Electronic waste, or e-waste, is a growing environmental problem worldwide. It is generated from discarded electronic devices such as home appliances, communication and information technology devices, electronic utilities, and medical equipment. E-waste can contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which pose significant environmental and health risks.

Businesses that handle electronic equipment can make a profit by managing their e-waste through recycling. They can do this by re-selling the individual components of the e-waste such as boards, RAM, and wires. Before tagging the product as e-waste, extensive testing can be done to assess the worth of reusing the product in its original form. These products can be repaired and sold in the secondary market for good profits. Valuable metals can also be extracted from different components of the e-waste and sold at a high cost.

To recycle e-waste, there are various processes involved, from the collection and separation of the e-waste to preparing it for sale as a final product. The collected e-waste is segregated based on its kind and stored to increase its shelf life. Sorting, dismantling, and shredding are then done to separate the equipment into parts. The remaining components are either recycled or destroyed. The materials are then sorted and sold, and the materials such as plastic and glass can be transferred to different recycling processes.

Safety measures during e-waste recycling are required to protect the well-being of the employees as toxic heavy metals such as lead and mercury are found in heavy quantities in collected e-waste. Before establishing an e-waste recycling plant, the owner of the plant must take permission from the concerned department. The E-waste Management Rules (Amendment) 2022 applies to every producer, manufacturer refurbisher, dismantler, and recycler involved in the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, refurbishing, dismantling, recycling, and processing of e-waste listed in Schedule I.

Starting an e-waste recycling business requires a wide range of government permissions and licenses, such as registration at UDYOG Aadhar, registration on the centralised CPCB portal, consent certificate from SPCB/PCC, ISO certificate, GST registration, and authorization under E-Waste management rules 2016. According to CPCB guidelines for e-waste recycling, recyclers may set up their collection centres, and their products must be sent or sold to users or other recyclers with valid CTO from SPCBs/PCCs. A recycler should also be a part of the producer’s channelisation system and must obtain consent to establish (CTE) from SPCBs/PCCs.

In conclusion, managing e-waste through recycling is not only environmentally responsible but also profitable for businesses that handle electronic equipment. Recycling e-waste requires a well-defined process, safety measures, and adherence to environmental laws and regulations.