What is E-Waste?
E-Waste is an abbreviated term used to denote Electronic Waste including electronic products that are unwanted, not working, and nearing or at the end of their “useful life.” Computers, TV Set, stereos, photocopy machine, and printers are everyday electronic products.
According to the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 'E-Waste' means any electrical and electronic equipment, whose life has been ended or in part discarded as waste by the consumer or bulk consumer as well as rejects from manufacturing industry, refurbishment industry and repair processes.
Who is a Refurbisher?
According to the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 “Refurbishment” is a process in which improvement of used electrical and electronic equipment as listed in Schedule I for extending its shelf life for its originally supposed use and distribute constant within the market or returning to owner is carried out.
A refurbisher is a person who will carry out the whole process of refurbishment in his/her business premises.
E-Waste production scenario
Electronic waste is spreading a very serious public health and environmental issue in India. India is the “fifth largest electronic waste producer in the world”. It is an estimate that 2 million tons of e-waste is generated annually and an unrevealed number of electronic products is imported from other countries around the world and when the life of these product finishes, they account for E-Waste.
Different category electronic items contribute for E-Waste annually, Personal Computing Devices accounts for around 70% of e-waste, telecom sector accounts for 12% e-waste, 8% from medical equipment and 7% from electric equipment.
The Government division, public division companies, and private division companies produces nearly 75% of electronic waste, with the contribution of individual household being only 16%.