In 2025, discussing e-waste and climate change has become more important than ever. Especially, when we have witnessed 2024 as the hottest year on record. We had a global temperature rise of 1.54 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Do you think the increasing heatwaves, storms, and earthquakes have a connection to e-waste? The answer is clearly yes. Today in this post, we will explore how e-waste is often a significant yet often overlooked contributor to the climate crisis. Also, Cashify is committed to tackling this pressing issue. It runs with a mission to transform e-waste management into a sustainability movement
Also Read: Ways In Which Recycling Helps Our Environment
How E-Waste Is A Growing Mess We Need To Deal With!
E-waste is nothing but the electronics waste we discard on a regular basis. Devices like smartphones, laptops, and household appliances are the fastest-growing waste stream globally. According to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2024, the world generated 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2022. This figure is projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030 if current trends last that long (according to Global E-waste Monitor report). This volume would fill 1.55 million 40-tonne trucks. That’s enough to encircle the equator!
The situation in India is sort of alarming in case of e-waste and climate change. Our country is the third-largest e-waste generator after China and the USA. We have produced 1.751 million metric tonnes of e-waste in 2023-24. It is a 73 per cent surge from 1.01 million tonnes in 2019-20. Now, you might wonder what about the e-waste recycling and managing efforts? Do they not reduce the toxic junk going to landfills?
Also read: E-Waste Solutions: Disposing Of Old Mobile Phones in India
Only 22 per cent of India’s e-waste is formally dismantled and recycled. The rest does eventually end up in landfills informally. (Data shown by Ministry of Housing Affairs, Rajya Sabha 2024).
We need to realise that the production of electronics has a significant carbon footprint. Manufacturing a tonne of laptops alone emits approximately 10 tonnes of CO2.
E-Waste Causing Climate Change and Water Crises!
The E-Waste and Climate Change can affect clean water availability in ways we never comprehend. The landfill dumping of e-waste leads to toxic leakage into soil and groundwater. With that, it contributes to global warming through greenhouse gas emissions.
- The Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 highlights that 58,000 kg of mercury and 45 million kg of plastics with brominated flame retardants are released annually. This happens due to poor e-waste management, contaminating water sources. In India, even today there are places and at least 1.6 billion people who struggle to get clean water. Nearly 70 percent of groundwater sources are affected by industrial waste, including e-waste.
- Contaminated water bodies are not just dangerous for humans but they disrupt aquatic ecosystems. Some species go endangered while other’s go through mutations. It leads to bioaccumulation of toxins in the food chain. So, directly the water gets poisoned and indirectly the same happens with the food we consume. The UN Environment Programme estimates that improper e-waste disposal contributes to 20 percent of global water pollution from industrial sources.
- Manufacturing electronics consumes vast amounts of water. Did you know, producing a single smartphone requires approximately 13,000 liters of water? It is required for mining and processing. With global water demand projected to exceed supply by 40 percent by 2030, e-waste’s lifecycle intensifies the water crisis.
Also read: How You Can Help The Environment By Selling Your Old Phone On Cashify
India’s E-Waste and Water Crisis Challenge!
India has gone through a rapid digitalisation. That may have fueled e-waste growth to a large extent. Urban households own an average of 74 electronic items. Imagine how are people discarding them when they go bad? You guessed it right! They get dumped with usual household waste. Maharashtra leads with 96,000 metric tonnes of e-waste annually. The informal sector handles 90 percent of collection and 70 percent of recycling. But the methods used are hazardous often using acid leaching. Studies showing that 80 percent of India’s surface water polluted, partly due to e-waste. The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 aim to regulate disposal, but enforcement lags, with only 43 percent of e-waste formally recycled in 2023-24.
Cashify’s Response: A Sustainable Solution!
At Cashify is tackling e-waste and climate change impact on water crises through innovative, consumer-centric solutions. Let’s see some of them:
- Cashify’s core mission is to extend device lifecycles. It is done by refurbishing and reselling high-quality smartphones, such as the iPhone 12 or OnePlus Nord and so on.
- By reducing demand for new devices, Cashify cuts down on resource extraction. Eventually it also reduces manufacturing emissions and water usage. Refurbishing one smartphone saves approximately 80 kg of CO2 emissions and 12,000 liters of water compared to producing a new one.
- Cashify partners with certified recyclers to ensure safe dismantling of end-of-life devices. This prevents toxic leakage into soil and water.
- The doorstep pickup services make recycling accessible, diverting devices from landfills.
- Cashify spreads consumer awareness by educating users on e-waste’s environmental impact. Either through platform or campaigns, they encourage responsible disposal.
- The trade-in programs offer fair value for old devices, incentivising recycling over landfilling.
Also read: How Cashify Is Turning India’s E-Waste Management Into a Sustainability Movement?
E-Waste And Climate Change: Final Words!
We need collective efforts to properly address management of e-waste and climate change factors. You simply choosing to go refurbished rather than spending more money on a brand new smartphone can create an impact. The same would be for selling your old device at least when getting a new one.
E-waste is a silent threat to our planet, intensifying climate change and the global water crisis. In 2025, as India faces rising temperatures and water scarcity, Cashify is paving a way for sustainability. By refurbishing smartphones, recycling responsibly, and educating consumers, reducing CO2 emissions and protecting water resources. On your part, you can sell, buy, or recycle your devices, become a part of the solution to the climate and water crises.
If you’ve just bought a new phone and don’t know what to do with your old phone, then here’s your answer. Sell your old mobile to Cashify and get the best price for it. If you are planning to buy a new phone, check out Cashify’s refurbished mobile phones. You can get your favourite phone at almost half price with a six-month warranty, 15-day refund and free delivery.
