In present world, there is hardly any sector which is not dependent on the information technology and using the latest equipment for easing the works and meeting several other requirements. Moreover, the electronic gadgets like computers, laptops, printers have become an integral part of any office, as almost all work is being done on these little inventions of science. Moreover, the telecom sector has witnessed a major a major boom in last few years and at present it would be almost impossible to find a person not using a smart-phone. There devices, where on one hand have eased our works in several ways, on the other hand result in creation of a huge e-waste, which is emerging as a major threat these days. The Government has taken a number of steps to formalise the e-waste recycling sector of country. The e-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 provide for compulsory registration of the recycling units and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued guidelines/Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for processing of e-waste. While replying to a question in Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey informed that CPCB and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) have been monitoring the units and necessary steps have been taken to mainstream and modernise the recycling industry with the help of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The e-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 also provide for recognition and registration, skill development, monitoring and ensuring safety and health, of workers involved in dismantling and recycling of e-waste.
Under the e-Waste Management Rules, provision for reduction of hazardous substances in manufacturing of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) has been provided. It mandates that every producer of EEE and their components shall ensure that their products do not contain lead, mercury and other hazardous substances beyond the maximum prescribed concentration.