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Purpose: Discarded electronic products have become one of the major and dangerous waste streams in the world, which is growing at a fast rate and has become a serious topic of concern. ‘E-waste’ has become a substantial waste stream in recent decades due to rapid technological advancements, consumerism, economic development, urbanisation and obsolescence, resulting in shorter product lifecycles. As a result, in recent years, the management and control of electronic waste have been a cause of concern, as it has a detrimental impact on the environment and the humans who deal with it.

Methodology: This doctrinal-analytical paper aims to analyse legislation enacted for the prevention and reuse of e-waste in India and the implementation of the International Convention regarding e-waste, along with the threat e-waste poses against the Sustainable Development goals set by the United Nations to protect the future.

Findings: One option for dealing with the hazard posed by informal ‘electronic waste’ disposal is to enact punishing restrictions that have a deterrent effect on society. As a result, various environmental rules and standards dealing with e-waste have been implemented in India, directly or indirectly. Because punitive measures in ecological laws dealing with electronic trash have not stopped environmental damage, such enactments have failed. By identifying the source of e-waste (polluters), accountability can be charged to them, which will lead to deterrence; moreover, adapting to a more ecologically efficient e-waste management method will also help reduce e-waste hazards.