IIT Madras' e-Source seeks to tackle e-waste

Indian Institute of Technology Madras IITM is developing an innovative model to tackle electronic waste ewaste by linking stakeholders in the formal and informal economyCalled eSource it will be an exchange platform that will serve as an online marketplace for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment WEEE and facilitate a formal supply chain between buyers and sellers a IITM release saidThis initiative can become a critical resource by enabling reverse logistics supply chains and help recycle 536 million tonnes of ewaste world generates annually and is potentially a USD 50 billion market it saidAccording to studies global ewaste is expected to double in the next 16 years Studies also estimated that 85 per cent of this is being lost globally IIT Madras researchers focused on the circular economy and are working to address the gaps in the ewaste sector which can potentially open doors to a USD 50 billion economyEwaste is one of the pressing issues in India as well with the country being the worlds third largest producer Further between 2019 and 2020 Indians generated 38 per cent more ewaste However what is more worrying is that only 5 per cent of ewaste is recycled responsibly in the country the release saidThe eSource initiative is being spearheaded by the IndoGerman Centre for Sustainability IGCS which believes that the problem of ewaste could be resolved by connecting different buyers and sellers of used and waste electronic equipment and components without compromising their interests the release saidHighlighting the need for eSource initiative IGCS faculty member Prof Sudhir Chella Rajan said Ewastes are typically either completely stripped down for precious metals and other highvalue materials or dumped in landfills by waste handlers without exploring potential reuse and repurposing options Unscientific recycling methods are harmful for waste handlers and the environmentRajan also a faculty in the IITMs Department of Humanities and Social Sciences said eSource is a unique opensource platform that will evolve towards using machine learning for better traceability of ewaste in compliance with guidelines and help increase the opportunities for repair and reuse of ewaste This will potentially improve livelihoods for youth and women in periurban settings by upgrading their skills and improving occupational health and safety reduce the flow of toxic materials in waste streams and broaden the market for affordable secondhand edevicesThis initiative requires forging collaborations and influencing the stakeholders in the informal markets who are primary usersbuyers of used electronic goods and sellers of electronic spares ICT components and electronic equipment This would ensure enough volumes are generated for repair reuse and recycling for larger players eg authorised recyclers to operate along with aiding standalone repairmen to acquire electronic components independent of the centralised grey markets the release addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliabilitsy and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever