Carrier Joins Global Firms Suing India Over E-Waste Rules

Carrier's Indian unit has joined other major global electronics manufacturers, including Samsung, LG, Daikin, and Tata's Voltas, in suing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over new electronic waste regulations that significantly raise the fees manufacturers must pay to recyclers. The government set a floor price mandating a minimum payment of 22 rupees per kilogram for recycling consumer electronics, which manufacturers argue is three to four times higher than previous fees, imposing a substantial financial burden. Carrier contends that recyclers were willing to continue at older prices and that government intervention disrupts private agreements, calling the rules unfair and arbitrary. The Indian Ministry of Environment defends the regulations as necessary for ensuring proper e-waste disposal and describes the price floors as a reasonable measure. Despite the increased fees, the mandated rates remain lower than those in the U.S., where recycling fees can be up to five times higher. This legal challenge reflects broader industry resistance amid India's position as the world's third-largest generator of electronic waste, with only 43% of e-waste recycled last year.