$6-billion e-waste goldmine: Can India turn its digital dumping crisis into an economic win?

In August last year, data presented in Rajya Sabha revealed that the proportion of e-waste recycled in India rose from 22% in 2019-20 to 43% in 2023-24. While the numbers show progress, approximately 57% of e-waste—equivalent to 990,000 metric tonne (MT)—remains unprocessed in the country. This presents a significant economic opportunity in recycling—a $6-billion market in recoverable metals, as per reports—even as the growing e-waste crisis continues to pose a serious environmental and health challenge.