Electronic waste/ e-waste is a term used for electronic products that have become unwanted, obsolete and have reached the end of their useful life. India generates near about 2 million metric tonne of e-waste annually and it would reach 5.2 mmt per annum by 2020. The main sources of e-waste in India are the government, public and private sectors, which account for almost 70% of total e-waste generation.

The rising e-waste pose multitude challenges in various forms such as:

• E-waste also impact human health as dismantling and shredding of it releases dust, toxins, dioxins
  
  
• There is huge gap between present recycling and collection facilities. According to ASSOCHAM study only 5% of the e-waste is formally recycled.
  
  
• Cross-border flow of waste equipment into India is another major issue. For ex- uncontrolled asbestos imports from Canada, used batteries from European nations
  
  
• Further, as per ASSOCHAM report (2014), about 5 lakh child labourers are engaged in e-waste activities and that too without adequate protection and safeguards.
  
  
• Unscientific method of recycling and lack of proper safety gear in handling e-waste leads to occupational health hazards.
  
  
• Finally, e-waste rules are blatantly violated and the informal sector remains unregulated.
  
  

To resolve the above issues, there is a need to adopt multiprong approach in following form:

• There is a need to strengthen the domestic legal framework to address the issue of unregulated imports of e-waste.
  
  
• Further, steps must be taken to formalize the informal sector by using strategy of incentivization.
  
  
• Governments must also encourage research for development of better environmentally sustainable e-waste recycling techniques.
  
  
• There is also a need of an effective take-back program for e-waste handling and collection.
  
  

Thus, in light of the above there is a need for creating a mass awareness programme to encourage consumers to reuse/ recycle electronic products. For ex- 'Take-back' and ‘Planet ke Rakwale’ campaign by Nokia.