Policy implications of e-waste in India: a review

Formulation and implementation of appropriate policies in terms of regulatory regimes and market-based policy structures are essential in order to address the global e-waste crisis. In India, e-waste attracts no special attention concerning its collection, handling, recycling, treatment and disposal. These efforts are still at an embryonic stage in the country. The paper documents the current policy level initiatives in India in terms of regulatory regimes. Further, it tries to figure out applicable market-driven policy suggestions relevant to e-waste in India - a novel approach in the e-waste management scenario in the country. The paper concludes that in India, policy initiatives related to e-waste are still inadequate and urgent needs arise to formulate e-waste management strategies that are locale specific. Environmentally acceptable e-waste management could only be ensured by establishment of appropriate e-waste policies and defining the collection, segregation, dismantling, recycling, treatment and disposal standards.