April 22, 2025 – Legal documents filed in the Delhi High Court reveal that LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics have jointly filed a lawsuit against the Indian government this month, challenging a provision in the “2024 E-Waste Management Amendment Rules” related to “minimum recycling payout standards.”
The move marks the eighth foreign-owned corporation to contest the policy, following Daikin, Havells, and Tata’s Voltas. These legal challenges are set to be heard alongside others in court this Tuesday.
India ranks as the world’s third-largest generator of e-waste, trailing only China and the United States. However, the government reports that just 43% of the nation’s e-waste was recycled last year, with over 80% processed by unregulated scrap dealers.
To incentivize formal sector participation and attract investment, the government mandated a minimum fee of 22 Indian rupees per kilogram for electronics firms to pay authorized recyclers. Manufacturers argue this requirement could triple their recycling costs, benefiting recyclers at their expense.
In its court submission, LG criticized the policy as an “unachievable goal disguised as a ‘polluter pays’ mandate,” citing “regulatory failure” in addressing the informal sector. The company previously urged the government in August 2023 to lower the proposed rate, asserting that market forces should determine pricing.
Samsung echoed these concerns in a letter to Prime Minister Modi’s office last year, describing the fee as “5-15 times current market rates.” The tech giant argued that price controls “do not align with environmental objectives” and would impose “significant financial strain.”
Research firm Redseer highlights India’s lagging recycling performance, with U.S. rates fivefold higher and China’s at least 1.5 times greater. The legal battle underscores industry resistance to what critics deem overly burdensome regulations amidst a pressing need to tackle the country’s e-waste crisis.
