What are the challenges in the safe management of e-waste in India? How can collaboration among multiple stakeholders help in sustainable e-waste management?

India is today the 2nd largest generator of e-waste. Challenges to safe management of e-waste: (1) 90% recycled in informal sector (2) Poor unit economics of processing (3) Lack of awareness among users who dump it anywhere (4) Enforcement deficit: government directives by EPR norms violated (5) Under-funded municipal bodies lack capacity of SoCs (6) Private sector hesitant due to regulatory vacuum for e-waste uptake, rules not clear Collaboration among to stakeholders: (1) Between business & suppliers - Right to Repair -> Minerals will reduce generation of e-waste & direct at source collection (2) Between municipality & customer - prevent disposal or mix with organic waste - Inspect collection and processing (3) Between private players & government - Metric demands & expectations with policy changes - Make it economically viable

As CSR has said, given 40-50% of our rare-earth requirement can be met through recycling, it must receive due policy attention. Collaboration among to stakeholders: (1) Between business & suppliers - Right to Repair -> Minerals will reduce generation of e-waste & direct at source collection (2) Between municipality & customer - prevent disposal or mix with organic waste - Inspect collection and processing (3) Between private players & government - Metric demands & expectations with policy changes - Make it economically viable