In hub of e-waste dismantling, safety logs out

NEW DELHI: In a narrow, congested lane in northeast Delhi's Seelampur, 11-year-old Zakir and his friend, 10-year-old Zehaan (names changed), are quietly scanning the area, hoping to collect any piece of ‘valuable waste' they can find. Pawan, 26, supervises them and assists in identifying scrap suitable for sale. They see a few electronic parts dumped nearby, but without any proper tools at hand, the children end up using bricks to break them open and extract the metal.

"Hum log chor nahi hain. Jo dukaan wale yahaan fek dete hain, hum usmein se loha dhoond kar bech dete hain (We are not thieves. We take the metal out from discarded items and sell it)," Zakir says as he sifts through discarded laptops, computers and smartphones.


This has been his daily routine for the past six years. "I don't take breaks. I have to earn every day. In the evening, we sell the electronic waste in Seemapuri and earn a meagre Rs 100-200 a day," Zakir says. He gives half the amount to his parents.

The drudgery has left Zehaan exhausted as well. "My hands have lost all shine; they are now dirty and feel rough. We get cuts while dealing with e-waste and extracting metals, but now we are used to it…," he says.

Like Zakir and Zehaan, many rely on e-waste dumped by Seelampur's shopkeepers — in the open, trash bins or drains. Combing through it means they can buy food for their families, even if it's by using bare hands to sort the sharp metal pieces.

One of the largest hubs of unregulated e-waste dismantling in India, Seelampur is characterised by toxic fumes, hammers at full swing, weighing scales and heaps of burning garbage. According to CPCB, in 2021-22, Delhi generated over 2,130 tonnes of e-waste, most of which ended up in Seelampur.

The area's cramped lanes, specifically Gali No. 3 and 4, serve as the final destination for numerous electronic devices. Several small establishments overflow with electronic components like hard drives, motherboards, capacitors and batteries, apart from printers, televisions and mobile phones, with surplus waste spilling into the narrow pathways. Locals earn their livelihood by breaking down this unprocessed e-waste, recovering valuable metals, such as copper, gold and silver, before selling the remaining materials to nearby traders at current market prices.

The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, established by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF) and implemented from April 1, 2023, define e-waste as discarded electrical and electronic equipment, including solar photo-voltaic modules, panels or cells, either whole or in parts, as well as manufacturing, refurbishment and repair rejects. The rules also mandate that all recyclers and dealers must register via an online portal. Anyone found operating without registration may face environmental penalties. And while recycling e-waste is permitted, dismantling it inside city limits is strictly prohibited.

Although the guidelines aim to reduce health risks from improper disposal, safety precautions take a backseat in the informal e-waste dismantling market. Many work in small establishments with little or no scope for ventilation. Often, they handle dangerous substances and acids without essential protective equipment, such as eye protection, hand coverings or appropriate footwear.

Most of the workers and shop owners TOI spoke to demonstrated limited knowledge regarding govt regulations for proper e-waste treatment and environmental protection.

"We deal in all types of e-waste dumped in the lanes. The truck comes once or twice a week, after which the workers dismantle the e-waste with tools like hammer and screwdriver and extract metals," says Ibrahamdin, 55, a local e-waste dealer who entered the trade in 2020 after leaving his job.

"The job of extracting metals demands pain and force. There is a high risk of hurting yourself with the hammer or a piece of metal that can come crashing into your eyes," he adds warily.

The margins are razor thin, making it near impossible for him to provide any protection gears to his workers, Ibrahamdin says. "Our workers make Rs 200-300 working 10-12 hours daily and can barely make ends meet… Mazdoor hai, kaise bhi mazdoori karega. Rs 10 mile, kha pi liya, bas din ki roti naseeb ho jaati hai sabko yahaan (They are labourers, they get by with one square meal)," he adds.

In a highly unregulated sector, the proposed eco-park at Holambi Kalan in Narela, billed as the country's first organised e-waste recycling hub, offers hope. The 10.5-acre facility, for which tenders will be floated soon, will process 1,10,000 MT per year. But the wait could stretch another 18 months and, until then, electronic debris will continue to pile up in the city's informal scrapyards and residential pockets.

Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa recently said the plant was being designed to manage both current and future e-waste volumes. "It will be a zero-emission plant. Special scrubbers and technology will ensure that nothing is released into air or water. It will also integrate the informal sector and manage e-waste considering future waste generation," he added.