Shreyash Gandhi
Founder
Most people unknowingly hand over their discarded electronics to informal garbage collectors for a small sum. These collectors dismantle devices in unsafe, unregulated conditions, releasing hazardous substances like lead and mercury into the environment.
Meanwhile, certified recyclers face mounting operational costs, including labor, electricity, and safe processing, which makes it difficult for them to remain financially viable. With limited access to raw e-waste, their efforts are stifled.
To bridge this gap, India must invest in awareness, incentives, and infrastructure that empower the formal recycling sector to thrive. Taruna E-Waste Industries, founded by Shreyash Gandhi, has emerged as a leading force in India’s formal e-waste recycling sector.
Established with a mission to promote responsible electronic waste management, the company has steadily expanded its capabilities, starting with waste collection in 2019, progressing to dismantling in 2022, and launching a full-fledged recycling facility in 2023. Today, Taruna E-Waste Industries is fully equipped to recycle all e-waste items listed by the Central Pollution Control Board, solidifying its position as a trusted and certified recycler.
A key initiative of the company is Samarpan, an outreach and awareness program designed to bridge the gap between waste generators and responsible recyclers. While Taruna E-Waste Industries handles the core recycling operations in-house, Samarpan plays a critical supporting role by facilitating e-waste collection from government bodies, private firms, and NGOs, with the cooperation of municipalities.
Additionally, Samarpan connects with other certified recyclers to responsibly manage plastic, tire, battery, oil, and glass waste. This dual approach ensures not only environmental compliance but also community engagement and education.
What differentiates Taruna E-Waste Industries is its fully integrated recycling model, which manages the entire e-waste lifecycle, from collection and dismantling to recycling and resale, under one roof, ensuring complete control and compliance.
With a strong regional presence in Madhya Pradesh, the company works closely with most government authority offices and operates with industry certifications, all while maintaining a sharp focus on sustainability and innovative customer engagement.
It also stands out through its unique incentive program, where customers receive redeemable coupons based on the value of their e-waste, usable on new electronic purchases, an approach inspired by global practices in countries like New Zealand and Australia. “We prioritize data privacy by offering both on-site and off-site data destruction services, using portable machines or CCTV-monitored processes to ensure complete and irreversible destruction of hard drives.
Each device is tagged and tracked to guarantee transparency and traceability, giving our clients full confidence in the security of their confidential data”, asserts Shreyash.
Overcoming Operational & Educational Gaps
Taruna E-Waste Industries faces two major challenges in its mission to enable responsible e-waste management. The first is the shortage and retention of skilled labor, as the work involves hazardous materials and complex metal recovery, which demands ongoing training and support. Although the company conducts hazardous waste management and skill development sessions every six months, a lack of dedicated funding limits the scale and frequency of these initiatives.
The second challenge lies in the lack of awareness among collaborating organizations, such as IT firms and government departments. These partners often depend on Taruna E-Waste Industries to guide them through proper e-waste disposal practices. Through Samarpan, the company educates them on when to refurbish, reinstall, or recycle equipment, and helps them set up internal systems for responsible waste handling. This mutual learning process strengthens partnerships but also highlights the critical need for broader awareness in the ecosystem.
A Journey of Growth and Impact
Since its inception, Taruna E-Waste Industries has navigated the challenges of a struggling recycling sector with determination and innovation. When the company first began its recycling operations in 2022, it faced a lack of trust from both producers and government bodies. However, through consistent effort and a transparent approach, it gradually gained credibility. A significant milestone in its success story is the increasing trust from government organizations, which now directly engage the company for waste collection and management services. “We are proud to share that the government of Madhya Pradesh has started trusting us with dedicated funds for our services, a big milestone that shows how far we have come. It has also been encouraging to see well-known electronic brands partnering with us, trusting us with their scrap materials and EPR targets, which once felt out of reach when we were just starting out”, adds Shreyash.
This marks a major shift from the company’s early days, where producers were hesitant to collaborate. On the regulatory front, Taruna E-Waste Industries actively participates in consultations with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), contributing valuable insights to evolving e-waste guidelines since 2022. These efforts have earned the company various recognitions, most notably, a Trust Shield from the State Pollution Control Board of Madhya Pradesh for successfully managing the entire recycling cycle, from waste collection to the production of refined metal ingots. In addition, it holds various ISO certifications, is in the process of implementing Six Sigma practices at its plant, and is working toward securing the globally recognized R2 (Responsible Recycling) certification.
Collaborating Under the EPR Framework
Taruna E-Waste Industries operates within a structured model guided by Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a regulatory framework that mandates electronic goods manufacturers to ensure the recycling of a specific percentage of their products. The company works closely with three primary stakeholders, including the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), recyclers, and producers. Producers, such as manufacturers of refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and IT devices, are obligated to recycle a set portion of the products they introduce into the market.
This is where the company steps in as a vital partner. Producers collaborate with it by assigning recycling targets, which the company fulfills in compliance with EPR norms. In return, producers offer financial compensation, which forms a crucial part of Taruna E-Waste Industries’ operational backbone. This partnership not only supports the company’s recycling initiatives but also enables it to conduct awareness programs and ensure end-to-end waste management solutions aligned with regulatory standards. Through this producer-backed EPR model, it can sustain operations, achieve full capacity utilization, and promote a more circular economy in the e-waste sector.
The Robust Way Ahead
Looking ahead, Taruna E-Waste Industries is focusing on deepening its operational efficiency rather than expanding its capacity. The company is currently operating at a significant capacity and aims to scale it to the next level, while strengthening partnerships with reputable producers through fixed-rate scrap agreements. A key area of future development lies in maximizing in-house recycling capabilities. Currently, a major portion of the materials collected through recycling in the company’s in-house industrial facility includes plastics, metals, and other recoverable components. The company now aims to install facilities to process this plastic waste internally, alongside glass recovery systems, ensuring a more integrated and sustainable approach.
Another significant focus is technical advancement in PCB and Other fields of recycling. While the company currently achieves an 80 percent recovery rate from PCBs, it is investing in advanced technology to push this to 100 percent. Moreover, it is working on introducing an environmentally safer method for gold and silver recovery, shifting away from traditional acid leaching techniques, which pose health and environmental risks. “We are also strengthening our Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model to help manufacturers meet their recycling obligations more effectively. With every step forward, our focus remains on building a greener, more responsible future for the e-waste management industry”, concludes Shreyash.
Taruna E-Waste Industries faces two major challenges in its mission to enable responsible e-waste management. The first is the shortage and retention of skilled labor, as the work involves hazardous materials and complex metal recovery, which demands ongoing training and support. Although the company conducts hazardous waste management and skill development sessions every six months, a lack of dedicated funding limits the scale and frequency of these initiatives.
The second challenge lies in the lack of awareness among collaborating organizations, such as IT firms and government departments. These partners often depend on Taruna E-Waste Industries to guide them through proper e-waste disposal practices. Through Samarpan, the company educates them on when to refurbish, reinstall, or recycle equipment, and helps them set up internal systems for responsible waste handling. This mutual learning process strengthens partnerships but also highlights the critical need for broader awareness in the ecosystem.
A Journey of Growth and Impact
Since its inception, Taruna E-Waste Industries has navigated the challenges of a struggling recycling sector with determination and innovation. When the company first began its recycling operations in 2022, it faced a lack of trust from both producers and government bodies. However, through consistent effort and a transparent approach, it gradually gained credibility. A significant milestone in its success story is the increasing trust from government organizations, which now directly engage the company for waste collection and management services. “We are proud to share that the government of Madhya Pradesh has started trusting us with dedicated funds for our services, a big milestone that shows how far we have come. It has also been encouraging to see well-known electronic brands partnering with us, trusting us with their scrap materials and EPR targets, which once felt out of reach when we were just starting out”, adds Shreyash.
This marks a major shift from the company’s early days, where producers were hesitant to collaborate. On the regulatory front, Taruna E-Waste Industries actively participates in consultations with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), contributing valuable insights to evolving e-waste guidelines since 2022. These efforts have earned the company various recognitions, most notably, a Trust Shield from the State Pollution Control Board of Madhya Pradesh for successfully managing the entire recycling cycle, from waste collection to the production of refined metal ingots. In addition, it holds various ISO certifications, is in the process of implementing Six Sigma practices at its plant, and is working toward securing the globally recognized R2 (Responsible Recycling) certification.
Collaborating Under the EPR Framework
Taruna E-Waste Industries operates within a structured model guided by Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a regulatory framework that mandates electronic goods manufacturers to ensure the recycling of a specific percentage of their products. The company works closely with three primary stakeholders, including the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), recyclers, and producers. Producers, such as manufacturers of refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and IT devices, are obligated to recycle a set portion of the products they introduce into the market.
We are redefining responsible recycling in India through innovation, transparency, and a commitment to a cleaner, sustainable future
This is where the company steps in as a vital partner. Producers collaborate with it by assigning recycling targets, which the company fulfills in compliance with EPR norms. In return, producers offer financial compensation, which forms a crucial part of Taruna E-Waste Industries’ operational backbone. This partnership not only supports the company’s recycling initiatives but also enables it to conduct awareness programs and ensure end-to-end waste management solutions aligned with regulatory standards. Through this producer-backed EPR model, it can sustain operations, achieve full capacity utilization, and promote a more circular economy in the e-waste sector.
The Robust Way Ahead
Looking ahead, Taruna E-Waste Industries is focusing on deepening its operational efficiency rather than expanding its capacity. The company is currently operating at a significant capacity and aims to scale it to the next level, while strengthening partnerships with reputable producers through fixed-rate scrap agreements. A key area of future development lies in maximizing in-house recycling capabilities. Currently, a major portion of the materials collected through recycling in the company’s in-house industrial facility includes plastics, metals, and other recoverable components. The company now aims to install facilities to process this plastic waste internally, alongside glass recovery systems, ensuring a more integrated and sustainable approach.
Another significant focus is technical advancement in PCB and Other fields of recycling. While the company currently achieves an 80 percent recovery rate from PCBs, it is investing in advanced technology to push this to 100 percent. Moreover, it is working on introducing an environmentally safer method for gold and silver recovery, shifting away from traditional acid leaching techniques, which pose health and environmental risks. “We are also strengthening our Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model to help manufacturers meet their recycling obligations more effectively. With every step forward, our focus remains on building a greener, more responsible future for the e-waste management industry”, concludes Shreyash.
