India is considered one of the fastest progressing countries and, therefore, there is an ever growing demand of electronic equipment and gadgets. The obsolescence rate of these products is rising because of technological changes, which results in increasing e-waste generation.

The disposal of e-waste in a scientific and safe manner is considered as most challenging assignment. As per the study conducted by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in the year 2007 for Mumbai and Pune Regions, it was assessed that MMR is the largest generator of e-waste in India.

So far there were no guidelines and approved methods and as such the disposal of e-waste was handled by informal sector by crude, unscientific processes resulting in environmental and occupational hazards and pollution. The e-waste (Management & Handling) Rules-2011 under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986, Govt. of India, came into existence and is applicable from 1st May, 2012 the same are again being amended in 2015 by Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of India.

A Techno-feasibility Study carried out in July, 2009 by MPCB recommended setting up of a centralized e-waste disposal facility. The Advisory Committee formed for the project recommended that MMRDA will act as a Nodal Agency. Recently, New Energy & Industrial Development Organization (NEDO), an Autonomous organization, Govt. of Japan, had approached MMRDA for a Pilot study of Advance WEEE recycling system to demonstrate Japanese advance technology in e-waste recycling and resource recovery in an environmentally sound manner through their technology provider with a project capacity 15,000 Tons per annum at their cost. The project is expected to be completed within a period of one & half years after the site identification. MMRDA may facilitate, if necessary, setting up of this project.