The Great Indian E-Waste Upsurge
By: Khushi Chandola
Tags: User Research, Ux Case Study, India, E Waste Management, Waste

A UX Case Study on Current Status of E-waste Management in India

Technology is getting more and more integrated in our lives. We own multiple electronic devices and keep changing them so as to keep up with the latest trends. Being an enormous country with a huge population density, we also contribute to the fastest growing waste streams on the planet, called electronic waste, which can neither be biodegraded and recycled effectively.

The E-Waste Upsurge

As the number of devices in the market keep increasing, the lifespan of the devices keeps decreasing. Many products will be thrown away once their batteries die, to be replaced with new devices. In order to gain profit from steady sales of their products, companies intentionally plan this obsolescence by updating the design or software and discontinuing support for older models, making it a better option to purchase a new device instead of repairing an old one.

This results in increased spending on electronics products, both by consumers and businesses, and results in an upsurge in electronic waste as well.

Planned obsolescence by companies and effect of consumerism on the market has been validated by the fact that 82% of the total e waste generated in India comprises of just personal electronic and telecommunication devices, such as laptops, mobile phones, computer accessories etc.

E-Waste Management in India

According to a report in 2019, India is the third largest producer of e-waste in the world (3.2 million tons/year), following China (10.1 million tons/year) and USA (6.9 million tons/year). These three countries alone contributed to 38% of the total waste generated in the world in 2019.

Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) — A step taken by the government to effectively manage e-waste in the country

EPR or Extended Producers Responsibility is “an environmental protection strategy to reach an environmental objective of a decreased total environmental impact of a product responsible for the entire life cycle of the product by take back schemes, collection and recycling processes. The policy gives producers the responsibility to treat and dispose of post-consumer, end of life products, and also includes raising awareness among the masses about electronic waste and disposal techniques by various media.

Formal recycling process as per EPR

The bodies and services involved in implementation of EPR:

· Central Pollution Control Board

· State Pollution Control Board

· Manufacturers

· Authorized Recyclers

After the policy was introduced in the year 2011, some amendments were made in 2016 which included fixed phase-wise collection targets for producers for collection of e-waste. For the first two years, the manufacturers are required to recycle at least 30% of the total e-waste they generate in a year. For the third and fourth year, the minimum requirement climbs up to 40%, 50% for the next two years, after which it is mandatory to recycle at least 70% of the produced e-waste each year.

About Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs)

Due to all the limitations of EPR, the producers/manufacturers of EEE are often unable to carry out all these responsibilities themselves. That is where PROs jump in.

A Producer Responsibility Organization is a professional organization authorized or financed collectively or individually by producers, to help them meet their EPR targets through various recyclers and dismantlers in the country. PRO is responsible for setting up a collection mechanism for the targeted material and create awareness for recycling of e-waste.

How PROs help producers

Limitations of EPR:

Extended Producer Responsibility has not in fact been so “Extended”. Despite a lot of rules mandated by the government of India, it is very difficult for the producers to carry our EPR effectively. Here’s are a few reasons why:

· EPR is applicable to only a limited number of products. It is only compulsory for waste from EEE (Electronic and Electrical Equipment), Lead acid batteries, accumulators, fluorescent mercury-based lightings and end of life vehicles.

· Insufficient transparency makes it difficult for Public Administrations to assess compliance amongst others.

Despite all these initiatives by the government and producers, less than 5% of the total e-waste generated in India is recycled through formally regulated units.

Why isn’t it working?

The formal sector units, i.e., government-approved recycling centres located in different parts of the country, have the combined capacity to handle only about 20% of total annual e-waste generation. In reality, however, they process less than 5% of the total annual e-waste. More than 95% is recycled through informal units, by millions of people who make a living from it by recovering valuable materials from it, and processing them for reuse in various manufacturing industries. They do this work under unsafe conditions and are exposed to numerous health and environmental hazards.

To understand more about the role of customer behavior in ineffective management and the supremacy of the informal sector in e-waste recycling, we conducted primary research to dig deep into the minds of the users.

Quantitative Research and Analysis

We conducted a survey which included people from multiple age groups, demographics and professional backgrounds. Here is what we found out:

· 64% of the people spend about Rs. 30,000 per annum on personal electronic products

· 59% of the people own more than one device of the same kind

· For used devices in working condition, 43% of the people keep them with themselves, while the others sell them or give them away in exchange offers on e-commerce platforms.

· For end-of-life devices, 42% of the people simply throw them in the trash and 18% sell them to a local repair shop. Both of these methods result in the devices ending up being recycled in the informal sector. Only 6% of the people give their devices away for proper recycling. The others just keep their devices with themselves.

· 75% of the people are aware of the environmental and health hazards of e-waste. But 62% are unaware of any take back schemes and exchange offers for the same, and 79% do not know of any e-waste recycler in their city. This explains why the waste goes to the informal sector despite people having knowledge about e-waste hazards.

Conclusion: Most people know what not to do with e-waste. They do not know what to do.

User Interviews and Analysis

Interacting with regular consumers of EEE by taking personal interviews gave us a deep look into the core of the problem.

· 90% of the users had at least three personal electronic devices, which include a smartphone, a laptop and a pair of earplugs or headphones.

· 60% users just keep their old electronics with themselves or simply throw them in the trash.

· 80% people did not know how they are supposed to dispose of their e-waste in a proper manner. Therefore, 90% of the people have never tried to contact any recyclers for giving away their e waste.

· 60% of the people admitted that they bought new electronic devices and gadgets just to keep up with the technological trends rather than it being a necessity.

· 60% people said that they did not know anything about electronic waste and the effects it has on the environment. Those who did, knew it via news channels, articles and videos on the internet.

· None of the interviewees knew about formal and informal recycling of e waste

· Consumer motivations for participating in e waste management:

Monetary benefit

E-waste pick up from users’ doorstep

Disposing centers should be nearby

Data should be destroyed

Disposal methods should be mentioned on the electronics packaging itself

Structured process

Proper awareness and good marketing