The Indian arm of U.S. air conditioning giant Carrier has filed a lawsuit against the Indian government over new electronic waste (e-waste) rules. These rules have increased the cost that companies must pay to recycling firms.
Carrier is not alone. Samsung, LG Electronics, Daikin, and Tata’s Voltas have also challenged the rules. All these cases are scheduled to be heard by the Delhi High Court on Tuesday. The companies want the new regulations to be cancelled.
India introduced new recycling rules in September last year. These rules set a minimum payment of ₹22 per kg that manufacturers must pay recyclers to process e-waste.
However, companies claim that this rate is three to four times higher than what they paid earlier. Carrier, in its 380-page court filing, said recyclers were willing to work at the old rates and the government should not interfere in these private agreements.
“The benefit to recyclers is being paid for by producers, which is unfair,” said Carrier in its court submission. The company also said the rules will cause a “huge financial burden” on their operations.
The Ministry of Environment did not respond to media questions but had earlier said in court that the pricing rules are needed. The government believes that these payments are a reasonable step to make sure e-waste is properly disposed of.
Although India is the third-largest generator of e-waste after China and the U.S., only 43% of e-waste was recycled last year.
Carrier is a major player in India, with sales of US$248 million last year—its highest since 2020. The company has been active in India for decades and even installed the first-ever air conditioning system in Jaipur in 1936.
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This legal battle highlights the tension between environmental goals and business costs. While the government aims to boost e-waste recycling, companies are pushing back against what they see as unfair costs. The court’s decision could impact how India handles its growing e-waste problem.
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Published on: Jul 8, 2025, 9:24 AM IST
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