This paper is a result of an innovation project completed by us under Delhi University, Cluster Innovation Centre. In this study, we tried to understand the mechanism of formal and informal sector managing E- waste. The informal sector manages more than 90 percent of India's E-waste. Low infrastructure set-up and operational costs enable them to make the profit and dominate the market. They are not liable to many expenses like rents and legitimate wages, do not invest in modern technology, follow unscientific processes for recycling and extraction, and are not bound by any laws and regulations. Considering the future scenario, it is imperative that the safe management of waste is done in an organised manner with sufficient resources and sustainable recycling technologies on the one hand and effective legislations and monitoring mechanisms on the other. It also calls for the regulatory infrastructure to allow for the protection of workers and community rights. This lack of organisation, which leads to the adoption of inefficient techniques, calls for the development of certain structure in this sector. A need is there to channelize and bring these informal players in the mainstream in order to manage e-waste in a sustainable manner. This study suggests one such process innovation to channelize the electronic waste being produced in different regions of the country. The future scope of this report lies in the regularisation of this sector, to turn it into a lucrative entry point for more organised private players.
