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.