By the Scrap Bhai team · Updated 13 November 2026
Quick answer
To start an e-waste business in India, pick a model: collection (buy old electronics and sell to registered recyclers), refurbishing (repair and resell, with CPCB registration), recycling (a plant with State Pollution Control Board consent and CPCB registration) or office IT disposal. Under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, e-waste must reach registered recyclers or refurbishers. Burning cables or acid-treating boards is never allowed.
What counts as e-waste
E-waste is discarded electrical and electronic equipment: computers, laptops, phones, printers, televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, cables, chargers and their parts. It contains valuable material such as copper, aluminium and precious metals in circuit boards, and harmful material such as lead, mercury and flame retardants. That mix is why e-waste has its own rules.
Four e-waste business models
| Model | What you do | Money | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collection | Buy from homes, shops and offices; sort; sell to registered recyclers | Low to medium | Space, scale, transport, a registered recycler as buyer |
| Refurbishing | Repair and resell phones, laptops and appliances | Medium | Repair skill, CPCB registration as a refurbisher |
| Office IT disposal | Clear old IT equipment for companies, with data wiping | Medium | Data destruction process, certificates, recycler tie-up |
| Recycling plant | Dismantle and recover material | High | Land, machines, SPCB consent, CPCB registration |
The rules: E-Waste Management Rules, 2022
- The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 apply from 1 April 2023 and work on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): producers must make sure a share of what they sell is recycled.
- Manufacturers, producers, refurbishers and recyclers register on the CPCB EPR portal for e-waste.
- Recyclers also need consent from the State Pollution Control Board, and they generate the EPR certificates that producers buy.
- E-waste must be handed over only to registered recyclers or refurbishers, with records of what moved where.
- Batteries follow the separate Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022.
Rules are updated from time to time, so check the current position on the CPCB portal or with your State Pollution Control Board before you invest.
How to start an e-waste collection business
- Find registered recyclers near you and confirm their registration on the CPCB portal. Ask what they buy and at what rates.
- Set up a small collection point with safe, dry, covered storage and a verified scale.
- Complete your registrations: GST, Udyam and local licences. See the licence guide.
- Reach sources: homes, repair shops, offices, schools, hospitals and housing societies.
- Sort by item and grade: boards, cables, metals, plastics, batteries.
- Sell with papers: invoices and records for every lot handed to the recycler.
Where the value is
- Circuit boards: high-grade boards from computers and phones carry the most value per kg; low-grade boards from TVs and power supplies much less.
- Cables and wires: priced on their copper.
- Metals: copper, aluminium and iron from frames, coils and cases.
- Working parts: RAM, processors, hard disks and screens can be worth more as parts for refurbishing.
- Services: offices pay for safe pickup, data wiping and disposal certificates.
What is never allowed
- Burning cables or plastic to recover metal.
- Acid baths or home “gold recovery” from circuit boards.
- Breaking CRT screens, compressors or batteries without proper systems.
- Dumping unwanted parts in drains, open land or with household waste.
- Selling e-waste to unregistered buyers who do any of the above.
E-waste में पैसा है, पर सिर्फ सही और कानूनी रास्ते से।
Start your Scrap business with Scrap Bhai
The Scrap Bhai Scrap Business Course guides you through all of this, step by step, in short Hindi lessons: material identification, rates, buying, selling, fraud safety and a weekly live doubt session. For rates, training and a network together, see the Scrap Business Franchise.
Common questions
Is the e-waste business profitable in India?
It can be, because India produces a large and growing amount of e-waste and some items, such as circuit boards and cables, carry good value. Profit depends on steady collection volume, correct sorting and selling to registered recyclers, and the compliance costs are real.
Do I need a licence to start an e-waste business?
It depends on the model. Refurbishers and recyclers must register on the CPCB EPR portal under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, and recyclers also need consent from the State Pollution Control Board. A trader who only collects should sell to registered recyclers and keep records of every sale.
What is the price of e-waste per kg?
There is no single price. It depends on the item: high-grade circuit boards and clean copper cable are worth much more than plastic-heavy items such as old televisions or printers. Recyclers quote by item and grade.
Is there an e-waste franchise?
Some recyclers and companies run collection partner or franchise programmes. Before joining, check that the company is registered on the CPCB EPR portal, read the agreement carefully and never pay large fees on promises of fixed income.
Can I recover gold from e-waste at home?
No. Recovering metals from circuit boards with acid or by burning is illegal for unauthorised people and very dangerous to health and the environment. Precious metals are recovered only by authorised recyclers with proper plants.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice. Rules and rates change, so confirm the details with a CA or your local office before you act.