Jamshedpur NML Initiative: Scrap Dealers to Learn Gold and Silver Extraction from E-Waste

Jamshedpur, June 1: CSIR–National Metallurgical Laboratory (CSIR-NML), Jamshedpur, has launched a special week-long training programme aimed at teaching scientific and environmentally safe methods of recycling e-waste to the informal sector. The initiative seeks to help scrap dealers and informal e-waste handlers learn modern techniques for recovering valuable metals such as gold, silver, copper, and aluminium from discarded electronic items.

The programme began on June 1 in the presence of CSIR-NML Director Dr. Sandip Ghosh Choudhury, Chief Scientist and Project Leader Dr. Manis Kumar Jha, Head of MER Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Head of RPBD Dr. S.K. Pal, along with scientists, researchers, and master trainers from different partner organizations.

The training programme has brought together master trainers from TERI and REKART, who will later train informal e-waste workers across the country. The sessions focus on proper handling, sorting, dismantling, and recycling of electronic waste generated from mobile phones, computers, printed circuit boards, wires, and other electronic devices.

Scientists at CSIR-NML are also educating participants about the dangers of unsafe recycling practices such as open burning, careless dismantling, and uncontrolled use of chemicals. Experts explained that such activities release toxic substances into soil and water bodies, posing serious threats to both human health and the environment.

Under the leadership of Dr. Manis Kumar Jha, the scientific team is providing practical demonstrations on how valuable metals can be scientifically extracted from printed circuit boards and other electronic waste materials. The programme encourages participants to view e-waste not merely as waste, but as an important secondary resource and a major business opportunity.

Officials said the larger objective of the mission is to upgrade informal e-waste recyclers by improving their skills and integrating them into the formal recycling sector. The initiative also aims to support the formation of MSME recycling clusters through Common Facility Centres (CFCs) in collaboration with state governments.

The programme is part of a joint initiative involving C-MET Hyderabad, CSIR-NML Jamshedpur, and CIPET-LARPM Bhubaneswar, supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.

During the programme, experts highlighted the need for capacity building in the informal sector to protect livelihoods while ensuring scientific recycling methods. Plans are also being discussed to encourage state governments to allocate land for eco-parks where formalized informal recyclers can safely dismantle and process e-waste.

Technical support will be provided for setting up eco-parks equipped with industrial-scale recycling technologies. These facilities are expected to help in the recovery of valuable metals and recycling of plastics from e-waste while promoting the principles of circular economy and resource efficiency.

Scientists informed participants that India has developed indigenous technologies for treating printed circuit boards and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) plastics. These technologies can recover metals like copper, silver, and gold from 100 to 300 kilograms of printed circuit boards daily through pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes. Similarly, plastic waste from e-waste can also be converted into value-added plastic master batches.

The programme also aims to ensure effective implementation of the E-Waste Management Rules, 2016, while reducing dependence on unscientific recycling methods.

Officials shared ambitious targets under the project. Around 15,000 informal operators are expected to be trained through workshops and awareness programmes. Seventy-five informal recycling clusters are planned across the country, out of which at least 30 units are expected to be formalized. Around 300 workshops at state and national levels will also be organized to spread awareness and improve technical knowledge.

The project will also support the transfer of PCB recycling and plastic e-waste recycling technologies to MSME units and new entrepreneurs interested in scientific recycling methods.

Experts noted that India currently faces a major challenge due to the increasing generation of e-waste and the dominance of the informal sector in recycling activities. While formal recycling capacity in the country has doubled in the last three years, it is still insufficient to meet the growing volume of e-waste collected under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Scientists warned that unscientific recycling practices carried out in informal sectors often lead to the release of hazardous chemicals into the environment. Such pollution has already caused severe ecological damage in areas like Moradabad and parts of Delhi, including Seelampur and Mustafabad.

Officials stressed that adopting circular economy principles is essential for India’s future growth. Recovering metals and reusable materials from waste can reduce dependence on imported raw materials and strengthen the country’s manufacturing sector. Experts pointed out that several European countries have successfully reduced their dependence on mining through advanced recycling technologies and resource recovery systems.

The programme also emphasized the importance of integrating informal recyclers into the formal sector instead of excluding them. Scientists said informal workers already possess strong collection networks and access to large volumes of e-waste. With proper training, safe working environments, and access to scientific technologies, they can become an important part of India’s sustainable recycling ecosystem.

As part of the project, course materials related to e-waste dismantling and segregation will be prepared in different languages. Fifty master trainers will be trained initially, who will later provide training to thousands of informal workers across the country.

CSIR-NML scientists said the initiative represents an important step towards environmental protection, employment generation, resource conservation, and sustainable development. By promoting scientific recycling and formalizing the informal sector, the programme aims to strengthen India’s efforts toward safe e-waste management and a cleaner circular economy.