India's E-Waste Volumes Growing Exponentially; Formal Recycling Lags Despite Billions in Unlocked Value
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India generates over 3 million tons of e-waste annually, making it the 3rd largest producer globally. This is expected to reach 5 million tons by 2030.
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The informal sector handles over 95% of India's e-waste recycling using unsafe methods, causing environmental damage. Only 5% is recycled through formal channels.
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New government regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) aim to expand formal recycling, but infrastructure and consumer awareness remain key challenges.
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E-waste represents an urban mine of valuable metals like gold and copper worth billions in unlocked economic value through proper recycling.
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With government support and private investment in infrastructure and capacity building, the growing volume of e-waste offers a major business opportunity.