E waste programme

2012

Towards efficient e-waste management
Executive Programme in E- Waste
Enterprise Development
An introductory progroamme on – E-waste management:
Sensitization, awareness and enterprise development

Organized by

Samadhan Foundation
20 July 2012

at

MSME Development Institute Extension Centre, Govt. of India,
Connaught Circus, New Delhi

Partner organizations:

ALL INDIA KABADI MAZDOOR MAHASANGH
HRA E-WASTE PVT. LTD.
MANESAR INDUSTRIAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION
E-WASTE HARIT RECYCLER WELFARE ASSOCIATION
AB SUSTAINABLEARTH

Samadhand Foundation
20 July 2012
http://samadhanfoundation.com

2 | Towards Efficient E-Waste Management

Towards Efficient E-Waste Management

Executive Programme In E- Waste

Organized by Samadhan Foundation


A report of the programme prepared by Samadhan Foundation

Team members

Bhavesh Jha

Amar Singh

Samadhan Foundation

Chairman
Mr. John Philipose

Director
Dr. P. Koshy

Contact: 91-9953871432
Samadhan.foundation.india@gmail.com

© Samadhan Foundation, 2012


Towards Efficient E-Waste Management

Executive Programme In E- Waste
Page

E- Waste an introduction 4
E- waste enterprise development: need of the hour 4
Waste as a resource 5
Unhindered Supply of e-waste a major 5
challenge faced by organized e-waste companies
Highlights 6
Health impact 6
E-waste as a resource and business potentials 7
E-waste as a resource and business potentials 7
Policy issues: E-waste handling and management rules 2011 7
Suggestions and concerns 8
Annexure 1: Programme Schedule 9
Annexure 2: Background paper 10


E-Waste Management

Executive Programme In E- Waste Enterprise Development



Date: July 20, 2012

Venue: MSME Development Institute, Ministry of MSME, Government of India,
Connaught Circus, New Delhi

E- Waste: an introduction

E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in developed as well as in
developing countries. The amount of generated e-waste per year grows rapidly. Life
span of computers has dropped from seven years in 1990s to just two years or less
today. Mobile phones have a lifespan of even less than two years. There is a pressing
need to address e-waste management challenge. The presence of valuable recyclable
components offers business, entrepreneurial and employment generation potential in
this industry. Currently, only about 5.7 percent of e-waste is recycled. Also it is
important to have a long-term solution to the rising levels of obsolete mobile phones,
refrigerators, televisions and other e-products.

E- waste enterprise development: need of the hour

In this context, Samadhan Foundation organized an executive programme on E- Waste
Enterprise Development. Twenty participants representing various industries,
associations, NGOs, Informal Waste management companies, students, and probable
entrepreneurs benefited from the programme. A number of informal e-waste recyclers
also participated in the programme, which was also aimed at awareness creation,
enhancing management proficiency and business development skills.

Waste as a resource

The programme was inaugurated by Mr. John Philipose, Chairman of Samadhan
Foundation, known for his concern in waste management, environment & ecology, who
is Senior Painter, Sculptor Artist and Museum Designer. In his inaugural address, Mr.
Philipose called for a vigilant attitude with regard to waste resource management,
particularly electronic and electrical waste. He said unnecessary waste creation can be


controlled through some modification in our approach. Through different examples he
brought the issue in focus. While talking about general waste, he pointed out that using
fountain pen or refillable ink pen for writing has almost become non-existing practice
these days but it can reduce a lot of wastage, as today we discard a pen after a while,
causing avoidable waste creation. What we see as waste is not waste and it is a
resource, he added.

There were four presentations. Mr. Ramesh Sharma, CEO,Green Vortex a E-waste
management company; Mr. Sashi Bhushan Pandit of All India Kabadiwala Mazdoor
Sangh & Director of HRA Pvt Ltd, Mr. Bhavesh Jha and Amar Singh Yadav made
various presentations.

Unhindered Supply of e-waste a major challenge faced by organized e-waste
companies

Mr. Ramesh Sharma, CEO,Green Vortex, an E- waste management company located
near Delhi, spoke on E-waste enterprise management and technology related aspects.
He highlighted different techniques and trends in recycling industry and international
best practices and scenario. He also talked about some of the problems with regard to
running an e- waste management company from his personal experience. According to
him, Small sized e-waste management companies face problems of finance and
difficulties in getting unhindered supply of e-waste. However, he noted that the scenario
is changing due to more awareness and policy compulsions.

Mr. Sashi Bhushan Pandit talked about Policies and its impact on informal recyclers and
highlighted various initiatives by informal recyclers to face the challenge in the event of
policy changes and competition. He also shared some of the problems that they
encountered while dealing with the regulators and various departments. He shared the
work done by All India Kabadiwala Mazdoor Sangh in getting license for informal
recyclers and shared that business model, which is a participatory business model,
where ownership and entrepreneurship potential is ensured for each member of the
unorganized sector waste picker community in Delhi.

Mr. Ramesh Sharma highlighted the need for developing an understanding and need for
partnership between informal e-waste collectors and organized e-waste recycling
industry.

Speakers highlighted that with technology advancement and modern machines used in
organized sector, 70 to 80 percent of valuable items can be recovered. Whereas,
informal sector recovers just half. In the discussions, Mr. Pandit and Mr. Sharma talked
more about technology used in informal and formal sectors.


Dr. P. Koshy, Director, Samadhan Foundation, talked briefly about various issues
related to waste management and particularly e-waste management. E-waste
management has entrepreneurial and business potential and youth entrepreneurs can
venture into this segment. Jobs can be created. As the world economy and our local
economies are going through a recessionary phase, venturing into opportunities in e-
waste management is very important, he said. Government must support and promote
e-waste entrepreneurs. He also said that informal sector e-waste recyclers can
contribute a lot in job creation and strengthening e-waste management industry in India.
For that proper support need to be provided to them in terms of technology, finance and
professional management training.

Mr. Bhavesh Jha presented a market and industry analysis. Mr. Jha said only 5.7
percent of collected e-waste is being recycled and added that growing electronic
industry provides a lot of market and business potential for entrepreneurs. Mr. Amar
Singh made a presentation of various hazardous components in e-wastes as well as E-
waste handling and management rules 2011.

Highlights from presentations

India is the second largest e-waste generator in Asia and it generates 350,000 matric
ton per year. Also through illegal route, 50, 000 Matric ton waste per year. Electronic
waste accounts for 70 percent of the overall toxic waste currently found in landfills. And
it is to be noted that only about 5.7 percent of e-waste is being recycled. Further, India
is expected to have an 11% share in the global consumer electronic market by 2015 as
per an estimate by TATA Strategic management Group, which calls for concerted effort
to strengthen our e-waste management capability.

India's output of e-waste has jumped by eight times in the past seven years according to
a report by ministry of environment and forest. (MOEF’ 2012 Report). There are 36,165
hazardous waste generating industries in the country. 6.2 million tonnes of hazardous
waste is generated by them every year, according to CPCB Report

Health impact & hazards

70% of the collected e-waste ends up in unreported and largely unknown destinations.
Inappropriate methods often used by the informal sector to recover valuable materials,
have heavy impacts on human health. Harmful emissions of hazardous substances and
environmental hazard mainly come from:

the product itself (if landfilled):
Lead in circuit boards or cathode ray tube (CRT) glass,
mercury in liquid crystal display (LCD) backlights


substandard processes: Dioxin formation during burning of halogenated plastics
or use of smelting processes without suitable off-gas treatment
reagents used in the recycling process: cyanide and other strong leaching acids,
nitrogen oxides (NOx) gas from leaching processes and mercury from
amalgamation

E-waste as a resource and business potentials

Sustainable management of e-waste can combat poverty and generate green jobs
through recycling, collection and processing of e-waste - and this would also
safeguard the environment and human health from the hazards posed by rising
levels of waste electronics.

E-Waste would also serve as a valuable source of secondary raw materials and the
recovery and recycling of e-waste can reduce pressure on scarce natural resources
and contribute to emissions reductions. One tonne of obsolete mobile phones
contains more gold than one tonne of ore and the picture is similar for other precious
substances. There are recyclers and other industrial sectors who are interested in
taking advantage of such opportunities, which can in turn create green jobs and
support sustainable development.

Policy issues: E-waste handling and management rules 2011

‘E-WASTE HANDLING AND MANAGEMENT RULES-2011’ have become effective
from 1st MAY 2012. Rules would be applicable to every producer, consumer and
bulk consumer involved in manufacture, sale, purchase and processing of electronic
equipment or components. Under these rules the producers and the bulk consumers
have to recycle the E-waste or help in channelizing the e-waste to only the
AUTHORISED RECYCLERS.

Some suggestions and issues raised by participants:

1. Managing e-waste, and other kinds of waste, is essential for the transition to a
low-carbon, resource-efficient Green Economy, all the speakers emphasized.
2. Formal and informal sector recyclers should work together as this would benefit
both the parties.
3. Informal sector can use the recycling facilities and infrastructure of formal and
organized sector.
4. Technology adoption and modernization is needed for informal sector enterprises
to get benefited from this sector.
5. Informal sector needs financial and technological assistance to compete in the
emerging scenario


6. Banks should be ready to fund informal sector so that they would be financially
empowered to get required technology
7. Agencies and government should help informal sector in availing best technology
from developed world.
8. SME e-waste recyclers in the organized sector also finding it difficult to get e-
waste and are faced with declining profit margin
9. Government should consider incentives and financing schemes for entrepreneurs
so that more youth entrepreneurs could be attracted in to this sector
10. Training programme and capacity building efforts are required
11. Informal sector needs managerial and modern management training as well as
training and capacity development assistance in all aspects.

Annexure: 1: Programme Schedule


Executive Programe in E- Waste Enterprise Development
An introductory progroamme on – E-waste management: Sensitization, awareness
and enterprise development
20 July 2012
MSME Development Institute Extension Centre, Govt. of India,
New Delhi, Connaught Circus ( Opp: L-Block,Near Minto Bridge, Connaught Circus, Road - New
Delhi – 110001( Opp: Haldirams- near Shankar Market )

Timing Topics Delivered by

10:00 – 10:30 Inaugural keynote address Mr. John Philipose

10:30 - 11:00 Electronic waste: an introduction Mr. Amar Singh Yadav

11:00 - 11:30 Market Review Mr. Bhavesh Jha

11:30 - 12:00 Presentation by Toxics Link/
Mr. Ramesh Sharma
12:30 - 13:15 E-waste enterprise: Technology and
management issues

13:15 - 14:00 Lunch break

14: 00 – 14: 45 Policies and its impact on informal recyclers Mr. Sashi Bhushan
Pandit

14:30 - 15:15 E-waste rules 2011 Mr. Amar Singh Yadav

15:15 - 16:00 Business Opportunities:marketing & business Ramesh Sharma/ Amar
development singh/Pandit

16:00 - 16:30 Experience of a waste management Mr. Aditya Sharma.,
enterprise Jaipur

16:30 - 16:45 Concluding session Dr. P. Koshy

16:45 Certificate distribution


Annexure 2: Background paper

E-waste

E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their
"useful life." Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are
common electronic products. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or
recycled. Unfortunately, electronic discards is one of the fastest growing segments of
our nation's waste stream.

The latest report released by the United Nations predicts that by 2020 e-waste from old
computers in South Africa and China will have jumped by 200–400 % and by 500 % in
India compared to 2007 levels. It also states that by 2020 e-waste from discarded
mobile phones will be about 7 times higher than 2007 in China and 18 times higher in
India. The report also cites that in the United States more than 150 million mobiles and
pagers were sold in 2008, up from 90 million five years before, and globally more than
1 billion mobile phones were sold in 2007, up from 896 million in 2006. The UN report
also estimates that countries like Senegal and Uganda can expect e-waste flows from
personal computers alone to increase 4 to 8-fold by 2020.

India, one of the two largest markets for mobile phones in the world along with China,
faces a mounting problem — how to get rid of the discarded mobiles.For, by the year
2020, the size of the discarded mobile-mound will grow by 18 times from the 2007 level,
says a United Nations Environment Programme study.

The study, ‘Recycling from e-waste to resources,’ was released at a combined meeting
of the bodies of UN Conventions on hazardous chemical wastes, organized by the
UNEP, at Bali on February 22. It warns developing countries, especially fast growing
economies like India, China, Brazil and South Africa, that if efforts are not made to
recycle the abandoned electronic equipment, they will be in for big environmental
trouble.

Apart from mobile phones, old computers, TVs and refrigerators added to the e-waste
mountain in these countries. For instance, computer e-waste in India will have risen by
five times in 2020 from the 2007 level. Discarded refrigerators will double or even triple.


The report estimates that India’s current e-waste generation is: 2.75 lakh tonnes from
TVs, over one lakh tonnes from refrigerators, 56,300 tonnes from personal computers,
1,700 tonnes from mobiles and 4,700 from printers. However, China’s problem from e-
waste is much more than that of India. It now generates five lakh tonnes of refrigerator
waste and three lakh tonnes of PC waste. Apart from the e-waste generated by
domestic consumption, India, China and other developing countries also have to
confront the legal and illegal dumping of e-waste by western countries, mainly the
United States which is, as of now, not bound by international agreements on hazardous
wastes as it has refused to sign such treaties.

The UNEP report also notes that global e-waste generation is growing by 40 million
tonnes a year. In 2007, more than one billion mobiles were sold in the world and the
sales are set to jump in the coming years, particularly in developing countries which are
home to large populations.

BANGALORE, INDIA: As per MAIT-GTZ e-Waste Assessment Study 2007, India
generated 3,80,000 tonnes of e-waste, in 2007, (Bangalore alone contributed around
5,000 tonnes (PC and mobile phones only) into the heap), which accounts for 1040
tonnes per day!

Though, no fresh studies have been conducted post this study, MAIT projections
suggest that by the end of the year 2008, e-waste generated would be 4,56,000 tonnes
based on 20 percent growth rate in ICT sector. Moreover, India will generate 4.7 lakh
tonnes of e-waste by 2011, as per the same study.

If you thought the list ends here and all we have to bear is the brunt of our own doings,
then you got it wrong. As per studies (MAIT-GTZ report 2007), India received around
50,000 tonnes of e-waste through imports alone in 2007. The menace doesn’t end
here. Much more was imported in the guise of charity and reuse from the West, and as
per sources 85 percent of such 'imports' were from the US and UK alone!
“However, these figures are conservative, as it includes only three segments of
electronic products namely PC, mobile phones and TV, which constitute a mere 30
percent of the total electronic products put in the market. Therefore, total e-waste


generated in India would be three times more than what the studies project!,” sources
from Greenpeace aver.

So let’s put it in figures. As per studies, India generated around 4 lakh tonnes of e-
waste in 2008. But if the hidden elements are to be taken into account, India must have
generated around 12 lakh tonnes of the scrap, which is enormous. Adding to the lot are
the charity imports. So the figures would be much more than we could even assume.

E-waste: Where to find them?

Many of us must have given off electronic stuff to scrap dealers, or simply dumped
them into municipality vans, since we couldn’t figure what else to do with them. The
scene is no different elsewhere in India.
Awareness levels in terms of what to be done with electronic/electrical wastes is very
low at all levels, in India. Even at the corporate level the scene is no different. The
MAIT-GTZ study found that 94 percent of the organizations studied did not have any
policy on disposal of obsolete products.

E-Wastes are hazardous. Why?

E-waste is hazardous because most of these equipments contain toxic chemicals zinc, lead, cadmium
mercury, hexavalent chromium, halogen compounds, BFR, PVC, arsenic compounds, ferrous and non-
ferrous metals (such as aluminium, copper), plastic, glass, wood and ply wood, printed circuit boards, and
precious metals (such as silver, gold, platinum, palladium) etc., which if not handled properly can be
hazardous to health and environment.E-waste when disposed of in landfills or is incinerated, toxic
chemicals in the products tend to slowly contaminate the surrounding environment and have a dire impact
on the communities in the area.

If burned or incinerated, heavy metals like mercury, lead and cadmium are released into the air, polluting
the food chain. Moreover these seep into the ground water beds polluting it and also into aquatic floor,
where fishes are particularly prone to mercury poisoning.

In addition, brominated flame-retardants (BFR) and poly vinyl chloride (PVC) that are present in most
mobiles and IT equipment available in the market, when burnt, release highly poisonous furans, dioxins
and neuro toxins.

Source: GreenPeace

Of the total e-waste, only about forty percent finds its way into the recycling stream
while the rest sixty percent remain in warehouses/storehouses due to poor/inefficient


collection system or else routed to backyard recyclers. The scenario hasn't changed
much even after two years down the line.

So, it can be found anywhere, even inside the godown of your office, in the backyards
of a landfill or even in the locality where you reside.People take it for granted that these
scraps will be taken care of and recycled, which is true to a certain extend. “In India,
some of these components are recycled and cannibalised (i.e extracting working
components for further manufacturing). However, components with non-reusable or
non-recyclable toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury, PVC, BFR etc. are dumped in
open,” Sources from Greenpeace aver

Current Scenario of E-waste in India

Mumbai 11,000 tons
Delhi 9,750 tons
Bangalore 4,650 tons
Chennai 4,100 tons
Calicut 4,025 tons
Ahmedabad 3,250 tons
Hyderabad 2,800 tons
Pune 2,584 tons
Surat 1,836 tons

Hazardous Components of E-Waste

Americium: one of the radioactive sources, known to be carcinogenic.

Mercury: Mainly found in fluorescent tubes applications), tilt switches (mechanical
doorbells, and flat screen monitors. It causes health effects such as; sensory
impairment, dermatitis, memory loss, and muscle weakness. Environmental effects in
animals include death, reduced fertility, slower growth and development.

Sulphur: Found in lead-acid batteries. Health effects include liver damage, kidney
damage, heart damage, and eye and throat irritation. When released in to the
environment, it can create sulphuric acid.


BFRs (Brominated flame retardants): Used as flame retardants in plastics in most
electronics includes PBBs, OctaBDE, PentaBDE. Health effects include impaired
development of the nervous system, thyroid problems. Environmental effects: similar
effects as in animals as humans. PBBs were banned from 1973-1977 on. PCBs were
banned during the 1980's.

Cadmium: Found in light-sensitive resistors, corrosion alloys for marine and aviation
environments and cadmium batteries. When not properly recycled it can leach into the
soil, harming microorganisms and disrupting the soil ecosystem. Exposure is caused by
proximity to hazardous waste sites and factories and workers in the metal refining
industry. The inhalation of cadmium can cause severe damage to the lungs and is also
known to cause kidney damage.

Lead: Found in CRT monitor glass, lead-acid batteries formulations of PVC. A typical
15-inch cathode ray tube may contain 1.5 pounds of lead but other CRTs have been
estimated as having up to 8 pounds of lead.

Beryllium oxide: Commonly used as filler in some thermal interface materials such as
thermal grease used on CPUs and power transistors,magnetrons, Xceramic windows,
heat transfer fins in vacuum tubes lasers.

E-Waste Toxins and Affected Body Parts

Components Constituents Affected body parts
Printed circuit boards Lead and cadmium Berillium Nervous system, kidney,
lever
Motherboards Lead oxide, barium and Lungs, skin
Cathode ray tubes (CRTs) Mercury Heart, lever, muscles
Switches and flat-screen monitors Cadmium Brain, skin
Computer batteries Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Kidney, lever
Capacitors and transformers Brominated flame-retardant casings -----
cable
Printed circuit boards, Plastic Polyvinyl chloride -------
Cable insulation/coating Plastic housing Bromine Immune system


CFL industry puts consumers at risk with very high levels of Mercury

"Toxics In That Glow: Mercury in Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) in
India" reveals the potential threat associated with these bulbs. The study, which
analyzed twenty-two samples of CFLs of well-known brands sold in India for their
mercury content, exposes somewhat disturbing trend in mercury dosing practice by the
manufacturers. The average mercury content per unit CFL has been found to be
21.21mg, much higher than the internationally known standards – ranging four to six
times the CFL sold in many developed countries. Fifty percent of the samples analyzed
were found to have high average mercury content ranging between 12.24mg and
39.64mg across different wattages. The average mercury content in 5, 8, 11, 15 and 20
watts (across studied brands) samples are 22.2mg, 7.8mg (the least), 31.5mg 18.8mg
and 17.7mg respectively.

In some cases the mercury content per watt has been found to be as high as 4.39mg.
The disturbing trend is in most brands the mercury content is high in lower watt lamps,
possibly to capture greater market share as mercury increases the lumen (light) output.
It is also worrying to note that most multinational brands, having operations across the
globe follow different regulatory norms in different countries including India, rather a
dubious stand.

Mercury is a neurotoxin and highly toxic heavy metal known to impact vital organs such
as lever and cause developmental and neurological problems; particularly dangerous to
pregnant women and children. Some of their compounds are capable of crossing the
placental barrier causing irreparable damage to the unborn / newborn babies. Higher
level of mercury dosing in CFLs enhances the chances of mercury contamination and
toxicity. Used and discarded CFL(s) are usually dumped with general waste, thinning
out mercury in the environment. Currently, with India having no management system or
infrastructure in place to manage the used-up and/ or discarded CFLs, there is a high
chance of mercury running into the waste stream and the food chain through these
energy saving lamps, the study says. The report argues that this exposure pathway
would greatly impact the health of waste workers and local inhabitant and equally affect
the environment and wildlife.


Ravi Agarwal (Director, Toxics Link) says: "The Indian CFL industry is exploiting the
new market opened up by the climate change crisis; however they are creating a toxic
crisis alongside. Instead of following the best practices in the world, they are putting the
Indian consumer at risk through high level of mercury, even while the Government
procrastinates on mandating a CFL collection and recycling system. Business interests
are bypassing serious health concerns."

Health and environmental concerns have prompted the governments across the globe
to take measures in order to contain mercury dosing. In the US, lighting manufacturer
members of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) have voluntarily
capped the amount of mercury used in CFLs in 2007 and lowered the cap again in
2010. Currently the U.S cap is 4mg/ CFL for units up to 25 watts and 5mg/CFL for units
over 25 watts. In EU, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) law mandates
the cap to 5mg/CFL.

India presents a bleak scenario in the entire life cycle starting from mercury dosing to
end of life management of mercury and CFLs. What adds to the grim reality is the fact
that despite the potential dangers and serious health afflictions, the country lacks any
regulatory framework to standardize and limit mercury dosing in India, which is quiet
random. There is no infrastructure to deal with collection, recycling and disposal of
used-up and discarded lamps.

This is despite the fact that India has a strong manufacturing base having potential to
manufacture 400-500 million pieces annually. India also imports about 1/3rd CFL tubes.

The study recommends three-pronged action to contain the mercury menace through
CFLs:

Standard: The government needs to come out with maximum mercury limit
standard in CFL owing to the various health and environmental hazards. It is
technically feasible to achieve 2-3 mg/CFLs in India, have the standards set
accordingly. The standard should be made mandatory with effective monitoring
strategy;
Consistent Practice: Since most multinational players in the organized sector
have the means to move towards safer regimes, they must immediately


standardize their production process as followed by them in other parts of the
world;
End-of-life management: The end-of-life management must be the joint
responsibility of the manufacturers, regulatory agencies and the executive
bodies. Consumers, too, have a responsibility for the proper disposal of broken
and used-up lamps. For recycling etc. the best-suited technology must be
decided based on a collective dialogue among various stakeholders.

Conclusion -

Electronic-waste (E-waste) is a critical issue India is facing today, with rapid
technological advancement and growing obsolescence rate of electronics and electrical
goods. The country is saddled with huge generation of this toxic waste, estimated to be
more than 8 million tonnes. E-waste Management and Handling Rules, notified in May
2011 and which comes into force on May 1st, 2012 is a huge step in this direction. The
rules were notified in advance and provided a lead time of one year to all stakeholders
to put systems in place for an effective compliance to the Rules.

The E- waste Management and Handling Rules put the onus of e-waste management
on Manufacturers or the brands through the principle of Extended Producer
Responsibility (EPR). Companies like Samsung, LG, Nokia, HCL, HP, Videocon and
many more have to ensure that they have a proper take back system and provide the
opportunity to consumers to recycle E-waste. The new Rules also look at the life cycle
approach, and restrict the use of hazardous substance in Electronics, though
mechanism for effective implementation and monitoring of such substances in EEE has
not been clearly articulated and informed.

E waste programme

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