India's Smartphone Economy
Old Phones and E-Waste
What happens to India's old phones, how informal recyclers extract metals, and extended producer responsibility rules for phone makers.
India generates many old phones.
Where they go
- Resale and refurbishing.
- Drawers: many people keep old phones.
- Informal recyclers who extract metals.
Informal recycling
In places like Seelampur in Delhi, workers dismantle phones, sometimes using unsafe methods like acid baths.
EPR
Under E-Waste Management Rules, phone makers have extended producer responsibility to collect and recycle old devices.
Right to repair
India launched a right to repair portal in 2022, including phones.
Economics
Recycling recovers valuable metals like gold and copper.
The drawer phones
A family has four old phones in a drawer that could be recycled for metals.
Thinking old phones are worthless
They contain valuable metals.
Key takeaways
- Many old phones sit unused.
- Informal recyclers extract metals.
- EPR makes makers responsible.
- A right to repair portal launched in 2022.
No recording for this one yet - EconReader can read it aloud for you.