Electronic waste (e-waste) describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Rapidly changing technology and planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast-growing amount of e-waste globally. E-waste contains hazardous but also valuable materials. There is disagreement around the relative risks of e-waste and whether restricting the international trade of used electronics improves or worsens conditions. While recycling e-waste recovers materials, informal processing in developing countries can cause health and environmental problems due to toxic emissions and water contamination.
e-waste: what is your role and are gadget makers helping?Michelle Crawford
When was the last time you upgraded your phone or gadget? According to Greenpeace International, that was probably within the last two years. With a speedy lifespan of electronic devices, comes enormous electronic waste, a.k.a. e-waste. The amount of e-waste has skyrocketed in the last 30 years, representing 20% of America’s trash in landfills and 70% of toxic waste materials. What can we do about this? More articles? - https://www.gbrionline.org/articles More sustainability courses - https://www.gbrionline.org/learning-hub LEED Green Associate Exam Prep, LEED AP Exam Prep, WELL AP Exam Prpe - https://www.gbrionline.org/leed and https://www.gbrionline.org/well
This is a slideshow that I created after doing a research paper on E-waste. I think that the use of a visual aid to put the concept into perspective is beneficial.
The document discusses the growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste) in Nigeria. E-waste is increasing rapidly due to the short lifecycles of electronics and dumping by developed countries. Nigeria generates large quantities of e-waste but lacks proper management systems, resulting in health and environmental issues. Common recycling practices like open burning release toxic chemicals. The study aims to assess e-waste management in Ikeja Computer Village, Nigeria to understand available waste, disposal methods, stakeholders, and improvements needed.
This document discusses e-waste management issues in India. It defines e-waste as old or obsolete electrical and electronic equipment such as computers, mobile phones, televisions, etc. E-waste is growing rapidly due to short life cycles and planned obsolescence of electronic devices. Most e-waste in India is handled by the informal sector using unsafe recycling methods that release toxic substances like lead, cadmium, and mercury into the environment. This poses serious health risks. While e-waste contains recoverable materials, the current practices are inefficient and polluting. The document outlines the responsibilities of producers under India's E-Waste Management Rules and calls for better implementation of regulations to promote formal, safe recycling of e-
This presentation discusses electronic waste (e-waste) and its management. It notes that e-waste is the fastest growing waste stream and includes discarded electronics like computers, phones, and appliances. E-waste contains toxic materials like lead, mercury, and arsenic. The presentation outlines the impacts of e-waste on health and the environment if not properly managed and recycled. It proposes solutions like encouraging refurbishing, implementing sustainable product design and toxics-free materials, establishing formal e-waste collection and recycling systems, and improving public awareness of e-waste issues.
In this research paper, researcher has tried to focus on What is present scenario of E waste management in India & What are the procedures and methods used in its handling?
e-waste: what is your role and are gadget makers helping?Michelle Crawford
When was the last time you upgraded your phone or gadget? According to Greenpeace International, that was probably within the last two years. With a speedy lifespan of electronic devices, comes enormous electronic waste, a.k.a. e-waste. The amount of e-waste has skyrocketed in the last 30 years, representing 20% of America’s trash in landfills and 70% of toxic waste materials. What can we do about this? More articles? - https://www.gbrionline.org/articles More sustainability courses - https://www.gbrionline.org/learning-hub LEED Green Associate Exam Prep, LEED AP Exam Prep, WELL AP Exam Prpe - https://www.gbrionline.org/leed and https://www.gbrionline.org/well
This is a slideshow that I created after doing a research paper on E-waste. I think that the use of a visual aid to put the concept into perspective is beneficial.
The document discusses the growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste) in Nigeria. E-waste is increasing rapidly due to the short lifecycles of electronics and dumping by developed countries. Nigeria generates large quantities of e-waste but lacks proper management systems, resulting in health and environmental issues. Common recycling practices like open burning release toxic chemicals. The study aims to assess e-waste management in Ikeja Computer Village, Nigeria to understand available waste, disposal methods, stakeholders, and improvements needed.
This document discusses e-waste management issues in India. It defines e-waste as old or obsolete electrical and electronic equipment such as computers, mobile phones, televisions, etc. E-waste is growing rapidly due to short life cycles and planned obsolescence of electronic devices. Most e-waste in India is handled by the informal sector using unsafe recycling methods that release toxic substances like lead, cadmium, and mercury into the environment. This poses serious health risks. While e-waste contains recoverable materials, the current practices are inefficient and polluting. The document outlines the responsibilities of producers under India's E-Waste Management Rules and calls for better implementation of regulations to promote formal, safe recycling of e-
This presentation discusses electronic waste (e-waste) and its management. It notes that e-waste is the fastest growing waste stream and includes discarded electronics like computers, phones, and appliances. E-waste contains toxic materials like lead, mercury, and arsenic. The presentation outlines the impacts of e-waste on health and the environment if not properly managed and recycled. It proposes solutions like encouraging refurbishing, implementing sustainable product design and toxics-free materials, establishing formal e-waste collection and recycling systems, and improving public awareness of e-waste issues.
In this research paper, researcher has tried to focus on What is present scenario of E waste management in India & What are the procedures and methods used in its handling?
This presentation discusses electronic waste (e-waste) in India. It begins with background information on e-waste and its components. The objectives are outlined as minimizing illegal recycling and promoting safe recycling. E-waste is a growing problem due to its toxic materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium. Management options discussed include reuse, recycling, and disposal. The Clean e-India initiative aims to establish e-waste collection programs. On a local level, students are initiating an e-waste collection program in Nagpur to collect mobile phone chargers and adapters. In conclusion, a national framework and public awareness is needed for environmentally sound e-waste management.
This document discusses e-waste and its management. It defines e-waste as obsolete electronic equipment like computers, TVs, and cell phones. E-waste is a growing problem due to the toxins it contains and risks of improper disposal. When e-waste is burned or dumped, its components like lead, mercury, and flame retardants can pollute the environment and harm human health. However, e-waste also contains valuable materials that can be recovered through formal recycling. Proper e-waste management and recycling can help address this issue in a more sustainable manner.
Report on e-waste management & recyclingGovindmeena93
The document provides an overview of e-waste (electronic waste) in India. It discusses that e-waste is a growing problem due to rapid technological changes and the growing consumption of electronic devices. It notes that e-waste contains toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium which can harm human health and the environment if not properly disposed of. It also discusses the different sources of e-waste in India like households, businesses, manufacturers, and imports. Common methods for managing e-waste mentioned are landfilling, incineration, and recycling, each with their own environmental risks if not carried out properly. The document emphasizes the need for better e-waste management policies and practices in India to deal with the
This presentation discusses electronic waste (e-waste) management. It defines e-waste as old or discarded electronic devices such as computers, phones, appliances, and more. It then lists sources of e-waste such as small businesses and households. E-waste contains hazardous materials like lead, cadmium, and mercury. While dangerous, e-waste can also be a source of valuable materials like plastics, metals, and batteries. Common e-waste disposal methods include recycling, landfilling, and incineration, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The presentation emphasizes the importance of proper e-waste management policies and practices in India.
This document discusses e-waste management. It begins with an introduction that describes how electronic waste has increased due to short product lifecycles and advancing technology. Most e-waste ends up in landfills, but it can be partially recycled due to its material composition. The document then discusses how e-waste differs from other waste due to its dangerous and valuable materials. It notes that while recycling can retrieve metals, e-waste recycling is mostly done in Asia using unsafe methods. The document concludes by discussing environmental problems caused by e-waste and technological changes to reduce such impacts.
The document discusses the growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste) worldwide. It notes that about 50 million tons of e-waste are produced annually, with much of it improperly disposed of. Only 15-20% is recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills or being burned. E-waste contains toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, which can leach into the environment and pose serious health risks. Developing countries that import e-waste for processing typically do so through informal recycling with little safety precautions, exposing workers and communities to the toxins. Urgent action is needed through better regulations, enforcement, and design of more sustainable electronics.
The document discusses electronic waste (e-waste) and its management. It provides background on e-waste, noting that it is waste from discarded electronic devices that are quickly replaced due to technological advances. It then discusses several key points around e-waste including that it contains hazardous materials, the short lifespans of electronics contribute to large volumes of e-waste, and that improper disposal can harm human health and the environment. The document concludes by emphasizing the importance of proper e-waste recycling and management.
Electronic waste, or e-waste, refers to obsolete or unusable electronic devices such as computers, TVs, and cell phones. E-waste contains hazardous materials like lead, cadmium, and mercury that can pollute the environment if not properly disposed of. The growing stockpile of e-waste poses serious environmental and health risks as it takes up landfill space and the toxins can leach into groundwater. Proper e-waste management includes reuse, recycling, and disposal as a last resort to prevent environmental contamination and protect public health.
The document discusses electronic waste (e-waste) recycling. It defines e-waste as discarded electrical or electronic devices, including used electronics destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal. Informal e-waste processing in developing countries can cause health and pollution problems due to limited regulations. E-waste includes a wide variety of devices like computers, televisions, printers, mobile phones, and more. The document notes that every household has electronic equipment and that over 250-500 million tons of e-waste are generated worldwide each year, with the US generating 251 million tons in 2012 alone. It outlines the process of e-waste recycling, which includes collection, segregation, recovery, storage, dismantling
in this presentation we discuss about the e-waste and their effect on environment and human body, and we also discuss about the management of such waste.
This document discusses e-waste, which is defined as discarded electrical and electronic equipment. It notes that e-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams due to high obsolescence rates of electronics. E-waste contains toxic components like lead, cadmium, and mercury if improperly treated or discarded. Developed countries generate most e-waste but export it to developing countries in violation of international agreements. In India, e-waste is illegally imported and then crudely recycled, polluting the environment due to a lack of regulation. The document classifies e-waste and examines its composition and the health effects of some common toxic components like lead, cadmium, and mercury.
The document discusses electronic waste (e-waste) and its impacts. It notes that e-waste is growing rapidly worldwide due to the electronics industry. E-waste contains toxic materials that can harm human health and the environment if not properly handled. The document outlines the composition of e-waste, sources of e-waste generation in India and globally, and the environmental and health hazards posed by e-waste, particularly from toxic materials like lead, mercury, and dioxins/furans released during improper recycling and disposal.
E waste management seminar ppt (auto recovered)Satish Vasukuri
The document is a technical seminar report on e-waste management submitted for a bachelor's degree. It discusses e-waste, which refers to discarded electronic products such as computers, phones, and other electronics. E-waste is growing rapidly due to the short life cycles and frequent upgrades of electronic devices. It poses environmental and health risks if not properly managed as it contains toxic materials like lead, mercury, and chemicals. The report examines the global challenge of increasing e-waste and methods to manage e-waste through reducing, recovering, and recycling electronic waste.
This presentation discusses electronic waste (e-waste) and its impacts. It begins with an introduction to e-waste, defining it as electronic appliances such as computers, phones, and TVs that are disposed of by their original users. It then outlines the impacts of e-waste, such as the release of toxic materials like lead and dioxins when e-waste is burned. The presentation notes that e-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams and discusses the problems associated with improper e-waste disposal and management in India. It concludes by stressing the importance of creating a national framework for environmentally sound e-waste management through public awareness, detailed inventories, and pilot collection/recycling schemes.
Electronic Waste Management - Challenges and SolutionsRudradityo Saha
This document discusses electronic waste (e-waste) management challenges and solutions. It covers the growing problem of e-waste, effects on the environment and human health, legislation around e-waste, and approaches to managing e-waste in a more sustainable way, including sustainable product design, waste minimization techniques, environmentally-safe disposal like recycling, and recovery and reuse of materials from e-waste.
E-waste refers to obsolete, broken, or discarded electrical or electronic devices. The document discusses the sources, composition, impacts, and proper disposal of e-waste. It notes that e-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams and contains hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium. Improper disposal of e-waste through landfilling or incineration can pollute the environment and harm human health. Recycling e-waste helps reduce these impacts and recover valuable materials. Individual actions like recycling old electronics can help address the growing problem of e-waste.
E-waste or electronic waste refers to old, end-of-life electronics that are discarded. India generates around 0.8 million tons of e-waste annually, which is growing by 10% each year. E-waste contains hazardous materials like lead, cadmium, and mercury and needs to be properly managed to avoid environmental pollution and health impacts. Common approaches to managing e-waste include reuse, refurbishment, material recovery through formal recycling, and environmentally-sound disposal. However, in India much of the e-waste is handled by the informal sector, which recovers valuable materials but can also lead to environmental and health issues due to unsafe practices. Improved regulations, take-back programs, and awareness
Our E-Waste Problem is Ridiculous, and Gadget Makers Aren't Helping clarifies the damaging effects of dumping electronic waste into landfills. 70-80% of old phones end up in landfills when customers upgrade to new phones. While technology has improved, electronics have become harder to disassemble. The recycling process involves determining if devices can be resold; otherwise, they are shredded so materials like steel and copper can be recycled. However, extracting these materials can be difficult.
Essay on E-Waste Recycling
e-waste Essay
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Essay about E-waste Management
E Waste Management
A Solution to E-Waste Essay
E-waste Essay example
The Problem Of E Waste
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Speech On Electronic Waste
This presentation discusses electronic waste (e-waste) in India. It begins with background information on e-waste and its components. The objectives are outlined as minimizing illegal recycling and promoting safe recycling. E-waste is a growing problem due to its toxic materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium. Management options discussed include reuse, recycling, and disposal. The Clean e-India initiative aims to establish e-waste collection programs. On a local level, students are initiating an e-waste collection program in Nagpur to collect mobile phone chargers and adapters. In conclusion, a national framework and public awareness is needed for environmentally sound e-waste management.
This document discusses e-waste and its management. It defines e-waste as obsolete electronic equipment like computers, TVs, and cell phones. E-waste is a growing problem due to the toxins it contains and risks of improper disposal. When e-waste is burned or dumped, its components like lead, mercury, and flame retardants can pollute the environment and harm human health. However, e-waste also contains valuable materials that can be recovered through formal recycling. Proper e-waste management and recycling can help address this issue in a more sustainable manner.
Report on e-waste management & recyclingGovindmeena93
The document provides an overview of e-waste (electronic waste) in India. It discusses that e-waste is a growing problem due to rapid technological changes and the growing consumption of electronic devices. It notes that e-waste contains toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium which can harm human health and the environment if not properly disposed of. It also discusses the different sources of e-waste in India like households, businesses, manufacturers, and imports. Common methods for managing e-waste mentioned are landfilling, incineration, and recycling, each with their own environmental risks if not carried out properly. The document emphasizes the need for better e-waste management policies and practices in India to deal with the
This presentation discusses electronic waste (e-waste) management. It defines e-waste as old or discarded electronic devices such as computers, phones, appliances, and more. It then lists sources of e-waste such as small businesses and households. E-waste contains hazardous materials like lead, cadmium, and mercury. While dangerous, e-waste can also be a source of valuable materials like plastics, metals, and batteries. Common e-waste disposal methods include recycling, landfilling, and incineration, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The presentation emphasizes the importance of proper e-waste management policies and practices in India.
This document discusses e-waste management. It begins with an introduction that describes how electronic waste has increased due to short product lifecycles and advancing technology. Most e-waste ends up in landfills, but it can be partially recycled due to its material composition. The document then discusses how e-waste differs from other waste due to its dangerous and valuable materials. It notes that while recycling can retrieve metals, e-waste recycling is mostly done in Asia using unsafe methods. The document concludes by discussing environmental problems caused by e-waste and technological changes to reduce such impacts.
The document discusses the growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste) worldwide. It notes that about 50 million tons of e-waste are produced annually, with much of it improperly disposed of. Only 15-20% is recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills or being burned. E-waste contains toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, which can leach into the environment and pose serious health risks. Developing countries that import e-waste for processing typically do so through informal recycling with little safety precautions, exposing workers and communities to the toxins. Urgent action is needed through better regulations, enforcement, and design of more sustainable electronics.
The document discusses electronic waste (e-waste) and its management. It provides background on e-waste, noting that it is waste from discarded electronic devices that are quickly replaced due to technological advances. It then discusses several key points around e-waste including that it contains hazardous materials, the short lifespans of electronics contribute to large volumes of e-waste, and that improper disposal can harm human health and the environment. The document concludes by emphasizing the importance of proper e-waste recycling and management.
Electronic waste, or e-waste, refers to obsolete or unusable electronic devices such as computers, TVs, and cell phones. E-waste contains hazardous materials like lead, cadmium, and mercury that can pollute the environment if not properly disposed of. The growing stockpile of e-waste poses serious environmental and health risks as it takes up landfill space and the toxins can leach into groundwater. Proper e-waste management includes reuse, recycling, and disposal as a last resort to prevent environmental contamination and protect public health.
The document discusses electronic waste (e-waste) recycling. It defines e-waste as discarded electrical or electronic devices, including used electronics destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal. Informal e-waste processing in developing countries can cause health and pollution problems due to limited regulations. E-waste includes a wide variety of devices like computers, televisions, printers, mobile phones, and more. The document notes that every household has electronic equipment and that over 250-500 million tons of e-waste are generated worldwide each year, with the US generating 251 million tons in 2012 alone. It outlines the process of e-waste recycling, which includes collection, segregation, recovery, storage, dismantling
in this presentation we discuss about the e-waste and their effect on environment and human body, and we also discuss about the management of such waste.
This document discusses e-waste, which is defined as discarded electrical and electronic equipment. It notes that e-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams due to high obsolescence rates of electronics. E-waste contains toxic components like lead, cadmium, and mercury if improperly treated or discarded. Developed countries generate most e-waste but export it to developing countries in violation of international agreements. In India, e-waste is illegally imported and then crudely recycled, polluting the environment due to a lack of regulation. The document classifies e-waste and examines its composition and the health effects of some common toxic components like lead, cadmium, and mercury.
The document discusses electronic waste (e-waste) and its impacts. It notes that e-waste is growing rapidly worldwide due to the electronics industry. E-waste contains toxic materials that can harm human health and the environment if not properly handled. The document outlines the composition of e-waste, sources of e-waste generation in India and globally, and the environmental and health hazards posed by e-waste, particularly from toxic materials like lead, mercury, and dioxins/furans released during improper recycling and disposal.
E waste management seminar ppt (auto recovered)Satish Vasukuri
The document is a technical seminar report on e-waste management submitted for a bachelor's degree. It discusses e-waste, which refers to discarded electronic products such as computers, phones, and other electronics. E-waste is growing rapidly due to the short life cycles and frequent upgrades of electronic devices. It poses environmental and health risks if not properly managed as it contains toxic materials like lead, mercury, and chemicals. The report examines the global challenge of increasing e-waste and methods to manage e-waste through reducing, recovering, and recycling electronic waste.
This presentation discusses electronic waste (e-waste) and its impacts. It begins with an introduction to e-waste, defining it as electronic appliances such as computers, phones, and TVs that are disposed of by their original users. It then outlines the impacts of e-waste, such as the release of toxic materials like lead and dioxins when e-waste is burned. The presentation notes that e-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams and discusses the problems associated with improper e-waste disposal and management in India. It concludes by stressing the importance of creating a national framework for environmentally sound e-waste management through public awareness, detailed inventories, and pilot collection/recycling schemes.
Electronic Waste Management - Challenges and SolutionsRudradityo Saha
This document discusses electronic waste (e-waste) management challenges and solutions. It covers the growing problem of e-waste, effects on the environment and human health, legislation around e-waste, and approaches to managing e-waste in a more sustainable way, including sustainable product design, waste minimization techniques, environmentally-safe disposal like recycling, and recovery and reuse of materials from e-waste.
E-waste refers to obsolete, broken, or discarded electrical or electronic devices. The document discusses the sources, composition, impacts, and proper disposal of e-waste. It notes that e-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams and contains hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium. Improper disposal of e-waste through landfilling or incineration can pollute the environment and harm human health. Recycling e-waste helps reduce these impacts and recover valuable materials. Individual actions like recycling old electronics can help address the growing problem of e-waste.
E-waste or electronic waste refers to old, end-of-life electronics that are discarded. India generates around 0.8 million tons of e-waste annually, which is growing by 10% each year. E-waste contains hazardous materials like lead, cadmium, and mercury and needs to be properly managed to avoid environmental pollution and health impacts. Common approaches to managing e-waste include reuse, refurbishment, material recovery through formal recycling, and environmentally-sound disposal. However, in India much of the e-waste is handled by the informal sector, which recovers valuable materials but can also lead to environmental and health issues due to unsafe practices. Improved regulations, take-back programs, and awareness
Our E-Waste Problem is Ridiculous, and Gadget Makers Aren't Helping clarifies the damaging effects of dumping electronic waste into landfills. 70-80% of old phones end up in landfills when customers upgrade to new phones. While technology has improved, electronics have become harder to disassemble. The recycling process involves determining if devices can be resold; otherwise, they are shredded so materials like steel and copper can be recycled. However, extracting these materials can be difficult.
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Student 1
Jill Student
Professor Elliott-White
English 111-0011
31 March 2015
Banning E-waste
It is estimated that over 84 million broken or obsolete television, 200 million phones, and millions of computers and electronic devices sit collecting dust in homes, garages, attics, and basements (Infotrac Newsstands). Imagining a world in which no computers, cell phones, or televisions existed is not an easy task because the world has become fast paced complete with sophisticated electronic devices to match. Rapid technological innovations are rendering most electronic devices obsolete quicker than ever and creating a littered urban picture filled with the carcasses of the digital age called e-waste. E-waste is a generic term covering a variety of electronic devices that are nearing their end of life cycle and are discarded, donated, or given up to be recycled and is classified as the fastest growing part of global waste streams. The Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA, estimates that the United States produces about 2.37 million tons of e-waste annually of which only about 25% of that is recovered with the remainder finding their final resting place in landfills. When considering the imminent danger of e-waste, there is a clear need to ban the flow of e-waste exports from the United States to developing nations due to the importance of ensuring that e-waste exports do not threaten national security, the strategic interest in recovering valuable materials, and the toll that it is taking on human health and the environment.
With the advancements in technology, also comes the advancements in counterfeit techniques which creates a potential for threats against national security. Counterfeit chips have been discovered not only in military equipment, but also government entities, that were refurbished from old e-waste and then sold to the United States. The counterfeit technology now has the potential to cause equipment failure and malfunction (Olds). Not only is it costly to remove malware, but also the man hours needed to remove any affected devices can be time consuming and expensive. In addition to counterfeit chips, there is evidence of fake routers being sold to all branches of the military, again in the form of refurbished and recycled e-waste components, which not only puts the government at risk but also the military (Olds). Secret information within the government and military could be at threat for espionage due to the fake routers which could then be accessed and exploited. There are multiple reports that state the majority of fake materials stem from plants located in China, specifically Guiyu which is a leading e-waste recycling plant (Olds). With a ban on e-waste exports, potential foreign enemies wouldn’t have access to government and military electronic devices that may not have been wiped cleaned before being discarded because the devices would all be recycled and refurbished within the national borders thus significantl.
Tech Waste: Environmental Impact and ManagementEditor IJCATR
Over the recent years, the global market of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) has grown rapidly, while the products
lifespan has become increasingly shorter. The rapid growth of the electronic and IT industry, current user’s culture, increasing rates of
usage of techno products have led to disastrous environmental consequences. Most of these technologies are ending up in backlash
and recycling centres, posing a new environmental challenge in this 21st century. The presence of hazardous and toxic substances in
electronic goods has made tech waste a matter of fear and if not properly managed, it can have unfavourable effects on environment. It
has been proven that some of the waste contain many cancer-causing agents. This paper provides a review of the tech waste problems
and the need for its appropriate management
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Our E-Waste Problem
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E-waste is a growing problem around the world as more electronics are discarded. There are four main ways to deal with e-waste: landfilling,
incinerating, reusing, and recycling. However, landfilling and incinerating e-waste are not ideal due to toxic materials in electronics that can harm
the environment and human health when disposed of improperly. Better solutions are needed to reduce e-waste, such as increasing reuse and recycling.
This document discusses the growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste). It begins by defining e-waste and noting that e-waste is increasing worldwide at around 8-10% annually. It then explains that planned obsolescence and the short replacement times for consumer electronics contribute significantly to the rising levels of e-waste. The document concludes by discussing methods for estimating future volumes of e-waste based on current sales figures of electronics.
E-waste, or electronic waste, refers to obsolete, broken, or unwanted electronic devices. Rapid product innovations and consumers replacing functioning electronics with newer models has significantly increased the amount of e-waste. Common e-waste items include old computers, TVs, cell phones, and large appliances. Most e-waste contains toxic materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can cause environmental pollution if improperly disposed of. Many communities now provide e-waste collection and recycling services to safely manage this growing waste stream.
This document discusses e-waste (electronic waste) management and the need for educational strategies around reducing, reusing, and recycling e-waste for sustainable development. It provides an overview of what constitutes e-waste and the health hazards it poses if improperly disposed. It also discusses practices being used globally to address the e-waste problem, such as extended producer responsibility and design for the environment. The document emphasizes that education is one of the most important practices for effectively dealing with the growing e-waste stream. It argues that comprehensive education strategies are needed in both developed and developing countries to increase understanding of e-waste's environmental and health impacts.
This document provides an overview of electronic waste (e-waste) management. It discusses:
1) Sources of e-waste including individual households, businesses, manufacturers, and imports. Business sectors account for most e-waste in India.
2) Categories of e-waste including large and small household appliances, IT equipment, consumer equipment, lighting, and more.
3) Hazards of e-waste including toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium which can contaminate the environment if e-waste is improperly disposed of.
Electronic waste, or e-waste, refers to discarded computers, electronics, and appliances. Rapidly changing technology and planned obsolescence have led to a fast growing surplus of e-waste globally. E-waste contains toxic and hazardous materials, and improper disposal pollutes the environment and poses health risks to humans. While technical solutions for recycling exist, many countries lack proper infrastructure and regulations to deal with the large volumes of e-waste being produced.
This document provides a literature review on the economic and environmental impacts of electronic waste (e-waste). It discusses how e-waste production is increasing globally but most is improperly disposed of, polluting the environment. Developing countries import much of the world's e-waste but lack regulations, leading to unsafe recycling practices. Potential solutions discussed include manufacturers taking responsibility for recycling, taxes to fund recycling programs, banning e-waste exports, and investing in safe recycling technologies in developing countries.
Excessive Increment in E-Waste System and its Prohibition through Green Compu...Editor IJCATR
In the current scenario, the information and communication technology have made drastic changes in our daily routine like
industries, institution and almost in each field. In today’s world there is a large amount of usage of electronic equipments which are
giving rise to many problems. The energy consumption from such devices also leading to various global warming issues. At the
same time they are leading to many problems like problems of massive amount 0of hazardous waste and other wastes which are
generated from electronic equipment
Therefore here we will discuss about various consequences of e-waste , their effects and management of these toxic ad dangerous wastes
so as to make the process energy efficient and environment friendly
E-waste, or electronic waste, refers to old, end-of-life electronic devices such as TVs, computers, phones, and other electronics. It is difficult to quantify the total amount of e-waste globally due to much of it being undocumented or categorized differently in different areas. Estimates suggest around 40 million tons of e-waste are generated worldwide annually. Only about 13% of e-waste is properly recycled, with the rest often being shipped illegally to developing countries or improperly disposed of. E-waste contains toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury that can harm human health and the environment if not handled properly.
This document discusses electronic waste (e-waste) recycling as a viable business opportunity in South Africa. It notes that while e-waste is mainly generated by developed nations, ownership of electronic devices is growing rapidly in developing countries as well. Currently, only about 10% of over 50,000 tons of annual e-waste generated in South Africa is recycled. E-waste contains valuable materials like gold and copper, but also hazardous substances like lead and mercury, so proper handling and recycling is important. Enabling policies and support from government and businesses could help unlock the potential of e-waste recycling to create jobs and improve waste management in South Africa.
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E-WasteFuture archaeologists will note that at the tail end o.docxjacksnathalie
E-Waste
“Future archaeologists will note that at the tail end of the 20th century, a new, noxious kind of clutter exploded across the landscape: the digital detritus that has come to be called e-waste” (Carroll 3).
This statement by Carroll shows the epidemic of e waste that the entire globe is suffering from. E waste from our definition is used electronics such as TVs, phones, computers, and radio. As technology advances new and advances electronic appliances are brought in the market which attracts consumers, therefore consumer in pursuit of elegance, quality or even prestige opt out of their old devices and go for the new more technological devices. This has created a major problem of disposing the old and used devices and over the years the total numbers of e waste have been in the rise. “Gordon Moore, co-founder of the computer-chip maker Intel, observed that computer processing power roughly doubles every two years. An unstated corollary to "Moore's law" is that at any given time, all the machines considered state-of-the-art are simultaneously on the verge of obsolescence” (Carroll 3). This shows us that the problem is here, which keep on the same way of consummating electronic devices, and the more we still doing the same thing, the more that we will get in bigger problem.
Various researches give various values for the amount of e waste that have been dumped not only across U.S but also all over the planet. However, both agree that the amount of e waste is alarming and have been on the increase over the recent years. For example, more than about 130 million still working phones were retired in 2002 in the U.S alone and the number have been increasing with the years. In Japan phones are said to be discarded a year after purchase (Slade 6). In the U.S it is said that about 98 million cell phones took their last call in 2005 (Carroll 3). The computers on the other hand are said to have decreased in lifespan from about 4.5 years in 1992 to about 2 years in 2005. This has led to large amount of e waste about 20 million per year globally. The digital migration of TVs from analog to digital has led to generation of about 25 million yearly e wastes of TVs in the US alone. In total according to the UNEP if all e wastes are tallied they could amount to about 50 million tones yearly (Carroll 3). This brings us to the question, what has led to this high number of electronic waste?
Each and every day Samsung, Apple, Microsoft and other information giant companies announce a new model, which they claim to be better than the previous model. New phones with more advanced or even new technologies are manufactured; TVs, which are better than the already existing versions are, invented daily, Laptops or PC with bigger RAM or internal memory or even better graphics enter the markets. This technological advancement is one of the major factors that have led to increase in the amount of e waste (Slade 6). Everyone is rushing to have the best of the availab ...
This document discusses retired IT assets and the IT asset disposition (ITAD) process. It begins with an overview of the global e-waste problem and statistics on e-waste generation. It then covers the full ITAD process from secure collection and transport of retired assets to sorting, repair/refurbishment, resale if possible, and responsible recycling. It emphasizes the importance of choosing a trusted ITAD partner and outlines best practices around data security, record keeping, and ensuring materials are handled responsibly through certified recycling facilities. The goal is to maximize the reuse of retired assets through resale while properly recycling the rest to create a circular economy and avoid harmful e-waste dumping.
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1. Electronic waste, e-waste, e-scrap, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. There is a lack of consensus as to whether
the term should apply to resale, reuse, and refurbishing industries, or only to product that cannot
be used for its intended purpose. Informal processing of electronic waste in developing countries
may cause serious health and pollution problems, though these countries are also most likely to
reuse and repair electronics. Some electronic scrap components, such as CRTs, may contain
contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominated flame retardants. Even in
developed countries recycling and disposal of e-waste may involve significant risk to workers
and communities and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations
and leaching of material such as heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes. Scrap
industry and USA EPA officials agree that materials should be managed with caution, but many
believe that environmental dangers of used electronics have been exaggerated.
Problems
Rapid changes in technology, changes in media (tapes, software, MP3), falling prices, and
planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast-growing surplus of electronic waste around
the globe. Dave Kruch, CEO of Cash For Laptops, regards electronic waste as a "rapidly
expanding" issue. Technical solutions are available, but in most cases a legal framework, a
collection system, logistics, and other services need to be implemented before a technical
solution can be applied. Display units (CRT, LCD, LED monitors), Processors (CPU
chips, RAM), and audio components have different useful lives. Processors are most
frequently outdated (by software) and are more likely to become "e-waste", while display
units are most often replaced while working without repair attempts, due to changes in
wealthy nation appetites for new display technology.
An estimated 50 million tons of E-waste are produced each year[]. The USA discards 30
million computers each year and 100 million phones are disposed of in Europe each year.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only 15-20% of e-waste is recycled,
the rest of these electronics go directly into landfills and incinerators."EPA estimates for
2006-7"..
According to a report by UNEP titled, "Recycling - from E-Waste to Resources," the
amount of e-waste being produced - including mobile phones and computers - could rise
by as much as 500 percent over the next decade in some countries, such as India. The
United States is the world leader in producing electronic waste, tossing away about 3
million tons each year. China already produces about 2.3 million tons (2010 estimate)
domestically, second only to the United States. And, despite having banned e-waste
imports, China remains a major e-waste dumping ground for developed countries.
Electrical waste contains hazardous but also valuable and scarce materials. Up to 60
elements can be found in complex electronics.
In the United States, an estimated 70% of heavy metals in landfills comes from discarded
electronics.
2. While there is agreement that the number of discarded electronic devices is increasing,
there is considerable disagreement about the relative risk (compared to automobile scrap,
for example), and strong disagreement whether curtailing trade in used electronics will
improve conditions, or make them worse. According to an article in Motherboard,
attempts to restrict the trade have driven reputable companies out of the supply chain, with
unintended consequences.
Global trade issues
One theory is that increased regulation of electronic waste and concern over the
environmental harm in mature economies creates an economic disincentive to remove
residues prior to export. Critics of trade in used electronics maintain that it is too easy for
brokers calling themselves recyclers to export unscreened electronic waste to developing
countries, such as China, India and parts of Africa, thus avoiding the expense of removing
items like bad cathode ray tubes (the processing of which is expensive and difficult). The
developing countries are becoming big dump yards of e-waste. Proponents of international
trade point to the success of fair trade programs in other industries, where cooperation has
led creation of sustainable jobs, and can bring affordable technology in countries where
repair and reuse rates are higher.
Defenders of the trade in used electronics say that extraction of metals from virgin mining
has also been shifted to developing countries. Hard-rock mining of copper, silver, gold
and other materials extracted from electronics is considered far more environmentally
damaging than the recycling of those materials. They also state that repair and reuse of
computers and televisions has become a "lost art" in wealthier nations, and that
refurbishing has traditionally been a path to development. South Korea, Taiwan, and
southern China all excelled in finding "retained value" in used goods, and in some cases
have set up billion-dollar industries in refurbishing used ink cartridges, single-use
cameras, and working CRTs. Refurbishing has traditionally been a threat to established
manufacturing, and simple protectionism explains some criticism of the trade. Works like
"The Waste Makers" by Vance Packard explain some of the criticism of exports of
working product, for example the ban on import of tested working Pentium 4 laptops to
China, or the bans on export of used surplus working electronics by Japan.
Opponents of surplus electronics exports argue that lower environmental and labor
standards, cheap labor, and the relatively high value of recovered raw materials leads to a
transfer of pollution-generating activities, such as burning of copper wire. In China,
Malaysia, India, Kenya, and various African countries, electronic waste is being sent to
these countries for processing, sometimes illegally. Many surplus laptops are routed to
developing nations as "dumping grounds for e-waste". Because the United States has not
ratified the Basel Convention or its Ban Amendment, and has no domestic laws forbidding
the export of toxic waste, the Basel Action Network estimates that about 80% of the
electronic waste directed to recycling in the U.S. does not get recycled there at all, but is
put on container ships and sent to countries such as China. This figure is disputed as an
3. exaggeration by the EPA, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and the World
Reuse, Repair and Recycling Association. Independent research by Arizona State
University showed that 87-88% of imported used computers did not have a higher value
than the best value of the constituent materials they contained, and that "the official trade
in end-of-life computers is thus driven by reuse as opposed to recycling".
Guiyu in the Shantou region of China, Delhi and Bangalore in India as well as the
Agbogbloshie site near Accra, Ghana have electronic waste processing areas.
Uncontrolled burning, disassembly, and disposal causes a variety of environmental
problems such as groundwater contamination, atmospheric pollution, or even water
pollution either by immediate discharge or due to surface runoff (especially near coastal
areas), as well as health problems including occupational safety and health effects among
those directly and indirectly involved, due to the methods of processing the waste.
Thousands of men, women, and children are employed in highly polluting, primitive
recycling technologies, extracting the metals, toners, and plastics from computers and
other electronic waste. Recent studies show that 7 out of 10 children in this region have
too much lead in their blood. Proponents of the trade say growth of internet access is a
stronger correlation to trade than poverty. Haiti is poor and closer to the port of New York
than southeast Asia, but far more electronic waste is exported from New York to Asia
than to Haiti. Thousands of men, women, and children are employed in reuse,
refurbishing, repair, and remanufacturing, unsustainable industries in decline in developed
countries. Denying developing nations access to used electronics may deny them
sustainable employment, affordable products, and internet access, or force them to deal
with even less scrupulous suppliers. In a series of seven articles for The Atlantic,
Shanghai-based reporter Adam Minter describes many of these computer repair and scrap
separation activities as objectively sustainable.
Opponents of the trade argue that developing countries utilize methods that are more
harmful and more wasteful. An expedient and prevalent method is simply to toss
equipment onto an open fire, in order to melt plastics and to burn away unvaluable metals.
This releases carcinogens and neurotoxins into the air, contributing to an acrid, lingering
smog. These noxious fumes include dioxins and furans. Bonfire refuse can be disposed of
quickly into drainage ditches or waterways feeding the ocean or local water supplies.
In June 2008, a container of electronic waste, destined from the Port of Oakland in the
U.S. to Sanshui District in mainland China, was intercepted in Hong Kong by
Greenpeace.Concern over exports of electronic waste were raised in press reports in India,
Ghana, Ivory Coastand Nigeria.
Ewaste management
Recycling
4. Today the electronic waste recycling business is in all areas of the developed world a large and
rapidly consolidating business. Part of this evolution has involved greater diversion of electronic
waste from energy-intensive downcycling processes (e.g., conventional recycling), where
equipment is reverted to a raw material form. This diversion is achieved through reuse and
refurbishing. The environmental and social benefits of reuse include diminished demand for new
products and virgin raw materials (with their own environmental issues); larger quantities of pure
water and electricity for associated manufacturing; less packaging per unit; availability of
technology to wider swaths of society due to greater affordability of products; and diminished
use of landfills.
Audiovisual components, televisions, VCRs, stereo equipment, mobile phones, other handheld
devices, and computer components contain valuable elements and substances suitable for
reclamation, including lead, copper, and gold.
One of the major challenges is recycling the printed circuit boards from the electronic wastes.
The circuit boards contain such precious metals as gold, silver, platinum, etc. and such base
metals as copper, iron, aluminum, etc. Conventional method employed is mechanical shredding
and separation but the recycling efficiency is low. Alternative methods such as cryogenic
decomposition have been studied for printed circuit board recycling, and some other methods are
still under investigation.
n developed countries, electronic waste processing usually first involves dismantling the
equipment into various parts (metal frames, power supplies, circuit boards, plastics), often by
hand, but increasingly by automated shredding equipment. A typical example is the NADIN
electronic waste processing plant in Novi Iskar, Bulgaria -- the largest facility of its kind in
Eastern Europe. The advantages of this process are the human's ability to recognize and save
working and repairable parts, including chips, transistors, RAM, etc. The disadvantage is that the
labor is cheapest in countries with the lowest health and safety standards.
In an alternative bulk system, a hopper conveys material for shredding into an unsophisticated
mechanical separator, with screening and granulating machines to separate constituent metal and
plastic fractions, which are sold to smelters or plastics recyclers. Such recycling machinery is
enclosed and employs a dust collection system. Some of the emissions are caught by scrubbers
and screens. Magnets, eddy currents, and trommel screens are employed to separate glass,
plastic, and ferrous and nonferrous metals, which can then be further separated at a smelter.
Leaded glass from CRTs is reused in car batteries, ammunition, and lead wheel weights, or sold
to foundries as a fluxing agent in processing raw lead ore. Copper, gold, palladium, silver and tin
are valuable metals sold to smelters for recycling. Hazardous smoke and gases are captured,
contained and treated to mitigate environmental threat. These methods allow for safe reclamation
of all valuable computer construction materials. Hewlett-Packard product recycling solutions
manager Renee St. Denis describes its process as: "We move them through giant shredders about
30 feet tall and it shreds everything into pieces about the size of a quarter. Once your disk drive
is shredded into pieces about this big, it's hard to get the data off".
An ideal electronic waste recycling plant combines dismantling for component recovery with
increased cost-effective processing of bulk electronic waste.
5. Reuse is an alternative option to recycling because it extends the lifespan of a device. Devices
still need eventual recycling, but by allowing others to purchase used electronics, recycling can
be postponed and value gained from device use.
Benefits of recycling
Recycling raw materials from end-of-life electronics is the most effective solution to the growing
e-waste problem. Most electronic devices contain a variety of materials, including metals that
can be recovered for future uses. By dismantling and providing reuse possibilities, intact natural
resources are conserved and air and water pollution caused by hazardous disposal is avoided.
Additionally, recycling reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by the
manufacturing of new products. It simply makes good sense and is efficient to recycle and to do
our part to keep the environment green.
Electronic waste substances
Several sizes of button and coin cell with 2 9v batteries as a size comparison. They are all
recycled in many countries since they contain lead, mercury and cadmium.
Some computer components can be reused in assembling new computer products, while others
are reduced to metals that can be reused in applications as varied as construction, flatware, and
jewelry.
Substances found in large quantities include epoxy resins, fiberglass, PCBs, PVC (polyvinyl
chlorides), thermosetting plastics, lead, tin, copper, silicon, beryllium, carbon, iron and
aluminium.
Elements found in small amounts include cadmium, mercury, and thallium.[40]
Elements found in trace amounts include americium, antimony, arsenic, barium, bismuth, boron,
cobalt, europium, gallium, germanium, gold, indium, lithium, manganese, nickel, niobium,
palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, selenium, silver, tantalum, terbium, thorium, titanium,
vanadium, and yttrium.
Almost all electronics contain lead and tin (as solder) and copper (as wire and printed circuit
board tracks), though the use of lead-free solder is now spreading rapidly.
EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH
6. Disposal of e-wastes is a particular problem faced in many regions across the globe. Computer
wastes that are landfilled produces contaminated leachates which eventually pollute the
groundwater. Acids and sludge obtained from melting computer chips, if disposed on the ground
causes acidification of soil. For example, Guiyu, Hong Kong a thriving area of illegal e-waste
recycling is facing acute water shortages due to the contamination of water resources.
This is due to disposal of recycling wastes such as acids, sludges etc. in rivers. Now water is
being transported from faraway towns to cater to the demands of the population. Incineration of
e-wastes can emit toxic fumes and gases, thereby polluting the surrounding air. Improperly
monitored landfills can cause environmental hazards. Mercury will leach when certain electronic
devices, such as circuit breakers are destroyed. The same is true for polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) from condensers. When brominated flame retardant plastic or cadmium containing
plastics are landfilled, both polybrominated dlphenyl ethers (PBDE) and cadmium may leach
into the soil and groundwater. It has been found that significant amounts of lead ion are
dissolved from broken lead containing glass, such as the cone glass of cathode ray tubes, gets
mixed with acid waters and are a common occurrence in landfills.
Not only does the leaching of mercury poses specific problems, the vaporization of metallic
mercury and dimethylene mercury, both part of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
(WEEE) is also of concern. In addition, uncontrolled fires may arise at landfills and this could be
a frequent occurrence in many countries. When exposed to fire, metals and other chemical
substances, such as the extremely toxic dioxins and furans (TCDD tetrachloro dibenzo-dioxin,
PCDDs-polychlorinated dibenzodioxins. PBDDs-polybrominated dibenzo-dioxin and PCDFs-
poly chlorinated dibenzo furans) from halogenated flame retardant products and PCB containing
condensers can be emitted. The most dangerous form of burning e-waste is the open-air burning
of plastics in order to recover copper and other metals. The toxic fall-out from open air burning
affects both the local environment and broader global air currents, depositing highly toxic by
products in many places throughout the world.
Table I summarizes the health effects of certain constituents in e-wastes. If these electronic items
are discarded with other household garbage, the toxics pose a threat to both health and vital
components of the ecosystem. In view of the ill-effects of hazardous wastes to both environment
and health, several countries exhorted the need for a global agreement to address the problems
and challenges posed by hazardous waste. Also, in the late 1980s, a tightening of environmental
regulations in industrialized countries led to a dramatic rise in the cost of hazardous waste
disposal. Searching for cheaper ways to get rid of the wastes, "toxic traders" began shipping
hazardous waste to developing countries. International outrage following these irresponsible
activities led to the drafting and adoption of strategic plans and regulations at the Basel
Convention. The Convention secretariat, in Geneva, Switzerland, facilitates and implementation
of the Convention and related agreements. It also provides assistance and guidelines on legal and
technical issues, gathers statistical data, and conducts training on the proper management of
hazardous waste.
Source of e-wastes
Constituent
7. Health effects
Solder in printed circuit boards, glass panels and gaskets in computer monitors
Lead (PB)
Damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems and kidney damage.
Affects brain development of children.
Chip resistors and semiconductors
Cadmium (CD)
Toxic irreversible effects on human health.
Accumulates in kidney and liver.
Causes neural damage.
Teratogenic.
Relays and switches, printed circuit boards
Mercury (Hg)
Chronic damage to the brain.
Respiratory and skin disorders due to bioaccumulation in fishes.
Corrosion protection of untreated and galvanized steel plates, decorator or hardner for steel
housings
Hexavalent chromium (Cr) VI
Asthmatic bronchitis.
DNA damage.
Cabling and computer housing
Plastics including PVC
Burning produces dioxin. It causes
Reproductive and developmental problems;
Immune system damage;
Interfere with regulatory hormones
Plastic housing of electronic equipments and circuit boards.
Brominated flame retardants (BFR)
8. Disrupts endocrine system functions
Front panel of CRTs
Barium (Ba)
Short term exposure causes:
Muscle weakness;
Damage to heart, liver and spleen.
Motherboard
Beryllium (Be)
Carcinogenic (lung cancer)
Inhalation of fumes and dust. Causes chronic beryllium disease or beryllicosis.
Skin diseases such as warts.
MANAGEMENT OF E-WASTES
It is estimated that 75% of electronic items are stored due to uncertainty of how to manage it.
These electronic junks lie unattended in houses, offices, warehouses etc. and normally mixed
with household wastes, which are finally disposed off at landfills. This necessitates
implementable management measures.
In industries management of e-waste should begin at the point of generation. This can be done by
waste minimization techniques and by sustainable product design. Waste minimization in
industries involves adopting:
inventory management,
production-process modification,
volume reduction,
recovery and reuse.
Inventory management
Proper control over the materials used in the manufacturing process is an important way to
reduce waste generation (Freeman, 1989). By reducing both the quantity of hazardous materials
used in the process and the amount of excess raw materials in stock, the quantity of waste
generated can be reduced. This can be done in two ways i.e. establishing material-purchase
review and control procedures and inventory tracking system.
Developing review procedures for all material purchased is the first step in establishing an
inventory management program. Procedures should require that all materials be approved prior
9. to purchase. In the approval process all production materials are evaluated to examine if they
contain hazardous constituents and whether alternative non-hazardous materials are available.
Another inventory management procedure for waste reduction is to ensure that only the needed
quantity of a material is ordered. This will require the establishment of a strict inventory tracking
system. Purchase procedures must be implemented which ensure that materials are ordered only
on an as-needed basis and that only the amount needed for a specific period of time is ordered.
Production-process modification
Changes can be made in the production process, which will reduce waste generation. This
reduction can be accomplished by changing the materials used to make the product or by the
more efficient use of input materials in the production process or both. Potential waste
minimization techniques can be broken down into three categories:
i) Improved operating and maintenance procedures,
ii) Material change and
iii)Process-equipment modification.
Improvements in the operation and maintenance of process equipment can result in significant
waste reduction. This can be accomplished by reviewing current operational procedures or lack
of procedures and examination of the production process for ways to improve its efficiency.
Instituting standard operation procedures can optimise the use of raw materials in the production
process and reduce the potential for materials to be lost through leaks and spills. A strict
maintenance program, which stresses corrective maintenance, can reduce waste generation
caused by equipment failure. An employee-training program is a key element of any waste
reduction program. Training should include correct operating and handling procedures, proper
equipment use, recommended maintenance and inspection schedules, correct process control
specifications and proper management of waste materials.
Hazardous materials used in either a product formulation or a production process may be
replaced with a less hazardous or non-hazardous material. This is a very widely used technique
and is applicable to most manufacturing processes. Implementation of this waste reduction
technique may require only some minor process adjustments or it may require extensive new
process equipment. For example, a circuit board manufacturer can replace solvent-based product
with water-based flux and simultaneously replace solventvapor degreaser with detergent parts
washer.
Installing more efficient process equipment or modifying existing equipment to take advantage
of better production techniques can significantly reduce waste generation. New or updated
equipment can use process materials more efficiently producing less waste. Additionally such
efficiency reduces the number of rejected or off-specification products, thereby reducing the
amount of material which has to be reworked or disposed of. Modifying existing process
equipment can be a very cost-effective method of reducing waste generation. In many cases the
10. modification can just be relatively simple changes in the way the materials are handled within
the process to ensure that they are not wasted. For example, in many electronic manufacturing
operations, which involve coating a product, such as electroplating or painting, chemicals are
used to strip off coating from rejected products so that they can be recoated. These chemicals,
which can include acids, caustics, cyanides etc are often a hazardous waste and must be properly
managed. By reducing the number of parts that have to be reworked, the quantity of waste can be
significantly reduced.
Volume reduction
Volume reduction includes those techniques that remove the hazardous portion of a waste from a
non-hazardous portion. These techniques are usually to reduce the volume, and thus the cost of
disposing of a waste material. The techniques that can be used to reduce waste-stream volume
can be divided into 2 general categories: source segregation and waste concentration.
Segregation of wastes is in many cases a simple and economical technique for waste reduction.
Wastes containing different types of metals can be treated separately so that the metal value in
the sludge can be recovered. Concentration of a waste stream may increase the likelihood that the
material can be recycled or reused. Methods include gravity and vacuum filtration, ultra
filtration, reverse osmosis, freeze vaporization etc.
For example, an electronic component manufacturer can use compaction equipments to reduce
volume of waste cathode ray-tube.
Recovery and reuse
This technique could eliminate waste disposal costs, reduce raw material costs and provide
income from a salable waste. Waste can be recovered on-site, or at an off-site recovery facility,
or through inter industry exchange. A number of physical and chemical techniques are available
to reclaim a waste material such as reverse osmosis, electrolysis, condensation, electrolytic
recovery, filtration, centrifugation etc. For example, a printed-circuit board manufacturer can use
electrolytic recovery to reclaim metals from copper and tin-lead plating bath.
However recycling of hazardous products has little environmental benefit if it simply moves the
hazards into secondary products that eventually have to be disposed of. Unless the goal is to
redesign the product to use nonhazardous materials, such recycling is a false solution.
Sustainable product design
Minimization of hazardous wastes should be at product design stage itself keeping in mind the
following factors*
Rethink the product design: Efforts should be made to design a product with fewer amounts of
hazardous materials. For example, the efforts to reduce material use are reflected in some new
computer designs that are flatter, lighter and more integrated. Other companies propose
centralized networks similar to the telephone system.
Use of renewable materials and energy: Bio-based plastics are plastics made with plant-based
chemicals or plant-produced polymers rather than from petrochemicals. Bio-based toners, glues
11. and inks are used more frequently. Solar computers also exist but they are currently very
expensive.
Use of non-renewable materials that are safer: Because many of the materials used are non-
renewable, designers could ensure the product is built for re-use, repair and/or upgradeability.
Some computer manufacturers such as Dell and Gateway lease out their products thereby
ensuring they get them back to further upgrade and lease out again.
Responsibilities of the Government
(i) Governments should set up regulatory agencies in each district, which are vested with the
responsibility of co-ordinating and consolidating the regulatory functions of the various
government authorities regarding hazardous substances.
(ii) Governments should be responsible for providing an adequate system of laws, controls and
administrative procedures for hazardous waste management (Third World Network. 1991).
Existing laws concerning e-waste disposal be reviewed and revamped. A comprehensive law that
provides e-waste regulation and management and proper disposal of hazardous wastes is
required. Such a law should empower the agency to control, supervise and regulate the relevant
activities of government departments.
Under this law, the agency concerned should
o Collect basic information on the materials from manufacturers, processors and importers
and to maintain an inventory of these materials. The information should include toxicity
and potential harmful effects.
o Identify potentially harmful substances and require the industry to test them for adverse
health and environmental effects.
o Control risks from manufacture, processing, distribution, use and disposal of electronic
wastes.
o Encourage beneficial reuse of "e-waste" and encouraging business activities that use
waste". Set up programs so as to promote recycling among citizens and businesses.
o Educate e-waste generators on reuse/recycling options
(iii) Governments must encourage research into the development and standard of hazardous
waste management, environmental monitoring and the regulation of hazardous waste-disposal.
(iv) Governments should enforce strict regulations against dumping e-waste in the country by
outsiders. Where the laws are flouted, stringent penalties must be imposed. In particular,
custodial sentences should be preferred to paltry fines, which these outsiders / foreign nationals
can pay.
(v) Governments should enforce strict regulations and heavy fines levied on industries, which do
not practice waste prevention and recovery in the production facilities.
(vi) Polluter pays principle and extended producer responsibility should be adopted.
(vii) Governments should encourage and support NGOs and other organizations to involve
actively in solving the nation's e-waste problems.
12. (viii) Uncontrolled dumping is an unsatisfactory method for disposal of hazardous waste and
should be phased out.
(viii) Governments should explore opportunities to partner with manufacturers and retailers to
provide recycling services.
Responsibility and Role of industries
1. Generators of wastes should take responsibility to determine the output characteristics
of wastes and if hazardous, should provide management options.
2. All personnel involved in handling e-waste in industries including those at the policy,
management, control and operational levels, should be properly qualified and trained.
Companies can adopt their own policies while handling
e-wastes. Some are given below:
Use label materials to assist in recycling (particularly plastics).
Standardize components for easy disassembly.
Re-evaluate 'cheap products' use, make product cycle 'cheap' and so that it
has no inherent value that would encourage a recycling infrastructure.
Create computer components and peripherals of biodegradable materials.
Utilize technology sharing particularly for manufacturing and de manufacturing.
Encourage / promote / require green procurement for corporate buyers.
Look at green packaging options.
3. Companies can and should adopt waste minimization techniques, which will make a
significant reduction in the quantity of e-waste generated and thereby lessening the
impact on the environment. It is a "reverse production" system that designs infrastructure
to recover and reuse every material contained within e-wastes metals such as lead,
copper, aluminum and gold, and various plastics, glass and wire. Such a "closed loop"
manufacturing and recovery system offers a win-win situation for everyone, less of the
Earth will be mined for raw materials, and groundwater will be protected, researchers
explain.
4. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers should undertake the responsibility of
recycling/disposal of their own products.
5. Manufacturers of computer monitors, television sets and other electronic devices
containing hazardous materials must be responsible for educating consumers and the
general public regarding the potential threat to public health and the environment posed
by their products. At minimum, all computer monitors, television sets and other
electronic devices containing hazardous materials must be clearly labeled to identify
environmental hazards and proper materials management.
13. Responsibilities of the Citizen
Waste prevention is perhaps more preferred to any other waste management option including
recycling. Donating electronics for reuse extends the lives of valuable products and keeps them
out of the waste management system for a longer time. But care should be taken while donating
such items i.e. the items should be in working condition.
Reuse, in addition to being an environmentally preferable alternative, also benefits society. By
donating used electronics, schools, non-profit organizations, and lower-income families can
afford to use equipment that they otherwise could not afford.
E-wastes should never be disposed with garbage and other household wastes. This should be
segregated at the site and sold or donated to various organizations.
While buying electronic products opt for those that:
o are made with fewer toxic constituents
o use recycled content
o are energy efficient
o are designed for easy upgrading or disassembly
o utilize minimal packaging
o offer leasing or take back options
o have been certified by regulatory authorities. Customers should
opt for upgrading their computers or other electronic items to the
latest versions rather than buying new equipments.
NGOs should adopt a participatory approach in management of e-wastes