E-waste Management Policy in India - Stakeholders perceptions and media attention

Abstract: E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in India due to an increase in consumption from businesses and domestic users. There is no separate law on e-waste management in India and it is presently interpreted under the Hazardous Waste (HW) rules. In practice, e-waste is largely handled by people in the informal sector. Having recognized the need for a separate policy on e-waste management, some NGOs and bi-lateral agencies put concerted efforts in 2006 but the process has not progressed considerably in the last two years. This research has been conducted to understand the policy making process which is influenced by the perceptions of different stakeholders and the media. The policy core beliefs of stakeholders on various topics such as the threat of e-waste on health and the environment, the need of a separate policy on e-waste, the applicability of the extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy principle, responsibilities of various stakeholders and the most affected parties due to a possible policy are investigated through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The media has been analyzed to understand the reasons for the variations in media attention during 2003-2007. The study finds that the policy making process has not considerably progressed due to (1) the differences in the beliefs of civil servants and experts and those of NGOs and bi-lateral agencies and (2) a decrease of the media coverage of the issue in the last two years. In addition, the principle of EPR has been misconceptualised as mere take-back scheme and the WEEE Directive in the European Union has been, unfortunately, viewed as the model for EPR legislations. This misinterpretation of the EPR policy principle might contribute to the slowdown of the development of a separate e-waste policy in India.