somaiya.edu.in
Electronic waste (e-waste) forms a large proportion of the hazardous waste that ends up in landfills. Globally, the amount of e-waste is expected to increase to 52.2 MT, or 6.8 kg per inhabitant by 2021 creating an environmental disaster for most of the developed and developing countries of the world. Only 20 percent of the e-waste generated is recycled in India while the rest goes in landfills and would remain there for centuries due to non-biodegradable nature of
the same. Russia, with no tradition of recycling and waste segregation, the sustainable management of all solid waste including e-waste has remained a key challenge. The current landfill approach is becoming unsustainable with increased generation of e-waste. There is evidence of merit in adoption of circular economy framework as part of the sustainable development goals to ensure sustainable production and consumption. Hence, this study proposes to develop a framework for the sustainable management using circular economy approaches for India and Russia, which ensures both efficient resource use and sustainable
e-waste management. It analyzes the key challenges in current e-waste recycling management in both countries and compares the benchmarks in the world to develop sustainable e-waste management strategies and policies. The study also analyzes the economic implications of adopting circular economy approaches in e-waste management in Indian and Russian economies. It finally builds evidence-based framework for capacity building and stakeholder involvement in e-waste management for both the countries.
