New Delhi, 09 February 2026 — India today hosted the Indian edition of the International Exchange Initiative on Regulating E-waste and Engaging Tech Companies, a five-day study tour led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with support from APC Colombia and in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The initiative brings together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and recycling practitioners from six countries to strengthen global e-waste governance and accelerate the transition to a circular economy for electrical and electronic equipment.
India Emerges as a Hub for Global Knowledge Exchange
As one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies—with close to a billion internet users and a globally benchmarked digital public infrastructure—India sits at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and regulation. With platforms like UPI processing over 12 billion transactions monthly, the scale of digital adoption has also intensified the challenge of managing electronic waste.
The India Study Tour (9–13 February 2026) positions the country as a platform for peer learning and best-practice exchange, with delegations from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, India, Malaysia, Nigeria, and South Africa participating alongside Indian stakeholders. Around 40 participants attended the inaugural session in New Delhi, reflecting strong international interest in collaborative solutions for e-waste management.
From Policy to Practice: Focus on Regulation, Circularity, and Skills
The three-day technical workshop (9–11 February) is structured around three core themes:
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Regulatory frameworks and governance — with emphasis on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), digital compliance systems, and data-driven monitoring.
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Circular economy approaches in electronics and telecommunications — focusing on coordination among producers, recyclers, and operators, and the integration of the informal sector.
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Standardisation and skill development — covering international standards, workforce capacity-building, innovation, and advanced recycling technologies.
The programme blends expert presentations, country case studies, panel discussions, and group work to ensure that discussions translate into practical, implementable insights.
Leadership Perspectives: Building Scalable and Transparent Systems
Mr. Rudra Narayan Palai, Member (Technology), Digital Communications Commission and Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government of India, underlined India’s potential to emerge as a global leader in e-waste recycling and circular economy practices. He noted that responsible e-waste management can generate green jobs, enable recovery of critical materials, reduce import dependence, and strengthen supply-chain resilience—while integrating circularity across the entire lifecycle of electronic and telecom equipment.
Dr. Victor Hugo Echeverri Jaramillo, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia to India, described the initiative as “beyond a technical programme”, calling it a platform for trust-building, peer learning, and long-term international cooperation. He emphasized that sustainable development requires partnerships across borders, sectors, and institutions.
Echoing this, Mr. Shubhendu Tiwari, Advisor (Technology), DoT, stressed that strong regulation must be complemented by industry innovation, responsible business practices, and sustained investment in modern recycling infrastructure to deliver solutions that are both scalable and sustainable.
Practical Exposure: Inside India’s Recycling Ecosystem
To bridge policy with implementation, participants will visit Greenscape Eco Management Pvt. Ltd. in Alwar, Rajasthan, on 12 February 2026, gaining first-hand exposure to operational e-waste recycling and compliance practices. The tour will conclude on 13 February 2026 with a visit to the ITU Area Office and Innovation Centre at the C-DOT Campus in New Delhi.
Addressing a Growing Global Challenge
Globally, 62 million tonnes of e-waste are generated every year, yet only 22.3% is formally collected and recycled. Evidence shows that countries with dedicated e-waste legislation achieve significantly higher collection rates. Of the 81 countries with e-waste policies, 67 include EPR, making producers accountable for the end-of-life of their products. However, e-waste generation continues to outpace formal recycling, underscoring the urgency for robust regulation, effective implementation, and international knowledge-sharing.
Through this exchange, the ITU aims to help countries develop context-appropriate, viable e-waste systems, recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
What’s Next: Extending the Impact Beyond the Tour
Key learnings from the India Study Tour will be shared via a post-tour webinar on 17 March 2026, widening the initiative’s reach. The India edition follows the first exchange held in Colombia in October 2025 and precedes the final study tour scheduled in South Africa in April 2026, marking a sustained, multi-country effort to strengthen global e-waste governance.
Conclusion
By hosting the ITU-led study tour, India has reinforced its role as a global convener on sustainable digital transformation, showcasing how policy, industry, and innovation can align to tackle the mounting e-waste challenge. With a focus on regulation, circularity, and skills, the initiative signals a shift from fragmented approaches to collaborative, scalable, and transparent e-waste systems—a critical step toward a truly circular digital economy.
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Source: PIB
