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Uttar Pradesh Grapples with Surging E-Waste Crisis Amid Lack of Recycling Facilities
31 Oct
Summary
- Uttar Pradesh generates tonnes of e-waste daily, but lacks operational disposal facilities
- Lucknow alone produces 200 kg of e-waste per day, mostly from commercial hubs
- Most registered e-waste treatment units are located in western UP, leaving central and eastern regions without any facilities
As of October 31st, 2025, Uttar Pradesh is grappling with a silent environmental crisis in the form of an ever-increasing mountain of electronic waste. Despite the state's accelerating digital and industrial development, large parts of UP, including the capital city of Lucknow, lack operational facilities for the safe disposal of e-waste.
Lucknow alone produces around 200 kg of e-waste every day, primarily from its bustling commercial hubs. Across the state, the volume is believed to be in the tonnes daily, as the number of smartphones, computers, and consumer electronics continues to surge. However, most of the registered private e-waste treatment units in UP are located in the western districts, particularly the NCR belt. As a result, central and eastern UP, including Lucknow, Varanasi, and Gorakhpur, remain without any operational e-waste recycling plants.
Even Lucknow's lone treatment facility, established near Mohanlalganj, has reportedly shut down, leaving the city's e-waste to be mixed with household garbage. This unscientific disposal means that toxic substances such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic often leach into the soil and groundwater, posing hazards for the environment and public health.
