Workshop in New Delhi brings together experts to discuss potential of DRS
A workshop was held in New Delhi on August 31, 2023, to discuss the potential of the Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) for e-waste management in India. The event was organized by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and RLG Systems India Pvt. Ltd. under the “Setting Up Innovative Value Chain for E-waste Management (E-SAFAI)” initiative.
The workshop was attended by experts, policymakers, and industry leaders from across India. They discussed the challenges posed by the ever-growing e-waste problem in India and the potential of the DRS to address these challenges.
The DRS is a simple yet effective mechanism that incentivizes consumers to recycle their e-waste. Under the DRS, consumers pay a small deposit when they purchase an electronic device. They can then get a refund of the deposit when they return the device to a designated collection point.
The DRS has been implemented in several countries around the world, and it has been shown to be effective in reducing e-waste and promoting recycling. In Germany, for example, the DRS has helped to increase the recycling rate of e-waste from 35% to 85%.
The workshop participants agreed that the DRS could be a valuable tool for e-waste management in India. However, they also noted that there are some challenges that need to be addressed before the DRS can be implemented effectively in India. These challenges include:
Lack of awareness among consumers about the DRS
Lack of infrastructure for collection and recycling of e-waste
Lack of enforcement of e-waste laws
The workshop participants called on the government, industry, and civil society to work together to address these challenges and to implement the DRS in India. They believe that the DRS is a promising solution to the e-waste problem in India, and they are committed to working towards its successful implementation.