E-waste Provides $6 Billion Opportunity for Metal Extraction

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): India holds a $6 billion potential of extracting secondary copper, iron, aluminium and gold from e-waste. However, just $1.1 billion is being recovered currently. India generated 3.8 million metric tons of e-waste in 2024 and it is expected to rise almost twice in the coming years due to the growing number of appliances, and shorter replacement cycles. Secondary metal extraction holds a massive $6 billion economic potential. Current technologies help the industry extract only 60-65 per cent of this or $3.6 billion worth metals. Despite this, just $1.1 billion is being recovered currently primarily due to inefficient informal recyclers with limited technological expertise. The majority of Indian operations still face significant gaps in extraction purity, processing speed, and overall efficiency.

By adopting advanced technologies, $3.6 billion extractable value from e-waste can be realized. However, the informal sector is inefficient to handle 60-65 per cent of metal recovery. Formalization can boost recovery rates and ensure environmental compliance, finds RedSeer Consulting. Further, nearly 10 per cent of e-waste remains stored in homes, mainly high-value electronics, representing a major untapped recycling opportunity

India lags behind global leaders in extraction technology, limiting recovery efficiency. Advancing recycling infrastructure can unlock significant value. India recycles only 60-70 per cent of iron, compared to 80-90 per cent in developed markets. Recovery rates of copper stand at 40-45 per cent, far below the 75 per cent achieved globally. At 30-35 per cent, India lags behind the 65-75 per cent aluminium extraction in advanced economies. Less than 2-3 per cent of gold in e-waste is recovered in India, a fraction of what countries with advanced recycling infrastructure achieve. By optimizing metal extraction from e-waste, India can slash import demand by up to $1.7 billion, while securing a reliable supply of high-value recycled metals like aluminium and copper.
Courtesy: www.deccanchronicle.com