Recycling Cultures in India: Studying Electronic and Textile Waste

Abstract

Electronics and textiles today represent two major industries both globally and in India. With more than a 44 percent share of total global e-commerce sales in 2023, existing statistics show the size and unprecedented growth of these industries. However, the corresponding products have short life cycles and constantly create waste. India is a major consumer and exporter of electronics and textiles and a key contributor to the e- and textile-waste crisis. During my fieldwork in India, I learned that traditional ways of handling recyclable waste are still largely maintained in the country and could serve as a model for sustainable waste management in the Global North.