India – India has ‘huge potential for organised and efficient management and recycling of e-waste,’ according to India Infrastructure Research (IIR). In a comprehensive new report, the company seeks to identify the market drivers and the challenges the sector is facing across the country.
Generation of e-waste has increased fivefold over the last seven years in India and is still growing at 4% year on year, in line with the rapid escalation in demand for electronic and electrical equipment. If this trajectory continues, 2012 will see a total of 800 000 tonnes of e-waste on the Indian market.
Despite pressure brought on by technological obsolescence, and increased awareness of environmental hazards, ‘barely 1%’ of existing electronic and electrical material is recycled. IIR says it is time to step up the game. Its report recognises government and NGO initiatives, but concludes that more advanced e-waste legislation is necessary.
However, a number of issues are seen as hampering an improved recycling performance, principally the challenges of e-waste collection and transportation, a ‘lack of interest among consumers’ and the disorganised way in which facilities currently handle the material.
By assessing the entire e-waste chain ‘ from generation by source to collection and disposal trends, treatment methods and revenues achieved by recycling ‘ IIR claims to be ‘throwing a spotlight on the future capacity requirements and prospects of reuse and recycling of e-waste’. As well as mapping out the key domestic factors, the report also seeks to position India’s generation and disposal activity in a global context.
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