Do not sell old white goods to a scrap dealer or leave them on the roadside. Hand your old fridge, AC or washing machine to an authorised e-waste recycler, either through a brand exchange or a doorstep pickup service. In India, authorised recyclers dismantle appliances safely, recover metals and handle refrigerants and hazardous parts in line with the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. CirQula offers pan-India doorstep e-waste pickup within 24 hours.

Diwali is the biggest buying season in India. Bigger TVs, new refrigerators, energy-saving ACs and front-load washing machines all move fast during festive sales, and exchange offers make upgrading easy. But one question rarely gets asked at the checkout counter: what happens to the old appliance?

That question is why a recent day at CirQula mattered to us. Our team collected around 500 pieces of white goods from the warehouses of a leading e-commerce platform so they could be channelled towards responsible disposal and recycling. Every one of those appliances came from an exchange, a return or an upgrade. Without a proper recycling route, they could have ended up in landfills or in the informal sector, where they are often broken apart by hand without safety equipment.

This guide explains what white goods are, why they count as e-waste, what the law says, and exactly how to recycle old appliances in India this festive season.

What are white goods, and are they e-waste?

White goods are large household appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, microwave ovens, dishwashers and water heaters. When they stop working or are replaced, they become e-waste.

India’s E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 came into effect on 1 April 2023 and cover 106 categories of electrical and electronic equipment. Refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and microwaves are all covered, so disposing of them is a regulated activity, not just a household chore.

Why shouldn’t you throw old appliances in the regular trash?

Old appliances contain materials that are valuable when recovered and harmful when released.

Appliance	What it contains	Risk if dumped or broken up informally
Refrigerator	Refrigerant gas, compressor oil, copper, steel	Refrigerants can leak and harm the environment
Air conditioner	Refrigerant, copper coils, aluminium, circuit board	Gas release and unsafe dismantling
Washing machine	Circuit boards, motor, steel drum, wiring	Heavy metals from boards and wiring
TV and monitors	Glass, circuit boards, backlights	Lead, mercury and cadmium exposure

Electronics can contain toxic elements such as lead, mercury and cadmium. Recycled properly, the same appliances return steel, copper and aluminium to the supply chain, which is the idea behind a circular economy.

How big is India’s e-waste problem?

India is generally ranked the third-largest e-waste generator in the world, after China and the United States.

• India generated about 13.97 lakh tonnes of e-waste in 2024-25, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data shared in Parliament.
• In 2025-26, the government told the Lok Sabha that about 14.14 lakh tonnes had been generated, with roughly 9.79 lakh tonnes recycled at the time of reporting.
• As of February 2025, the CPCB listed 322 registered recyclers and 72 registered refurbishers, so formal capacity exists. The challenge is getting appliances to it.
• Globally, only about 22.3 percent of e-waste generated in 2022 was formally recycled, according to a UN-backed report.

The gap between what is generated and what reaches authorised recyclers is where responsible consumers, businesses and collection partners make a real difference.

What does the law say about disposing of old appliances in India?

The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 run on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). In simple terms:

1. Manufacturers, producers and importers must register with the CPCB and meet annual recycling targets.
2. They meet these targets through registered recyclers, who issue EPR certificates in proportion to the e-waste they process.
3. Bulk consumers such as offices, institutions and retailers also have responsibilities for handing e-waste to authorised channels.

For you as a buyer, this means a legal, traceable route exists. Use it.

How to dispose of an old fridge, AC or washing machine in India: 5 steps

1. Check for an exchange offer. Many brands and e-commerce platforms take back your old appliance when you buy a new one. Ask who the recycling partner is.
2. Look for an authorised recycler. If there is no exchange, choose a registered e-waste recycler that offers doorstep pickup. Ask about authorisation and documentation.
3. Prepare the appliance. Empty and clean it. Remove personal items, food and detachable accessories. Do not try to open the cooling system yourself.
4. Wipe your data. For smart TVs, smart ACs and connected appliances, log out of your accounts and reset to factory settings.
5. Schedule a pickup and keep proof. Ask for a pickup confirmation or recycling certificate, especially if you are a business.

Exchange offer, scrap dealer or authorised recycler: which is best?

Option	Convenience	Safe and legal recycling	Best for
Brand or e-commerce exchange	High	Depends on the partner, so ask	New purchase upgrades
Local scrap dealer	High	Often no, informal dismantling is common	Not recommended for e-waste
Authorised e-waste recycler with pickup	High	Yes, with documentation	Households, offices, bulk disposal

How does CirQula recycle old appliances?

CirQula is an e-waste and battery waste collection and recycling company based in Kolkata, working across India. Our process is built around making the responsible choice the easy one:

• Doorstep e-waste pickup within 24 hours for homes, offices and warehouses
• Certified data destruction for computers, IT equipment and storage devices
• Safe recycling of electronics, white goods and batteries
• Corporate and CSR e-waste programmes, including collection drives and awareness campaigns

We work with e-commerce and retail supply chains too. The 500 pieces of white goods we collected from a leading platform’s warehouses are one example of how large volumes of returned and exchanged appliances can be routed to recycling instead of landfill.

Looking for e-waste pickup in Kolkata or e-waste recycling anywhere in India? Visit cirqulaindia.com to book a collection.

Why responsible consumption does not end at the checkout

A new appliance has a footprint, and so does the old one. Buying an energy-efficient AC is a good choice. Making sure the old one is dismantled and recycled safely completes that choice. That is what we mean when we say we are working towards a more circular future, one pickup at a time.

This Diwali, when the festive cleaning starts and the new boxes arrive, make one extra call for the old appliance.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. Is an old refrigerator considered e-waste in India?

Yes. Refrigerators are covered under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 and should be handed to an authorised recycler, not thrown away or sold for informal dismantling.

Q2. Where can I dispose of an old AC or washing machine safely?

Use a brand exchange programme with a verified recycling partner or book a doorstep pickup with an authorised e-waste recycler such as CirQula.

Q3. Does CirQula offer e-waste pickup in Kolkata and across India?

Yes. CirQula provides pan-India doorstep e-waste collection, with pickup within 24 hours, from homes, offices and warehouses.

Q4. What is EPR in e-waste management?

Extended Producer Responsibility makes manufacturers, producers and importers responsible for the collection and recycling of the products they sell, through registered recyclers and EPR certificates.

Q5. Is it safe to give old appliances to a scrap dealer?

It is not recommended. Informal dismantling often skips safe handling of refrigerants, boards and hazardous parts, and the material may never reach authorised recycling.

Q6. Can businesses get certificates for e-waste disposal?

Businesses should ask their recycler for pickup and processing documentation. CirQula supports corporate and CSR e-waste programmes.