India’s rapid technological advancement has led to a surge in electronic consumption, significantly increasing the generation of electronic waste (e-waste) across the nation. This research study explores the intricate web of India’s e-waste supply chain, aiming to provide a comprehensive analysis and mapping of the key actors involved in its management. To analyse the current scenario and identify choke points in India’s entire e-waste supply chain, two states have been selected: Maharashtra and Karnataka. These states were chosen based on several parameters, including the volume of e-waste generated, the industrial and electric vehicle ecosystem, the development of green technologies, the status of electric vehicle infrastructure, and the availability of workforce. A deep dive field survey was conducted in these two states to analyse the roles of both informal and formal actors involved in the e-waste management supply chain.
Additionally, policy recommendations were developed based on this field research. An incentive mechanism is needed to leverage the e-waste management sector, as current treatment efforts are insufficient. This issue is further addressed and discussed in the sections below.
