The dark alchemy: India's e-waste spun into PGM by cheap labour

Introduction

Every year, millions of discarded computers, televisions, and mobile phones end up far from where they were first used. In India, much of this waste travels to one place — Moradabad, a city in Uttar Pradesh that has quietly become the country’s unofficial e-waste hub. Known once for its brassware industry, Moradabad is now a focal point for electronics recycling in India, where discarded devices are broken down to extract precious metals.

This transformation tells a larger story about e-waste India, where the line between opportunity and environmental disaster is thin.

From Brass Capital to E-Waste Hub

Moradabad earned fame as India’s “Brass City” for its skilled artisans and metalwork. However, when the 2008 global recession hit, demand for brass products collapsed. Thousands of craftsmen suddenly found themselves out of work.

What came next was unexpected — these same workers turned to a new trade: recycling e-waste. With furnaces already in place and expertise in metal melting, the shift was almost natural. Old computers, TVs, and circuit boards began replacing brass scrap in the city’s workshops.

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Today, Moradabad e-waste yards handle more than nine metric tonnes of discarded electronics daily, with nearly half of all printed circuit boards in India reportedly ending up here. It’s a booming underground industry, but one that operates largely outside the law.

Inside Moradabad’s E-Waste Industry

In the crowded lanes near the Ramganga River, the process is as basic as it is dangerous. Men and children dismantle electronics with bare hands, stripping wires, burning circuit boards, and washing ash with acid to recover bits of copper, gold, and silver.

Without safety gear, these workers breathe in toxic fumes and handle dangerous chemicals daily. The extracted metals — mainly copper — are then melted into small ingots and sold back to the brass industry.

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This informal recycling system is efficient but harmful. It reflects how much of electronics recycling in India happens outside the formal economy — in what experts call the informal recycling sector India.

The Human and Environmental Toll

While Moradabad’s e-waste trade supports thousands of families, it comes at a steep price. The smoke and residues from burning electronics contaminate the soil, air, and water. The Ramganga River, once clean, now carries the remains of melted metal and chemical waste.

Residents face chronic respiratory illnesses and skin problems, and children grow up surrounded by toxic fumes. Yet for many, this trade is their only livelihood. It’s a harsh reminder of the hidden cost of electronic waste dumping in India.

The lack of regulation makes things worse. Imported and domestic waste moves freely through informal routes, with little oversight or environmental control. Moradabad has become both a recycling center and a symbol of how unregulated e-waste management can endanger people and ecosystems alike.

Why Moradabad Matters

India is one of the world’s largest producers of e-waste, generating millions of tonnes every year. As technology advances and electronics become cheaper, the volume of discarded devices keeps growing. Cities like Moradabad absorb the overflow — often illegally and without safe infrastructure.

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The e-waste hub Uttar Pradesh highlights both the potential and the peril of informal recycling. On the one hand, it prevents valuable materials from ending up in landfills. On the other hand, it exposes thousands to toxins and fuels a black market that undermines India’s environmental goals.

Formal recyclers exist, but the informal network dominates due to its low cost and lack of bureaucracy. Bridging this gap is essential for sustainable electronics recycling in India.

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Building a Safer Future for E-Waste India

To turn the tide, India needs a stronger and more inclusive approach to e-waste management.

Here’s how progress can happen:

1. Formalise the sector: Provide training, safety equipment, and legal frameworks for informal recyclers to join formal operations.
2. Strengthen enforcement: Ensure that waste imports and dismantling follow environmental and safety standards.
3. Corporate responsibility: Tech companies should expand take-back programs and meet their extended producer responsibility (EPR) targets.
4. Consumer awareness: Every user plays a part. Choosing certified recyclers over scrap dealers can make a big difference.
5. Sustainable design: Manufacturers should create products that are easier to recycle and last longer.

A balanced approach can protect both livelihoods and the environment, ensuring India doesn’t pay a high price for digital progress.

Conclusion

Moradabad’s story is a mirror reflecting the dark side of our gadget-driven world. It’s a place where modern technology meets old-world craftsmanship — and where poverty meets pollution.

As India’s unofficial recycling bin, Moradabad shows what happens when electronic waste is handled without regulation or care. But it also offers a chance to rethink how we manage our digital leftovers.

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