What is E-Waste?

What is E Waste?
E-waste means electrical and electronic equipment, whole or in part discarded waste by the consumer or bulk consumer as well as rejects from manufacturing, refurbishment and repair processes.

​

Potential of E-Waste ?

As per various numbers published by various research agencies, about 20 to 50 million tonnes of ewaste are generated worldwide every year. E-waste comprises of more than 5 % of all solid waste generated and the volume is expected to increase at a rate of 300% per annum in developing countries. In India, the total e-waste generated is about 2 million TPA ( Tones per annum), the quantity i.e. recycled is about 438085 TPA. This figure is expected to grow at a rate of 30 – 50 % year on year. Of this, the currently installed and functioning capacity in the organized sector is only about 100,000 tons. The current market size itself is sufficiently large and also growing at more than 30 %.

​

E-Waste Categories and Classification 

E-Waste is categorized by the government of India under the broad class of hazardous waste. Within e-Waste, there are several E Waste categories such as Large and small household appliances, electrical and electronic toys and sporting equipment, tools, computers and related equipment etc.

Composition of e-waste Electrical and Electronic equipment contains metallic and non metallic elements, alloys and compounds such as Copper, Aluminium, Gold, Silver, Palladium, Platinum, Nickel, Tin, Lead, Iron, Sulphur, Phosphorous, Arsenic etc. If discarded in the open, these metals can cause a severe environmental and health hazard.

​

​