This document discusses e-waste, its management techniques, and the problem of e-waste in India. It defines e-waste as discarded electrical or electronic equipment, including both broken and working items thrown out. India generates over two million tons of e-waste annually but recycles less than 2%. The document examines the need for effective disposal given that electronics become obsolete quickly yet contain toxic chemicals. It then outlines four e-waste management techniques: landfilling, acid baths, incineration, and recycling/reusing, providing details on each method.

1. WHAT IS E-WASTE AND
TECHNIQUES TO MANAGE
IT
BY: SUGAM SHARMA

2. WHAT IS E-WASTE?
E-WASTE IS ANY ELECTRICAL OR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT THAT’S BEEN
DISCARDED. THIS INCLUDES WORKING AND BROKEN ITEMS THAT ARE THROWN
IN THE GARBAGE OR DONATED TO A CHARITY RESELLER LIKE GOODWILL.
OFTEN, IF THE ITEM GOES UNSOLD IN THE STORE, IT WILL BE THROWN AWAY. E-
WASTE IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS DUE TO TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT
NATURALLY LEACH FROM THE METALS INSIDE WHEN BURIED.

3. E-WASTE PROBLEM IN INDIA
India is ranked fifth in the world amongst top e-waste producing countries after
the USA, China, Japan, and Germany and recycles less than 2 per cent of the total
e-waste it produces annually formally. Since 2018, India generates more than
two million tones of e-waste annually, and also imports huge amounts of e-
waste from other countries around the world.

4. THE NEED FOR EFFECTIVE E-
WASTE DISPOSAL TECHNIQUES
Rapid advances in technology mean electronic devices become obsolete very
quickly, often within 2 years. Rising income levels and the relative affordability
of electronics allow more and more people to purchase electronic goods.
Disposing of obsolete devices is a challenge because they contain lead,
beryllium, brominated flame retardants, mercury, cadmium, and other deadly
chemicals. When e-waste is disposed of in landfills, these chemicals can seep
into the ground contaminating water used to supply homes and much else.

5. TECHNIQUES FOR THE DISPOSAL OF
E- WASTE
1.Landfilling
2.Acid bath
3.Incineration
4.Recycling and reusing

6. 1. LANDFILLING
This refers to the practice of essentially digging a massive hole in the
ground, filling it with waste and then covering it back up with soil.
While the pits are lined with clay or plastic with a leachate basin to
prevent toxic waste from leeching into the surrounding environment,
some substances such as cadmium, lead, and mercury inevitably finds
their way into the soil and groundwater, causing contamination.

7. 2. ACID BATH
Soaking electronic circuits in powerful acids like sulphuric,
hydrochloric, or nitric acid solutions separates metals from the
electronic pathways. The metals can then be recycled and used in the
manufacture of new products. However, the highly hazardous acid
waste needs to be very carefully disposed of to prevent it from finding
its way into local water sources – essentially trading one waste disposal
problem for another.

8. 3. INCINERATION
A very crude e-waste disposal method that involves burning the waste
in an extremely high temperature incinerator. This has the twin benefit
of significantly reducing the waste volume and generating energy that
can be repurposed for other applications. Unfortunately, the process of
burning the components which make up electronic waste also produces
vast quantities of toxic gasses – including cadmium and mercury –
which are released into the atmosphere.

9. 4. RECYCLING AND REUSING
It is always better to reuse electronic items if possible. We offer our
items to others that might need them. Recycling is another alternative
but we have to make sure that we are safely recycling electronic goods.

10. THANK YOU