ABSTRACT
Electronics waste (e-waste) comes high up in the sustainability agenda and includes as important discussion point in the circular economy. International standards ensure responsible collection, handling, repair and depopulation and dismantling and recycling. Processing of e-waste in developing countries is, however, predominantly carried out in the informal sector using unscientific and hazardous methods. Moreover, second hand products are also having a significant market value, thereby, repairing business is also thriving in grey market without following any safety protocols. Absence of Right to Repair law will resist repairing business in formal fold. Unaffordable state of art technology, reduction of metal price are de-incentivizing recycling sector globally. Expensive imported equipment is often not suited to the local needs in developing countries like India. This chapter showcases how to address the problem using indigenous technology developed by the Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (Hyderabad) and its up-scaling efforts in India. This technology would be suitable for the informal sector to recover copper and precious metals exclusively from the scrap Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) in a cost-effective, healthy and environmentally friendly way. A regulator should lay down measures that force all parties to contribute to responsible repairing, recycling and reporting to ensure an environmentally friendly process.
