HYDERABAD: The Telangana Pollution Control Board (TGPCB) is set to conduct a comprehensive study on e-waste inventorisation in the state to determine the amount of e-waste generated and assess the generators, quantity, and current handling practices as per the E-Waste Management Rules, 2022. The study will also examine the role of the informal sector in managing e-waste.
E-waste inventorisation will help improve material recovery, support the circular economy, and create economic and employment opportunities in e-waste management. It will also enhance data accuracy, track e-waste generation, promote recycling, prevent illegal dumping, and aid in setting targets and policies.
For the study, TGPCB will engage reputed national consultancy firms, educational institutions, and research organisations. The study period is set at 150 days and aims to determine the amount of e-waste generated for each Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) category mentioned in the E-Waste Management Rules, 2022. E-waste includes any digital or electronic equipment that is no longer in use.
According to officials, the selected firm or institution will map key stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, recyclers and informal collectors. It will collect and analyse both primary and secondary data on e-waste flow and disposal practices, identify gaps in the existing management system, and recommend improvements. The study will also prepare a detailed inventory and establish a Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) business chain to understand trade economics and environmental impacts.
Identifying stakeholders
The study will identify stakeholders and their geographical distribution within the state, classifying them into organised and unorganised sectors.
Some major stakeholder groups include
Producers and Sellers – Importers, manufacturers, distributors, traders, retailers & dealers
Consumers – Households, businesses, IT firms, BPOs, educational institutions, railways, airlines, defence establishments, transport corporations & PSUs
Collectors – Scrap dealers, big bazaars, and malls that buy e-waste
Recyclers – Dissemblers, dismantlers, and material recovery units
Informal Sector – Roadside vendors, authorised & unauthorised auctioneers, and second-hand electronic goods sellers