By 4am, Abrar, aged 50, reaches Seelampur, a small neighbourhood in the capital’s north-east suburbs, which is home to India’s largest electrical-waste market.
The market’s narrow lanes are lined with small scrapstores overflowing with piles of broken computers, telephones, TVs, microwaves, washing machines, ACs and end-of-life batteries.
Abrar is one of more than 50,000 informal workers, including women and children, who make a living sifting through thrown-out goods to recover valuable materials that can be recycled and eventually reused in modern technologies.
In recent years, Abrar and his peers have become the backbone of a fast-growing network of start-ups seeking to extract energy transition minerals from e-waste in a process known as “urban mining”.
Seelampur’s e-waste market is a vast treasure trove for the highly-coveted metals and minerals the world needs to shift from fossil fuels to clean energy systems and curb climate change.
Charging cables for everyday items contain copper, a conductive metal which is used in virtually all electricity-related technologies. The aluminium in electronic components is needed to manufacture solar panels.
But most sought after still are batteries. The majority of electronics such as mobile phones, laptops and vapes use batteries that contain lithium, cobalt and nickel. The same minerals are used to make batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and storing renewable energy.
India has been making headlines for its growing e-waste recycling industry, where valuable minerals for batteries are extracted from discarded electronic devices. However, this booming industry also has a dark side that often goes unnoticed.
While the extraction of precious metals like cobalt, lithium, and nickel from e-waste can be profitable and environmentally beneficial, the process is often carried out in unsafe and unregulated conditions. Workers, including children, are often exposed to hazardous materials and chemicals without proper safety precautions in place.
Furthermore, the improper disposal of e-waste can lead to environmental pollution and health risks for nearby communities. Electronic devices contain toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can leach into the soil and water supply if not handled properly.
As India continues to ramp up its efforts to mine e-waste for battery minerals, it is crucial that the industry is regulated and workers are provided with the necessary protections and safeguards. Sustainable and ethical practices must be implemented to ensure that the benefits of e-waste recycling outweigh the potential risks and negative impacts on both people and the environment.
Tags:
- India e-waste mining
- Battery minerals in India
- Dark side of e-waste industry
- Environmental impact of e-waste mining
- Sustainable mining practices in India
- E-waste recycling in India
- Battery mineral extraction in India
- Impact of e-waste mining on local communities
- Responsible mining in India
- India’s role in global e-waste industry
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