E waste management and legal regime in digital India a study with special reference to Chandigarh

Abstract

In this competitive world the desire to possess maximum information through communication technology by making use of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) has altered the human life both qualitatively and quantitatively. At the same time, this revolution has given rise to a variety of problems throughout the world. One of such problems associated with the technological revolution in Digital India is the massive generation of e-waste. With the rise in use of EEE, the magnitude of e-waste has been growing at uncontrollable pace giving rise to environmental pollution and danger to human health. Keeping this scenario in mind, the researcher has attempted to conceptualize the term e-waste along with highlighting an increase in the magnitude of e-waste. This study also discusses the possible dangers to human health and the environment that arise due to improper disposal practices adopted to handle massively generated e-waste. The management of e-waste has become a serious issue and how it is being dealt with by international and national legal mechanisms has also been discussed and analyzed in the thesis by the researcher. There are certain legislative gaps that allow e-waste to escape from a formal sector to the informal disposal techniques and practices. Accordingly, an attempt has also been made to highlight the gaps in the existing legal framework of India. The research work also compares the e-waste legal regime of India with legal mechanisms of developed nations like UK, USA, Switzerland and Japan. These countries have an all-embracing legal regime on e-waste management system. Further empirical research was conducted in the city of Chandigarh for the purpose of checking the compliance of the legal regime by different stakeholders involved in the chain of e-waste management. In the concluding chapter, hypotheses have been tested and suggestions have been provided for a more holistic and comprehensive legal regime aiming at management of e-waste in environmentally sound manner.