A Comparative Study of E-Waste Management in Urban and Rural Areas of India and The Role of Media in Spreading E-Waste Awareness

Abstract

The current scenario across the globe with most of the nation being connected digitally needs electronic devices to keep pace with the modern world. India one of the most rapidly developing count1y with a population of 1.3 billion, has a demographic advantage, has turned out to be the second largest market of consumer electronics in the world. £-devices turns obsolete after their use it till lifespan and hence contribute to the generation of e-waste. As the technology is advancing and due to economies of scale the electronic devices are well within the reach of all strata of society, but trailing a large amount of e-waste behind. Catching up with the urban areas - rural areas are also contributing considerably in the e-waste generation. In a worsening solid waste management scenario both rurally and in metropolitan cities, e-waste poses a major challenge to measure. To study the awareness and management of e-waste between urban and rural areas, the comparative study was conducted through a primary survey method with a structured questionnaire and field visits in Pune, a metropolitan city and Pandharpur, a comparatively rural area in Maharashtra, India and with the help of survey, visits and findings.