Waste from electrical or electronic sources is known internationally as e-waste, also known as WEEE. As the technology market continues to grow, so does the amount of waste and scrap material being generated. This is causing a severe problem due to the amount of toxic chemicals involved in the production of computers, laptops, monitors, and so forth. Disposal of these items is also problematic and many recycling laws have come into effect to curb or prevent used computers from being sent to landfill, either at home or abroad.
Many companies have been accused of sending their e-waste to countries such as China and India, where environmental laws are not as stringent as those in the U.K. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), established in 2004, states the need for an established network of lawmakers and industry experts to help deal with the crisis. The UNEP sees India as being the site of a crisis because most of the small workshops responsible for e-waste disposal are independent and not strictly governed if they are governed at all.
India remains of the most preferred sites for electronics manufacturers in the world due to its economic standards, high literacy rate, and consistently improving way of life. These factors are important to manufacturers wishing to find an ideal setting for their factories and other facilities. While recycling and recovery programmes are a hot topic in the industry, there is still a lot to be done in regards to India. Some have even commented that India is “changing into a morgue for electronic wastes”.
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