The trade has been banned, at least in Delhi, but continues behind closed doors.

The new rules propose to move this recycling to the formal sector. Asked what would happen to the current recyclers, estimated by NGOs to be around 35,000, Ananthapadmanabhan said a pilot project to integrate them into the formal recycling process was already on in Delhi's Shastri Nagar area, and this could be expanded.

The new rules take collection, storage and transportation of e-waste that are not hazardous out of the hazardous waste handling rules category. But dismantling and reprocessing of this waste is hazardous, stressed the Greenpeace official.

'The whole process of registration and authorisation under hazardous waste rule discourages people to go for effective e-waste management practices.

'Unlike hazardous waste, e-waste has high recycling and reuse potential which if done properly can reduce load at disposal and at the same time help in conservation of material through reuse of material in manufacturing,' he added.

The new set of rules makes a producer of electronic and electrical equipment responsible for the entire lifecycle of its products including end-of-life phase. The producer has the first level of responsibility of proper collection and recycling of discarded electronic and electrical products of its own brands in environmentally sound manner.

It also holds dealers, retailers and consumers responsible for proper and effective collection and recycling of the electronic waste. It will be the consumer's responsibility now to return a discarded electronic product to the designated collection centre.

Dealers are responsible for proper handling and storage of the e-waste. Except consumers, everyone in the value chain, including producers, have to take permission from a designated authority for handling, collection, transport, dismantling and material recovery of the e-waste.

The new rules also provide for the phase-out of certain hazardous chemicals from the electronic products launched in the Indian market, Ananthapadmanabhan said.

The proposed rules put a complete ban on import of any kind of electronic and electrical equipment for dismantling, recycling and disposal purposes. 'The equipment can only be imported for refurbishment and repair purposes with clear declaration of such purpose at originating country and with a condition that it will be exported back, meeting the purpose, to the original country,' he said.

(Joydeep Gupta can be contacted at joydeep.g@ians.in)