HYDERABAD: In just eight years, Telangana’s electronic waste has nearly quintupled — from 33,425 metric tonnes in 2017–18 to over 1.6 lakh metric tonnes in 2025–26 — marking a sharp rise of more than 370%. The surge, driven by rapid urbanisation, rising incomes and Hyderabad’s emergence as a major technology hub, is now raising serious environmental concerns.
Data from the Telangana State Pollution Control Board shows that e-waste had already climbed to 50,835 metric tonnes by 2021–22, a 52.1% increase within five years. However, the pace of growth has accelerated significantly since then, with volumes crossing 1.6 lakh metric tonnes in 2025-26.
“The scale of increase we are seeing is unprecedented for a single state over such a short period,” said environmentalist Gufran Beig. “What is particularly concerning is that generation is rising faster than our ability to safely channelise and recycle the waste.”
The trend mirrors a broader national pattern, where e-waste generation has surged due to rapid digital expansion and shorter device lifecycles. While states such as Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu continue to lead in overall generation, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have emerged as frontrunners in recycling. Telangana, meanwhile, has steadily climbed to fourth place in the country in terms of e-waste recycling and processing.
Despite this progress, significant gaps remain. The state currently has 21 authorised e-waste recyclers and two refurbishers with a combined capacity of about 3.6 tonnes per annum — far below the volume generated. As a result, only a fraction of the waste is processed through formal channels.
“Having infrastructure is one thing, but ensuring that waste actually reaches authorised recyclers is the bigger challenge,” said Hyderabad-based waste policy expert Vikram Naik. “A large share of e-waste is still being diverted to informal channels, where there is little oversight.”
Experts warn that unsafe handling of e-waste remains widespread. In and around Hyderabad, discarded electronics are often dismantled by informal workers using hazardous methods, exposing them to toxic materials and causing contamination of soil and water bodies. They stress that stronger monitoring, improved collection systems and stricter enforcement of e-waste management rules are essential to address the growing crisis.