Addressing e-waste isn’t just about disposal—it’s about redefining technology, consumption, and sustainability

By Tanisha Tayal, Daniel George, Swayam Sampurna Panigrahi

Have you ever wondered where your old smartphone goes after you toss it? That tiny device — filled with valuable metals and toxic chemicals — doesn’t just vanish. More often, it ends up in landfills or is dismantled under hazardous conditions in developing countries.

With technology evolving rapidly, devices are being replaced at an alarming rate, fueling a growing e-waste crisis. E-waste, or electronic waste, includes discarded gadgets like smartphones, computers and TVs. While no universal definition exists, it generally covers expensive, durable products used for data processing, communication and entertainment.

As lifespans shrink due to rapid innovation, global e-waste surged to 62 million tonnes in 2022 and is projected to hit 82 million tonnes by 2030 (Statista, 2025). Poor recycling rates, informal processing and weak regulations intensify the crisis, posing severe environmental and health risks.

To happen e-waste

Per capita production is the average amount of e-waste each person in a country produces. In 2022, the average per capita e-waste production was 7.8 kilograms. While Asia generated the largest quantity of e-waste overall, Europe and Oceania had the highest per capita rates, producing 17.6 kilograms and 16.1 kilograms per person, respectively. This shows that e-waste is not evenly distributed worldwide, and different regions handle it in different ways.

Within this vast waste stream, valuable metals such as gold, silver and platinum can be found in recoverable amounts. Valuable metals in e-waste were worth $9.6 billion in 2022 and could reach $13.6 billion by 2029. However, only 22.3% was properly recycled, while 48 million tonnes were informally handled, with 29% likely ending up in landfills.

Weak enforcement of laws, such as the 2016 Municipal Solid Waste Rules (Turaga & Bhaskar), allows illegal e-waste exports in low to middle-income countries, where workers, including women and children, face toxic exposure. Poverty forces many communities to rely on e-waste scavenging despite serious health risks.

Pregnant women and children are especially vulnerable, facing higher risks of neurodevelopmental disorders, respiratory diseases and toxic exposure. Studies link informal recycling to premature birth, stillbirth, and cognitive impairments. Addressing this crisis requires stronger regulations, safer recycling practices and technological innovations.

Toxic Wasteland

In Ghana, one of the world’s largest e-waste dumps, children as young as ten can be seen rummaging through mountains of discarded electronics, hoping to find valuable metals like copper and gold. Their hands, often bare, are covered in soot from burning old wires, a process that releases dangerous toxins into the air.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), these young workers inhale hazardous fumes daily, exposing them to severe health risks such as lung disease, nerve damage, and even cancer. Researchers in this domain have highlighted the air in Ghana to be dense due to toxic smoke, which may cling to one’s throat, making it difficult to breathe. Yet this is where the inhabitants earn their living.

A similar reality exists in Guiyu, China, where informal e-waste recycling has turned an entire town into a toxic wasteland. Once known for its fertile farmlands, Guiyu is now infamous for its dangerously high levels of lead contamination. Studies have shown that children born in the area have elevated levels of lead in their blood, leading to cognitive delays, behavioural problems and a higher risk of stillbirths. Pregnant women living near these unregulated recycling sites face a significantly higher chance of giving birth prematurely or losing their child due to exposure to toxic chemicals such as mercury and cadmium.

In Seelampur, Delhi — one of India’s largest e-waste hubs—informal recycling has turned entire neighbourhoods into toxic wastelands, and despite the Basel Convention, loopholes allow companies to dump unfixable electronics in India

India, a top e-waste producer and importer, faces a severe recycling crisis. In a city like Mumbai, children as young as ten scavenge electronics for valuable metals, their hands blackened from burning wires that release toxic fumes. In Seelampur, Delhi — one of India’s largest e-waste hubs — informal recycling has turned entire neighbourhoods into toxic wastelands. The absence of formal recycling worsens the crisis. Workers in makeshift shops use acid baths to extract metals, unknowingly exposing themselves to irreversible health damage. Despite the Basel Convention, loopholes allow companies to dump unfixable electronics in India. In 2021, investigators found thousands of broken European devices in India’s e-waste hotspots.

Tackling e-waste

To combat the surge in e-waste, a multi-pronged approach is essential — strengthening regulations, promoting recycling and leveraging technology. Governments must put more thrust on the enforcement of laws, such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), requiring manufacturers to manage product recycling and disposal. Clear e-waste management guidelines and the associated tax benefits for sustainable initiatives can encourage compliance, while fines for excessive waste production will deter harmful practices.

A circular economy — where products are reused, refurbished and recycled — is key. Urban mining, extracting valuable metals from e-waste, reduces reliance on destructive traditional mining. Refining materials like gold, silver and rare earth elements alleviates resource scarcity and minimises environmental harm. Innovation is crucial in e-waste management. AI and robotics can improve waste sorting and material recovery, reducing manual labour and thereby preventing toxic exposure.

Visual recognition systems enhance efficiency by accurately identifying and separating materials. Modular product designs that allow easy disassembly and part replacement can prevent unnecessary disposal. Countries like China have integrated blockchain technology into waste management systems, ensuring responsible disposal. Blockchain’s transparency builds consumer trust, allowing regulators and individuals to verify ethical recycling practices.

E-waste management stands at a critical juncture, demanding immediate and sustained action to curb its growing environmental and social impact. The urgency of addressing this issue extends beyond regulations and recycling efforts — it requires a fundamental shift in how societies perceive and handle electronic consumption. Consumer behaviour shapes e-waste’s future, making public awareness and education vital. Responsible choices like opting for refurbished devices, repairing instead of replacing, and proper disposal foster long-term change.

Developed nations must support low- and middle-income countries with financial aid, technology transfers and training to establish safe recycling infrastructure. Investing in green technology ensures electronics are both efficient and eco-friendly.

Addressing e-waste isn’t just about disposal — it’s about redefining technology, consumption and sustainability. By fostering responsibility at all levels, societies can mitigate e-waste’s effects and align technological progress with environmental stewardship. The challenge is formidable, but with collective action, a sustainable solution is within reach.

(Dr Swayam Sampurna Panigrahi is Asssistant Professor at IFMR Graduate School of Business, Krea University. Tanisha Tayal and Daniel George are students at the University)