Due to globalization and development of technologies, production of electronic and electrical equipment (computers, mobile phones, printers, DVD players, TVs, etc.) has skyrocketed. After a certain period of time, these equipment becomes obsolete or gets broken and hence discarded. Thus, leads to accumulation of e-waste - the fastest growing waste in the world. E-wastes are known to be hazardous because of the presence of many hazardous materials such as arsenic, antimony, cadmium, mercury, BFR’s, lead, etc. The challenge is to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions to decontaminate polluted environments, to make them safe for human habitation and consumption, and to protect the functioning of the ecosystems which support life. Bioremediation approach is currently applied to remove contaminants from soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediments including air.

1. -Waste: A Serious
Global Concern
-Mohammad
Ahmad Shoeb
-12 KEB 513

2. I want Nexus 6,
which is just
launched!
That’s great! But why
this when you have a
Nexus 5 already?
Coz this is brand new
technology!
“Today’s trend is people like to upgrade their
technology.
Apparently, they don’t realize they contribute to e-
waste.”

3. All the discarded,
broken and obsolete
electrical and
electronic equipment.
Such as discarded
computers, printers,
photocopy
machines, television
sets, mobile phones,
batteries, etc.
Fastest growing waste
types in the world.
Generally considered
as hazardous waste,
which, if improperly
managed, may pose
significant human
and environmental
health risks.
Disposal of e-waste is
an emerging global
challenge.

5.  INDIAN SCENARIO:
 According to a report of Confederation of Indian industries, in
2006:
 The total e-waste generated in India was about 1,46,000 tons.
 According to a report by UNEP, in 2010 titled, “Recycling –
from E-Waste to Resources” the amount of e-waste being
produced could rise by as much as 500% over the next decade
in some countries, such as India.
E-WASTE GENERATION

6.  GLOBAL SCENARIO:
 According to US-EPA, in 2008:
 3.16 million tons of e-waste in the U.S. was generated and 13.6 % of
this amount was recycled. The rest was trashed in landfills or
incinerators.
 It is also estimated a 5 to 10% increase in the generation of e-waste
each year globally.
 According to UN’s StEP(Solving the E-waste Problem) initiative
programme, in 2012, about 7 kg of e-waste is generated by
every person worldwide.
E-WASTE GENERATION

8.  The e-waste of developed countries ends up mainly in China,
India, Pakistan and some African countries like Ghana and
Nigeria.
E-WASTE DUMP OF THE WORLD

9.  Guiyu, China - referred
to as “e-waste capital
of the world.”
 Over 150,000 workers(including children and women) work
through 16-hours a day under terrible conditions to extract all
the precious metals from circuit boards, computers, pc's and
other electronics.
E-WASTE DUMP OF THE WORLD

10. •Can cause Stomach pain, Vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach
ulcers.
•Carcinogen.
Antimony
•Causes: Skin diseases, Lung cancer, Impaired nerve
signalling.Arsenic
•Causes: brain swelling, Muscle weakness;
•Damage: heart & liver.Barium
•Can damage: Nervous system, Brain, Kidney, Reproductive
system.Lead
•Can damage: Brain, Kidneys, Foetuses.
•.Mercury
•Can damage kidney;
•Carcinogenic.Cadmium
HAZARDOUS COMPONENTS OF E-WASTE

11. •Organ toxin;
•Carcinogenic.Chromium
•Burning of PVC produces dioxins;
•immune impairment;
•skin disorders.
Dioxins
•Causes: brain swelling, Muscle weakness;
•Damage to the heart & liver.
•.
Barium
•Combustion of printed circuit boards and plastic housings
can cause hormonal disorders.
Brominated flame retardants(BFRs)
•Reduced lung function;
•Lung cancers.Nickel
•Respiratory problems.
Polyvinyl chloride(PVC)
HAZARDOUS COMPONENTS OF E-WASTE

12. E-waste could wreak havoc to
environment if:
• It enters in waste streams;
or
• Burned.
Guiyu, China

13.  Landfilling  Incineration
TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL
The EPA estimated that only 15-20% of e-waste is recycled, the rest of
these electronics go directly into landfills and incinerators.

14.  The recycling is done by sorting, dismantling, and recovery of
valuable materials.
Recycling

15. Bioremediation
 It is a new technique that involves organisms:
 to remove or,
 to neutralise pollutants.
 This technique can increase the removal efficiency.
 Recent experiments suggests:
 bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans has tendency to consume
mercury.
 fish bones have some success absorbing lead.
IMPROVED TREATMENT METHOD

16. CONCLUSIONS
 E-wastes are found to be hazardous and ever growing
threat to human health and environment.
 Current simple treatment and disposal techniques are
rudimentary.
 Bioremediation can improve the scenario of current
treatment practices but there is a need of doing more
research on this.

17.  Recycle e-waste to the Registered e-waste
Dismantler/Recycler in the country.
http://www.cpcb.nic.in/Ewaste_Registration_List.pdf
 Never dispose-of e-waste with garbage and other
household wastes.
 Try to Reduce your e-waste.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?

18. MESSAGE
If you do not pick it up, they
will.

19. Protect Environment.
Protect Yourself.
RECYCLE your e-WASTE.

20. REFERENCES
1. Sharma Pramila, Fulekar M.H. and Pathak Bhawana. (March
2012). “E-Waste- A Challenge for Tomorrow”. Research
Journal of Recent Sciences. Vol. 1(3), 86-93.
2. Devi B.S, Shobha S.V., Kamble R.K., “E-Waste: The Hidden
harm of Technological Revolution”, Journal IAEM, 31, 196-
205, (2004)

21. THANK YOU