How IT industry’s bright future calls for implementing e-waste recycling norms

According to a 2012 report by the International Labour Organization, titled ‘The global impact of e-waste:  Addressing the challenge’, the number of computers in India is going to increase by 500% by 2020 in comparison to 2007 and the volume of e-waste from mobile and smart phones will be 18 times higher.

Such an explosive growth of the information technology industry, while good for the economy and for job creation, could have an adverse impact on the environment.  The electronic and electrical waste that is being generated by the IT industry needs to be managed responsibly.

In Indian government’s recent guidelines, the responsibility of managing the E-waste has primarily been assigned to producers and the bulk consumers.  While a number of bulk consumers and producers do dispose their e-waste through responsible recyclers, there is significant scope for improvement.  It is a common practice to dispose e-waste to recyclers / bidders who quote the maximum price for the e-waste.  Sometimes this can happen at the cost of responsible recycling.  If responsible recycling of electronic and electrical waste becomes an important priority for the top management of companies, e-waste will not find its way in the informal recycling markets. The informal recycling market uses rudimentary techniques of recycling the waste through burning. This can have a negative impact on the health of the workers and also be detrimental for the environment.

An argument can be made that the informal recycling market generates jobs and livelihoods. To address this issue, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group and Attero, an electronic waste recycling and asset Management Company, have come together in a unique and inclusive Clean E-India program. The program is working with the end consumers and companies to set up a take-back program to ensure that used electronics reach Attero’s  state-of-the-art recycling facilities safely. It is also working with the informal sector waste collectors, organizing them, to make them a part of the recycling supply chain. Trainings, protective gears, and their important role in the business model, ensures livelihoods, jobs, and an inclusive approach.

Using the principles of Extended Producer Responsibility, the Government of India introduced the E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules in 2011, whichbecame effective from 1 May 2012.  It has only been two years since the implementation of the Rules.Arecent report by Toxicslink (titled Time to Reboot) makes valid recommendations to address the gaps in implementation. One important recommendation is that there needs to be a concerted effort by all stakeholders.

A few simple steps can have a lasting impact in effective management of e-waste in India. 

1. First and foremost, the producers, in partnership with other stakeholders, need to generate awareness for responsible recycling. Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) manufacturers spend significant money on marketing and advertisement, however, there is hardly any mention of responsible recycling in such campaigns. More emphasis is needed on responsible recycling and it will help the company earn more goodwill.
2. Secondly, the producers of electronic equipments have to take a proactive approach in ‘balancing the market’ with respect to recycling. If a consumer is faced with the option to give their end-of-life electronic good free of charge for responsible recycling (to the producer) vis-à-vis selling the product for a price to the kabadiwala (waste collector/scrap dealer), the consumers will mostly opt for the latter (given the price sensitive nature of Indian consumers).  While the producers do not have any feedback mechanism with the scrap dealer or the waste collector (given its informal nature), they do have a communication channel with the dealer/retailer.  If the producers decide to hold the dealer/retailer accountable for all the E-waste that is generated, such waste can be recycled responsibly.
3. Third, the producers need to allocate a small fraction of the product price to recycling – an equivalent of Advanced Recycling Fee that is common in European countries. This would mean increasing the price of the product by a few hundred rupeesand thatincreased sum should be earmarked for responsible recycling. The company/producer can earn goodwill by promoting the same in their communications campaign and make it a more responsible entity – socially and environmentally.
4. Fourth, it is possible to integrate the informal sector involved in collection and dismantling with formal sector recyclers. This requires efforts in securing the buy-in of the informal players, training, capacity building, and sensitization on responsible recycling.  A platform needs to be created where key stakeholders like the producers, government, recyclers and community based organizations can come together to form effective partnerships.  Through the Clean E-India initiative, IFC and Attero are trying to show that this inclusive model works. The program will also help create that platform where everybody comes together and works together to effectively manage the growing electronic waste, responsibly.

This article is authored By Subrata Burman, Advisory Services, South Asia, IFC