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Global Electronics Giants Challenge India’s New E-Waste Recycling Mandates

Legal battles intensify as companies argue that India's fixed recycling rates inflate costs and exceed regulatory authority, while the government defends the policy as essential for environmental reform.

A woman separates copper and plastic from TV components at a scrap yard in Ahmedabad, India, April 9, 2025.REUTERS/Amit Dave
A man recycles electronic waste, or e-waste, from computer power supplies at a scrap yard in Ahmedabad, India, April 9, 2025.REUTERS/Amit Dave
Electronic waste, or e-waste, from computers is kept at a scrap yard in Ahmedabad, India, April 9, 2025.REUTERS/Amit Dave

Overview

  • India's new e-waste recycling rules mandate minimum payments of 22 rupees per kilogram for consumer electronics and 34 rupees per kilogram for smartphones to formalize the sector.
  • Major electronics companies, including Daikin, Hitachi, Samsung, and Tata Group's Voltas, have filed lawsuits claiming the rules are unconstitutional and impose excessive compliance costs.
  • Recycling costs have reportedly quadrupled for some manufacturers, with heavier devices like air conditioners facing the steepest increases, sparking industry concerns over rising production expenses.
  • India's Environment Ministry defends the policy as a necessary intervention to prevent informal and hazardous recycling practices, arguing it aligns with legal authority to ensure sustainable waste management.
  • India, the third-largest e-waste generator globally, recycles only 43% of its e-waste, with 80% of the sector still operating informally, posing significant environmental and health risks.