The recycling of e-waste is both ecologically desirable and necessary. It promotes reuse of recoverable materials, thereby reducing their rate of extraction. However, resource recovery from e-waste involves convoluted chemical processes with potentially hazardous by-products, so the regulation of e-waste recycling activities is imperative. A study of the Indian E-waste Management Rules and their amendment, and the experiences of workers in the recycling industry of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, reveals that the push towards formalisation has not benefited either the industry or its workers. While the industry is affected by police control and rent-seeking, the workers often toil in hazardous conditions, and also face employment insecurity.
