Making E-waste Recycling a Competitive Advantage in India

The Social Innovation

Magnitude of the Problem, and its Root Causes

India is the third-largest producer of e-waste globally, generating over 4.1 million tonnes in 2022. Over 90% of this e-waste is handled informally using unsafe methods, posing significant risks to human and environmental health and resulting in the loss of critical raw materials (Global E-waste Monitor 2024).

During their participation in the Globalizer co-created by Ashoka and HSBC in 2020, the Karo Sambhav team reflected on the key factors contributing to the problem:  

• Weak enforcement of regulations
• Insufficient recycling infrastructure
• Fragmented and informal collection channels
• Limited consumer and bulk generator awareness
• Lack of investment and standards

Based on their systems change analysis, Karo Sambhav made it their mission to improve fragmented and informal collection channels and enable Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) across multiple waste streams (especially e-waste) by working with producers, consumers, bulk generators and the government.  

Strategy to Catalyze a Network of Changemakers towards the Targeted Mission

Karo Sambhav started with an ecosystem enabling strategy and realized to enable systemic transformation, recycling needs to become a competitive advantage.  

We are shifting our focus to building high-quality recycling infrastructure and investable operations that deliver both superior quality and strong financial returns. We recognize that to achieve our ultimate impact, we must also speak the universal language of business to enable us to scale our mission and accelerate meaningful change.

Some of the tactics they deployed towards the mission as a part of the strategy include:

1) Spreading Awareness about Recycling (E-waste & more) to Inform & Educate the General Public to shift Behaviours

Over the years, Karo Sambhav has engaged with 7,500+ organizations — including 3,000 schools, 1,500 bulk consumers, 2,000 retailers across 70+ cities and 5,000+ informal workers; conducted 2,500+ workshops, taking the message to over 5 million individuals. 

2) Collaborating with Policymakers to Develop Standards and Build Capacity for Enforcement of e-waste Regulations  

Over the years, Karo Sambhav has engaged a wide range of stakeholders nationally and globally, expanding its collection channels through retail partnerships to promote responsible recycling. Key stakeholders include 

• government agencies such as the Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Bureau of Indian Standards, Niti Aayog, and Department of Telecommunications
• international institutions like the World Economic Forum (WEF), WEEE Forum, GIZ, and International Finance Corporation (IFC)  
• 30 major global manufacturers and brand owners  

They have been a part of:

• contributing to WEF’s Global Future Councils, advancing global systems and frameworks through the SWITCH-Asia project
• leading the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) National Working Group 5 (NWG-5)
• strategic alliances with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), World Economic Forum (WEF), WEEE Forum, and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW)
• partnerships with government bodies such as the Ministry of Electronics and IT, Ministry of Mines, Department of Telecommunications, and SWITCH-Asia to develop Circular Economy frameworks

Karo Sambhav’s foundational work involved collaborating with key stakeholders and government bodies to build capacity and shape industry standards. While these efforts were valuable, a multistakeholder approach and transformative systemic change take time.

Our experience taught us a vital lesson—while we remain committed to our mission, we must also channel our energy into areas where we can drive immediate, tangible impact. We’ve learnt to balance long-term advocacy with focused, actionable initiatives, ensuring our resources are dedicated to creating the change we can deliver today, while patiently nurturing the progress of tomorrow.

Having built a strong foundation through ecosystem collaboration, Karo Sambhav is now strategically focusing on infrastructural development and financial sustainability for both the organization and the broader market.

3) Collaborating with Retailers and Bulk Consumers to Develop User-Friendly Collection Channels 

Karo Sambhav has developed user-friendly collection channels—particularly through partnerships with retailers—to make responsible recycling more accessible and convenient for all consumers.

Since 2017, it has established collection channels in over 70 cities across all Indian states engaging over 7,500 bulk consumers and institutions, as well as more than 2,000 retailers. Through this they have managed more than 130,000 tons of waste and offsetting over 125,000 tons of CO₂ emissions.  

The organization is building a nationwide network of high-quality recycling units, with two currently operational.

4) Co-creating and co-developing Responsible E-waste Recycling Capacity with Partners across Sectors

Karo Sambhav ensures the safe and environmentally sound recycling of e-waste at its two facilities in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and Nashik, Maharashtra.  

The organization has partnered with MMTC-PAMP, a subsidiary of MKS-PAMP GROUP, to advance e-waste recycling and recover precious metals from printed circuit boards (PCBs) and components.

Additionally, Karo Sambhav is working on two projects on the recovery of critical raw materials from e-waste:  

• one, in collaboration with IIT Roorkee and the Ministry of Mines, focuses on recovering indium and tin from LCD screens;  
• the other, with IIT Roorkee and the Technology Development Board (Department of Science and Technology, GoI), targets the recovery of rare earth elements such as neodymium and dysprosium from permanent magnets.  

The partners in these efforts include UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the University of Leeds, Silex World Ltd., and SG Technologies Ltd. Additionally, Karo Sambhav has undertaken a joint project with GIZ India and Covestro to enable high-quality recycling of engineered plastics from e-waste. 
 

5) Collaborating across Sectors to Enable EPR Across Waste Streams

Karo Sambhav has expanded its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) solutions beyond e-waste to include plastics, batteries, and glass. The organization has piloted and scaled models to close material loops, particularly in packaging and glass, supporting a more circular economy.

In partnership with Saint Gobain, Karo Sambhav established one of India’s first successful and scalable industry-led initiatives for the responsible recycling of float glass waste, making the value chain truly circular.

Karo Sambhav has also worked with numerous Cantonment Boards and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), in partnership with the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), to formalize waste management processes. These initiatives aim to increase the proportion of plastic waste sent for responsible recycling and divert it from dumping grounds.

Recently, through a tripartite collaboration with the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation and Co-processors, and with support from AEPW, Karo Sambhav has pioneered new approaches to safely move accumulated waste for environmentally sound co-processing, working towards the eventual closure of landfills.

As of June 2025:

• Collected and recycled over 130,000+ MT of waste — including 34,000+ MT of e-waste, 45,000+ MT of plastics, 12,000+ MT of batteries, 39,000+ MT of glass, and 450+ MT of tyres, offsetting approximately 125,000+ MT of CO₂ emissions.
• Facilitated over USD 15 million in trade with the informal sector and created more than 400 formal green jobs.

Karo Sambhav is making e-waste recycling a competitive advantage by building high-quality, transparent, and scalable recycling infrastructure that delivers both superior environmental outcomes and strong financial returns. By supporting early adopter brands with tailored solutions, technology-driven traceability, and user-friendly collection channels, Karo Sambhav enables these partners to visibly lead on sustainability, enjoy reputational and operational benefits ahead of competitors, and set industry benchmarks for responsible recycling.