E waste and how to manage it

ELECTRONIC WASTEby-

ANCHAL (05)M.Sc. EMGGSIPU

DEFINITION

• There is no generally accepted definition of e-waste• Unwanted, obsolete or unusable electronic

products such as computers, computer peripherals,televisions,VCRs,DVD Players, stereo equipment, hand cell phones are commonly referred to as ‘electronic waste’.

• Waste become obsolete due to-• 1. change in fashion, style and status.• 2. nearing the end of their useful life.

• Mobile phones• Telephones• Telephone exchanges Wireless Equipment cables and related scrap material• PC and TV

Telecommunication Waste:

• Switches• Relays• Connectors and related Scrap Material.

Electrical Waste:

• Electronic – metal waste• Printed Circuit Boards• E – Equipment and Machinery• IC• Sockets Connectors.

Electronic Waste:

• PVC• Pre Insulated Copper and Aluminum Cable waste.

Cable Waste:

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Mobile phones; facts• Production today- 23 phones/sec• Sales 2003- 515 million• Sales 2004- 665 million• Sales 2005- 870 million• Subscribers-1.9 billion in 2005• Subscribers- 2.6 billion in 2009• Lifespan- 0.5- 1.5 (with 1st user)• (estimates from the Basel convention based study

2006)

Main problems-

1. It is taking up valuable landfill space.

• A study by the USA showed that 1-2% of municipal waste is made up of e-waste

• A further research estimates the growing of e-waste at 3 times the rate of other waste streams.

• It is also estimated that between 1997 and 2007,500 million computers would become obsolete.

2.e-waste contains hazardous material

• The leaching of heavy material from e-waste may a pose a potential long term human health and environmental impacts

• ground Water especially is more likely to be polluted (note, more half the country reliant on ground water resources)

Of particular concern is Lead in e-waste

• Lead is a toxic substances which may cause lead poisoning and can be especially harmful young children.

• A typical 17-inch computer monitor contains approximately 2.2 pounds of lead

• the 500 million computers that will become obsolete between 1997 and 2007 will contain nearly 1.6 billion pounds of lead

Important logos

EFFECTS

E-WASTE MANAGEMENT AND HANDLING

Handling of E-Waste• Currently in India, E-waste is being handled in 2

ways:Formal Recycling-(5% electronics are recycled)Informal Recycling-(95% electronics are recycled)• According to recent study, the Indian recycling Industry Recycles 19,000 MT of E-waste every yr.

Handling of E-Waste

• There is a very well networked Informal Sector in the country involving key players like:

Recyclers

Vendors

Vendors Dismantlers

Handling of E-Waste• However, the disposal & recycling of computer

specific e-waste in the Informal Sector are very rudimentary.

• The process followed by these recyclers is Product: Re-useRe-furbishConventional disposal in landfillsOpen burningBackyard Recycling

Handling of E-Waste

• Some major E-waste recycling companies are:Trishyiraya (Chennai)Infotrek (Mumbai)E-Parisaraa (Bangalore)

Handling of E-Waste

• But, this management takes place for just 5% of the E- waste generated in India. Remaining, 95% is sold to scrap dealers in underground/ informal recycling markets like:

SeelampurMayapuriShastri ParkNoidaMerrut Scrap Dealer

Issue and Challenges

Leaching of heavy metals from Landfills

and Incinerators

Exposure to workers &

communities

Unawareness (brand new

items are also kept in waste)

Less reuse

Collection system

Legal framework

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How to Dispose E-waste

Donate working older equipment to schools colleges or government entities in need.

If PC are out of order then return it to the manufacturers. (HCL and Wipro in India has best take back service)

Send waste goods to authorised recycling facility for proper disposal.

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Probable SolutionsNeed for stringent health standards and environmental protection laws in India,

Extended producer responsibility,

Import of waste under license,

Producer-public-government cooperation,

Awareness program, following safer and efficient methods

Choosing safer technology and cleaner substitute,

Monitoring of compliance rules,

Reduction of waste at source,

Investment opportunity in waste management sector and

Recognition to the unorganised sector in India.24

Recycling and Reprocessing units in India• Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana , Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and

Uttar Pradesh• M/s Ramky E-waste Recycling Facility (Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd.)• Attero Electronic Asset Management Company. Unit: Roorkee. Owner: IIT Delhi

Passout.• M/s E-R3 Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Peenya Bangalore – 560 058

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Role of Indian Govt. In Handling E- Waste

• MoEFCC has covered E-Waste management under “Management, Handling & Trans-boundary Movement” rules 2007 (part of EPA 1986 + Environment & Forests Hazardous Waste Management Rules 2008).

• India is also signatory to the Basel Convention on the control of trans-boundary movement of hazardous waste of 1989.


• A notification on E- Waste rules, 2010, under EPA (1986) has been notified in May 2011, by MoEFCC, to address the safe and environment friendly:

HandlingTransportingStoring &Recycling of E- Waste• The rules mentioned by them is differentiated into 6

Chapters & 3 Schedules.


• Chapter 1- PRELIMINARY: Short Title & CommencementApplicationDefinitions• Chapter 2- RESPONSIBILITIES:Responsibility of the ProducerResponsibility of Collection CentersResponsibility of Consumer/ Bulk ConsumerResponsibility of DismantlerResponsibility of the Recycler


• Chapter 3- PROCEDURE FOR SEEKING AUTHORIZATION & REGISTERATION FOR HANDLING E-WASTES:

Procedure for grant of AuthorizationPower to suspend or cancel an AuthorizationProcedure for grant Registration (SPCB)• Chapter 4- PROCEDURE FOR STORAGE OF E-

WASTE


• Chapter 5- REDUCTION IN THE USE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT.

• Chapter 6- MISCELLANEOUS:Duties of AuthoritiesAnnual ReportTransportation of E-WasteAccident Reporting & follow-up


• Schedule 1- a)Categories of Electrical & Electronic Equipment: Telephones, Notepad Computers etc.

b) Consumer Electrical & Electronics.• Schedule 2- Includes Metal usages under different

categories, like:Use of Cu Alloy containing up to 4% Pb by weight.Cd & its compounds in 1 shot pellet type thermal cut-

offs, etc.• Schedule 3- Role of Authorities: like, SPCB for

inventorization of e-waste.

Conclusion• Improvement in: a) product, b) product design, c) methodology to achieve easy-to-recycle-goods.• Regular eco-toxicological monitoring of hazardous

chemicals.• Polluters Pay Principle.• Strict measures on illegal import of e-waste.• Encouragement & Support to Research in HWM & NGOs

working in this field.• Phasing out uncontrolled dumping of hazardous waste & promotion of waste segregation at individual level.

Thank You