The augmentation of human capabilities due to industrial revolution is well documented. The revolutionary changes experienced in societies across the world due to the application of electronics are far more deep and widespread than the impact of industrial revolution. The electronics age made unprecedented impact on human society and spectacularly enhanced our connectivity across the globe. The widespread use of electronic items has made communication easier, boosted business activities and created employment opportunities. However, along with the benefits, it has brought into focus many challenges, like the rising problem of e-waste, that have to be boldly dealt with by society. In the current scenario, it is always possible that human health and environment would be drastically endangered if concerted legislations and actions were not taken for efficient management and disposal of e-waste. This Paper attempts to provide a brief insight into this relatively new concept of e-waste, its generation in India and the environmental and health concerns attached to it. It highlights the e-waste recycling economy in the thriving informal and the nascent formal sector and the urgent need for a more clear-cut legislation and forward looking vision. The Paper also looks into the global trade in e-waste and the international experience in this regard. A list of references too has been given at the end for further reading.

Introduction Advances in the field of science and technology brought about industrial revolution in the 18th Century which marked a new era in human civilization. In the 20th Century, the information and communication revolution has brought enormous changes in the way we organize our lives, our economies, industries and institutions. These spectacular developments in modern times have undoubtedly enhanced the quality of our lives. At the same time, these have led to manifold problems including the problem of massive amount of hazardous waste and other wastes generated from electric products. These hazardous and other wastes pose a great threat to the human health and environment. The issue of proper management of wastes, therefore, is critical to the protection of livelihood, health and environment. It constitutes a serious challenge to the modern societies and requires coordinated efforts to address it for achieving sustainable development. According to the Basel Convention, wastes are substances or objects, which are disposed of or are intended to be disposed of, or are required to be disposed of by the provisions of national laws.1 Additionally, wastes are such items which people are required to discard, for example by law because of their hazardous properties. Our daily activities give rise to a large variety of different wastes arising from different sources. Thus, municipal waste is waste generated by households and consists of paper, organic waste, metals, etc. The wastes generated by production processes, households and commercial activities are hazardous waste. Biomedical waste is waste generated by hospitals and other health providers and consists of discarded drugs, waste sharps,

microbiology and biotechnology waste, human anatomical waste, animal waste, etc. Radioactive waste is any material that contains a concentration of radionuclides greater than those deemed safe by national authorities, and for which, no use is foreseen. Other sources of waste include end-of-life vehicles, packaging waste, tyres, agricultural waste, etc.2 These waste substances are in the long run hazardous in nature as they are ignitable, corrosive, reactive, toxic, explosive, poisonous or infectious. Hence, they pose substantial or potential threat to public health and the environment.