Samsung, LG, Voltas and others participated in the legal battle against e-waste recycling mission in India: Everything you need to know
According to reportsReuters. The two companies join an increasing list of domestic and international electronic manufacturers, with policies based on their potential financial burden and inefficiency.
Which companies join the legal battle
According to Wire Services, the Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday and similar petitions filed with Daikin, Voltas (Tata Group Company), Havells and Blue Star. Submitted by the court, review Reutersrevealing an increasing industry resistance aimed at overhauling the provisions of India’s informal electronic waste recycling sector.
All about the case
The controversial rules are reportedly part of India’s broader e-waste management policy, requiring electronic companies to pay a fixed minimum ₹Authorized recyclers are 22 per kilogram (approximately 25 cents). The move is intended to encourage more formal investments and regulation by sectors currently dominated by unregistered scrap dealers, which accounts for about 80% of activity, the government said.
India is the world’s third largest e-waste producer after China and the United States. However, official data show that only 43% of waste has been officially recycled in the past year. The Ministry of Environment, which drafted the new regulations, has not yet publicly commented on ongoing legal challenges.
LG argued in its 550-page submission that the regulation imposed unfair penalties on manufacturers under the guise of the “polluter pay” principle, while failing to address the lack of regulations in the informal recycling sector. “If the authorities cannot regulate the informal sector, it is a failure of enforcement,” the company believes.
Samsung echoed similar issues in its 345-page court filing, noting that the policy “inherently in line with the purpose of environmental protection” and would put significant financial pressure on manufacturers. The company also claims that the payments required are 5-15 times higher than the current market interest rate.
Both companies reportedly made advance statements to the government. LG wrote to authorities in August 2024, urging them to lower the proposed rates and allow market dynamics to determine fair pricing. Meanwhile, Samsung appealed directly to the Prime Minister’s Office, warning of the potential impact of the regulation on Indian operations.
Indian maker Blue Star also filed a lawsuit challenging the rules, citing a “compliance burden”, while Johnson-controlled hitachi appears to have withdrawn the petition without providing a reason.
(with Reuters input)
