E-waste consists of discarded electronic items like computers and appliances. India generates about 9 lakh tonnes of e-waste annually, which is often handled improperly. Exposure to e-waste can cause health issues since it contains toxic materials like lead, mercury, cadmium. Current disposal methods in India like acid baths are unsafe. Proper recycling and enforcement of e-waste laws is needed to protect both workers and the environment from e-waste.

1. E-WASTE
ENVIRONMENAL STUDIES
LECTURE-18

2. What is E-waste ?
E-waste consist of Wastes
generated from used IT,
Electronic and Electrical
appliances such as
Computer Monitor, CPU,
Printer, Hard disk etc. which
are rejected and not fit for
their original use and are
destined to Recycling or
Disposal.

3. 1.Large household appliances (refrigerator, freezer, washing
machine, cooking appliances,etc.)
2. Small household appliances (vacuum cleaners, watches,
grinders, etc.)
3. IT and telecommunication equipment (PCs, printers,
telephones etc.)
4. Consumer equipment (TV, radio, video camera, amplifiers,
etc.)
5. Lighting equipment (CFL, high intensity sodium lamp, etc.)
Type of e-wastes

4. 6. Electrical and electronic tools (drills, saws, sewing
machine, etc.)
7. Toys, leisure, and sport equipment (computer/
video games, electric trains, etc.)
8. Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted
and infected products radiotherapy
equipment, cardiology, dialysis, nuclear medicine,
etc.)
9. Monitoring and control instruments (smoke detector,
heating regulators, thermostat, etc.)
10. Automatic dispensers (for hot drinks, money, hot and
cold bottles, etc.)

5. Consumer Electrical &
Electronics:-
Television sets (including
LCD & LED)
Refrigerator
Washing Machine
Air-conditioners
Microwave

6. How E-Waste generated
Changes and Advancement
in Technology
Changes in Fashion , Style &
Status
Changing in configuration
Attractive offers from
manufacturers
Small life of equipments

9. Date of Information : February 1, 2012 Source : Computer Industry Almanac Inc.

10. E-WASTE IN INDIA
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) estimated India’s
e-waste at 9 lakh tonnes per day
• There are 10 States that contribute to 70 per cent of the total
e-waste generated in the country, while 65 cities generate
more than 60 per cent of the total e-waste in India.
• Among the 10 largest e-waste generating States, Maharashtra
ranks first followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar
Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh and Punjab.
• Among the top ten cities generating e-waste, Mumbai ranks
first followed by Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata,
Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Surat and Nagpur.
source: E-WASTE IN INDIA RESEARCH UNIT (LARRDIS) RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT NEW DELHI

12. Total E-Waste generation in the State of
Maharashtra
Source :Needhida san et al. Journal of Environmental Health Science & Engineering (2014)

13. Health & environmental Impact
of e-waste
• EEE(Electronic and Electrical Equipment) are made
of multitude of components, some containing toxic
substances that have an adverse impact on human
health and the environment if not handled properly
• these hazards arise due to the improper recycling and
disposal processes used.
• A computer contains highly toxic chemical like lead,
cadmium, mercury, beryllium, BFR, polyvinyl
chloride and phosphor compounds.

14. Environmental & health hazards of E-Waste

16. Source: D. Janagam and M. Jeyamani(2011) E-Waste–a major threat to environment and health

17. Health impacts
• Reproduction: damage to both male and female reproductive
systems
• DNA: damage in lymphocytes, fatal and developmental
toxicity; growth retardation; abnormal brain development,
which can result in intellectual impairment; and possible long-
term impacts on memory, learning and behavior.
• Nervous system: damage to the central nervous system (CNS)
and blood system, including CNS depression and
neurotoxicity; immune system suppression, including
inhibition of a key blood cell enzyme.
• Organs: damage to the brain, including swelling; liver,
including liver necrosis; kidney, including renal toxicity;
thyroid; pancreas; lymph nodes; spleen; andbone, including
bone toxicity.

18. • Skin: contact dermatitis; skin
lésions; carcinogenic, including
tumor promotion and lung
cancer; anaemia; CBD (a
Currently-Incurable, Debilitating
Disease that can Sometimes be
Fatal); and mortality.
• Hormonal system: Disruption
to endocrine systems including
the estrogen, androgen, thyroid
hormone,
• Other: hypertension (high
blood pressure); cardiovascular
and heart disease; respiratory
tract irritation, including
irritation of the nose, mouth and
eyes.
Sources: Exigo Recycling, a Delhi based company
specializes to provide e waste management solutions

19. Why E-Waste is a problem
Electronic products are difficult to Recycle.
Products are quickly obsolete and discarded.
Discarded Electronics are managed badly.
Most E-Waste goes to landfills.
Most recyclers don’t recycle, they export.
Composed of Hazardous Materials.

20. E-Waste disposal Methods
Recycle
Landfill
Incineration
Reuse

21. E-Waste Recycle
Definition:
Recycling is define as the assembling, developing,
promoting, buying of new products which are
prepared from waste materials
Steps in Recycling
Dismantling of E-Waste
Removal of hazardous materials
such as PCB , HG removal of plastic
etc. . . .
Strong acids are used to remove
valuable metals such as Gold , Lead
Copper etc.

22. Methods for Recycling
Consumer recycling
Donation
Take back
Exchange
Corporate recycling

23. Advantages of Recycling:-
 Recycling materials can be used in
developing new equipment.
 Valuable materials are retrieved.
 Help environment by avoiding
pollution.

24. Land Filling
Definition :
Land fill is also known as dump ,it
is a site for the disposal of waste
materials by buried and is the
oldest form of waste treatment.
Disadvantages :
 Metals like mercury , cadmium ,
lead reaches into the soil and
ground water makes them
polluted.
 Required large amount of space.
 It is actually not a environmentally
sound treatment .

25. Incineration
Definition :
It is a controlled and
complete combustion
process , in which the
E-waste materials is
burned in specially
designed incinerator
at a high temperature
(900 – 1000 0
c).

26. Advantages :
Reduction of waste volume.
Utilization of energy of combustible
substances.
Hazardous substance are converted into
less hazardous substance.
Disadvantages :
Emission of harmful gases and residues.
Emission of cadmium and mercury.

27. Re-Use
Definition :
It constitute direct use or use after
slight modifications to the
original function equipment.
Advantages :
Electronic equipment like
computers , cell phones etc.
Can be reused.
This method also reduces the
volume of E-Waste generation.
No wastage of time and money.

28. Current Disposal Techniques in
India
In India Scrap
Workers are using
Unsystematic
manner for the
disposal of e-waste
which is a
dangerous practice
for Environment

29. • Circuit boards are dipped in acid and burnt to segregate plastic
from precious metals in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh
• Hydrochloric and sulphuric acid is commonly used. The fumes
contain chlorine and sulpher di-oxide which cause respiratory
problems. The acids are corrosive to the eyes and skin.

30. 15-year-old Child extracts copper from dismantled UPS fans
in Shastri Park, Delhi. The copper sells for Rs 330 per kg
fetching his employer handsome returns on a good day
when as much as 10 kilograms can be extracted. He
however never earns beyond Rs 200 a day.

31. Seelampur in the north eastern fringe of Delhi
receives electronic waste from across north India.
More than 400,000 tonnes of e-waste is generated in
India every year of which 90 percent ends up in the
unorganized market.

32. 1) 10-year-old Asif washes motherboards
ripped of gold and silver in the banks of
Ramganga river in Moradabad, Uttar
Pradesh. He will sell it as plastic scrap for
Rs. 2 per kg.
2) Laborers working in Seelampur, Delhi, dismantle
computer scrap to segregate metals, circuit boards and
plastic
1
2

33. E-Waste Management: A Case Study of
Bangalore, India
• Bangalore is generating around 12,000 tons of
E-waste (from computers and peripherals) per
year.
• This estimate is based on information received
from recyclers in Bangalore and from the fact
that 30% of all equipment in IT industry
became obsolete every year and end up as E-
waste.

34. Flow Sheet of Recyclers or Recycling
Units
Receipt of E-
Waste
Sorting /
Processing
Repairing
Upgrading
Testing
Refurbishing
Dismantling
Component
Recovery
Captive Use Packing
Sale
Residual Disposal
Scarp
Environmentally-
friendly disposal
Recovery of
Precious Material

35. Material Recovery from E-waste
• The typical computer waste composition per
one ton; Glass is 20% by weight, plastics are
23% by weight and metals are 57% .
• Metals are recovered from printed circuit
boards, cables, non-ferrous metals and ferrous
metals. Out of one ton computer waste, 99%
is used for recovery of precious metals and
another 1% for safe land filling.
Sources: P.K. Jatindra and K. Sudhir(2009) Maxwell Scientific Organization

36. E-Waste (Management & Handling)
Rules, 2011
• Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Management
of E-waste notified by Government in March 2008.
• E-waste included in the schedule IV of the
HAZARDOUS WASTE Rules on 24th September, 2008
Implies that the generators of e-waste has to give this
waste only to a registered recyclers who has the
environmentally sound facilities for dismantling &
recycling of e-waste

37. What should be done
 Proper laws and policies should be made.
 Awareness among consumers and manufacturers.
 Recycling should be made recyclables.
 Make usage of recycled products
 Do not throw any old equipments.