E-waste or electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in India. With rapid technological advancements, old devices such as computers, mobile phones, printers, and batteries are discarded at an alarming rate. However, these devices still contain valuable metals and components that can be recycled. Understanding e-waste scrap rates helps individuals and businesses get fair value for their discarded electronics while promoting responsible recycling.
E-waste includes discarded electrical and electronic devices, such as laptops, smartphones, televisions, batteries, circuit boards, and more. Even if a device is non-functional, it still contains metals like gold, silver, copper, palladium, aluminum, and valuable plastics. Scrap dealers and recyclers pay based on the recoverable materials and weight of these components. By selling e-waste, you not only earn extra cash but also contribute to environmental sustainability.
Different e-waste items have varying scrap values depending on their components and material content. Major types include:
Old desktops and laptops contain motherboards, processors, RAM modules, and power supplies, all of which have recyclable metals.
Smartphones and tablets contain circuit boards, lithium-ion batteries, and precious metals like gold and copper. Even broken phones have scrap value.
These devices contain metal parts, plastic, and wiring that can be recovered for recycling.
Batteries are highly valuable due to lithium, lead, and other metals. Proper disposal is crucial to prevent environmental harm.
Motherboards, graphic cards, and other PCBs contain precious metals, including gold, silver, copper, and palladium, making them highly sought after by scrap dealers.
Hard drives contain aluminum casing, magnets, and small amounts of rare metals. They can be sold for scrap or refurbished.
The following table shows approximate scrap prices for commonly discarded electronic items in India per kg or per unit:
| E-Waste Item | Scrap Price (₹/Kg or Per Unit) |
|---|---|
| Old Laptops / Notebooks | ₹100 – ₹400 per unit |
| Desktop Computers | ₹150 – ₹500 per unit |
| Mobile Phones (Smartphones) | ₹50 – ₹350 per phone |
| Mobile Phone Batteries | ₹8 – ₹25 per piece |
| Lead-acid Batteries | ₹60 – ₹120 per kg |
| Motherboards / PCB Boards | ₹400 – ₹800 per kg |
| Hard Drives & Storage Devices | ₹150 – ₹300 per unit |
| Printer / Scanner / Copier | ₹50 – ₹250 per kg |
| Televisions (CRT / LED) | ₹40 – ₹150 per kg |
| Cables & Wiring | ₹60 – ₹120 per kg |
| Mixed E-Waste (General Scrap) | ₹30 – ₹100 per kg |
Scrap prices vary by city, demand for metals, device condition, and the dealer’s weight-based or per-unit pricing method.
Premium brands like Apple, Dell, HP, and Lenovo usually fetch higher scrap value due to better-quality metals and components.
Even non-functional devices have value, but intact components increase the scrap price.
Lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries have separate value. Devices with batteries fetch more.
Heavier items with more metal content are more profitable to recyclers.
Prices of gold, copper, silver, and aluminum directly influence scrap rates.
Recycling e-waste involves several steps:
E-waste can be sold at:
Recycling e-waste reduces pollution and conserves natural resources: