Telangana Ramps Up E-Waste Processing, Becomes National Leader in Growth

Telangana has crossed the 1 lakh metric tonne (MT) mark in e-waste processing for the first time, recording 1,19,187 MT in 2024-25-a sharp rise from 65,226 MT in 2023-24. This makes it the third-largest contributor of e-waste nationally, and second in processing growth after Uttar Pradesh. Telangana now accounts for 8.5% of the country’s total e-waste processing capacity, as per data shared by the Ministry of Environment in the Lok Sabha.

The state has achieved a threefold rise in e-waste processing since 2021-22 despite operating only 19 recycling centres, mainly in Greater Hyderabad. Officials credit the growth to increased involvement of IT firms, the expansion of electronics and mobile manufacturing, and the state’s proactive e-waste policy. Recently, three new recycling plants have also been approved to meet rising demand.

Nationally, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has launched an online EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) portal for registration of producers, recyclers, and refurbishers. Under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, these entities must also raise awareness among consumers, encouraging responsible disposal through certified facilities only.

Crossing 1 lakh MT of e-waste processing in a single year, combined with a three-fold increase since 2021-22, represents genuine capacity growth in what has historically been one of India's more challenging waste streams. E-waste combines material recovery opportunity (precious and critical metals) with material hazard (heavy metals, brominated flame retardants) - making formal processing capacity essential for both circular-economy and environmental-health outcomes.

The alignment with India's E-Waste (Management) Rules 2022 and the CPCB EPR portal signals the regulatory architecture now in place to hold producers, importers and refurbishers accountable for post-consumer waste flows. Telangana's growth is likely being driven by the concentration of IT firms and electronics manufacturing in Greater Hyderabad - a supply-and-demand dynamic that other tech-hub states can replicate.

For electronics manufacturers, IT-services companies with hardware footprints, retailers and their financiers, Cognitud's circular economy, supply chain and operations, and sustainability due diligence teams help clients build EPR-compliant take-back and recycling programmes, structure producer-responsibility disclosures aligned with BRSR and international standards, and evaluate opportunities in the growing formal e-waste recovery value chain across India and comparable emerging markets.