, 2016 was passed by the government and 
enacted in October 2017. Over 21 products (Schedule-I) were 
included under the purview of the rule. Components of electrical 
and electronic equipment were also included under the purview of 
the rule. The rule has played an instrumental role in strengthening 
the Extended Producer Responsibility, considered as the best 
practice globally for effective management of end-of-life products. 
  
Despite these rules, close to 80% of e-waste in the country continues 
to be broken down, at a huge environmental and health cost, and 
polluting the soil and the groundwater. Attero recycling reviews a 
report by ASSOCHAM, one of the apex trade associations of India, 
which reported that e-waste generation in India increased from 1.8 
MT per annum in 2016 to 5.2 MT per annum in the year 2020.  

India has taken cognizance of the situation and has 
developed technologies that are economical and recycles 
plastics and valuable materials in an environmentally 
sustainable manner. These technologies include two 
exclusive PCB recycling technologies, viz 1000 kg/ day 
capacity (~35 MT e-waste) and 100kg/batch (~3.5MT e-
waste) processes, with acceptable environmental norms.  It 
must be noted that e-waste also contains plastic, which 
constitutes nearly 25% of its weight. India has developed 
technologies for novel recovery and conversion of waste 
plastics to value-added products. The technology can 
convert 76% of the waste plastic into suitable usable 
material. 
Attero recycling reviews that there is gargantuan potential in 
augmenting e-waste recycling in the country, and over the last 
few years, India has made massive strides and taken right 
steps towards it. However, despite it e-waste still continues to 
be ignored and rot in waste disposal plants. A lot of ground 
needs to be covered by conducting awareness campaigns 
about the ill-effects of the e-waste, implementing skill 
development programmes, investing in programmes that aim 
at building the human capital required for the job, and 
promoting adoption of safe technologies for the effective 
recycling of the e-waste. 
  
E-waste can act as gold for India, if India learns to recycle, 
regulate and recover in a timely manner.