India needs a tech platform for e-waste recycling

Most desks at homes are brimming with old phones and charging cables. Consumers are unsure about how to dispose them off, but storing an increasing pile of old devices and cables is also untenable. Recycling of electronic devices has become a bigger challenge than we realise. While food and packaging waste recycling has captured the imagination of governments and industry alike, electronic waste management still tends to be neglected. Tech-based platforms are now accelerating the tracking and management of e-waste. 

Mobile phones and laptops are complex devices. Though not visible, precious metals and minerals are needed for critical components. Then each of the device is accompanied with metal and plastic peripherals. 

“In 2019, only 17.4 per cent of total e-waste generated globally was documented as formally collected and recycled. Even countries with relatively mature e-waste systems have low collection rates. For instance, Europe despite having the highest collection and recycling rate is only at 42.5 per cent,” says a thought paper by GSMA and ITU. 

A slew of technologies are being used to track, monitor and assess efficiency of e-waste recycling. This starts from raw material production and device manufacturing. Products are being designed to ensure that recycling and extraction of precious metals becomes easier. Robotics and trackers play a role in mapping the product cycle. The sale, consumption and repair of electronic devices is managed by online repair guides and predictive maintenance. These work towards extending the lifecycle of the device.

Post-consumer waste collection, logistics and treatment presents the biggest challenge. Facilitating convenient, incentivised and optimised e-waste collection and takeback is being done by collection mobile applications. Robotic dismantling and sorting helps improve recovery while reducing hazards for human collectors. Mobile payments and social media help the informal sector become part of the recycling chain. B2B marketplaces and material matching platforms are increasing the financial incentives to recycle used products. 

In India Karo Sambhav, a producer responsibility organisation, has been pioneering the use of digital technologies to improve e-waste collection. An integrated digital platform hosted on the cloud and accessed through a smartphone app enables end-to-end tracking of its operations.

The mobile app tracks e-waste flows into the system from collection to disposal by a recycler, including time-stamps, geo-locations, photographs, receipts and other documentation such as invoices, e-way bills and shipment manifests. From the moment e-waste is acquired from waste pickers, drop-offs, aggregators, bulk generators or auctions, staff members record proof of collection that includes purchase invoices, photographs, and details of the person who sold it. The information is updated while the e-waste travels to a warehouse or directly to a recycler, according to Karo Sambhav. 

In India there is the additional issue of misreporting of e-waste. Many players tend to inflate the numbers. “It is critical to digitalise ‘reporting of all input and output fractions’ with a ‘full material balance’ by e-waste dismantlers/recyclers. A nationally harmonised ‘material balance reporting system’ will help generate state/national level inventory of secondary materials (recycled materials), enable ease of enforcement by SPCBs, GST departments, and eliminate malpractices, e.g. where waste is sold out without it being recycled, or collection/recycling happens only on paper,” says Pranshu Singhal, founder of Karo Sambhav. “Such a reporting system should be harmonised with international reporting systems like WEEE Forum Reporting Tool (WF-Rep Tool), which will also allow Indian datasets to be comparable with global datasets.”

A collaborative effort between government, the regulator, producers and recyclers is required to ensure that the electronic waste is recycled. India must leverage technology to deepen the e-waste recycling ecosystem.