The India edition of the International Exchange Initiative on Regulating E-waste and Engaging Tech Companies began in New Delhi on nine February 2026. Organised by the International Telecommunication Union with support from APC Colombia and in collaboration with India’s Department of Telecommunications, the five-day study tour aims to strengthen e-waste governance and advance a circular economy.

India was presented as a hub for global knowledge exchange, combining rapid digital growth with sustainability and regulation. The programme noted nearly 1 billion (bn) internet users and UPI processing over 12 bn monthly transactions, framing the scale of electricals and electronics use and the resulting waste challenge. Delegations from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, India, Malaysia, Nigeria and South Africa joined Indian policymakers, industry and recycling practitioners.

The three-day technical workshop focused on regulatory frameworks and governance, circular economy approaches in the electronics and telecommunications sectors and standardisation and skill development. Sessions emphasised extended producer responsibility, digital compliance systems, coordination among producers and recyclers, integration of the informal sector and workforce capacity building. The programme combined expert presentations, country case studies and group work to support practical implementation and policy learning.

Speakers underlined that international cooperation, strong regulation and industry innovation are essential for scalable and sustainable solutions and characterised the study tour as a platform for trust building and long-term collaboration. On 12 February participants will visit Greenscape Eco Management Pvt. Ltd. in Alwar for exposure to recycling operations and on 13 February the tour will conclude at the ITU Area Office and Innovation Centre at the C-DOT Campus in New Delhi. The release noted that globally 62 million (mn) tonnes (t) of e-waste are generated annually but only 22.3 per cent is formally collected and recycled, and that of 81 countries with e-waste policies 67 include extended producer responsibility. Key learnings will be shared in a post-tour webinar on 17 March.