Several e-waste management companies in the city are reportedly selling dumped mobile phones and laptops at low prices, violating regulations that mandate the destruction of such items. These licensed companies are responsible for managing electronic waste, which includes computers, laptops, and other devices. Selling discarded electronics poses risks to personal data security.
Many individuals choose to scrap their old mobile phones due to concerns over data privacy, while laptops are often handed over to e-waste firms by companies in the IT sector. According to a worker from an e-waste company, these devices should be dismantled and their components crushed or sold to manufacturers, not resold.
Despite this, some companies are selling items like iPhones for as little as ₹5,000 to ₹6,000, targeting consumers who cannot afford new smartphones. A waste management expert, V. Ramprasad, noted that many e-waste firms in areas like Shivajinagar and S.P. Road are failing to properly dismantle devices and instead are reselling them. This practice not only jeopardizes personal data security but may also contribute to rising cyber fraud in a city already known for such crimes.
With around 90 companies involved in e-waste management in the city, the sector remains largely unregulated due to a lack of accurate data on the volume of e-waste generated.
