Patenting Of E-waste Recycling Technology In India

E-waste is a generic term comprising all electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) that have been disposed of by their original users, and includes everything from large household appliances, such as refrigerators, microwave ovens, television sets, and computers, to hand-held digital apparatuses, cell phones and toys. E-waste is today the fastest growing component of the municipal solid waste stream and currently comprises more than 5% of its total flow, which is equivalent to 20-50 million tonnes a year worldwide.

Generation of e-waste is a result of constant desire for newer and more efficient technology, as well as the intense marketing by producers, that make consumers replace electronic devices more and more frequently. Electrical and electronic equipment which are in abundance in the environment contain various hazardous materials that are harmful to human health and the environment.