E-waste – Bane if Dumped, Boon if Recycled

A software professional working on a latest PC, companies making ample of pirated CDs or a sophomore chatting with his/her friends; all might be happy with their current status. But have they ceased to think what happens when they get parts of their gadgets, or all of it, replaced? Where do these parts go and where do all the unwanted or unusable stuffs land up? E-waste or Waste from Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) is way ahead a subject to be discussed at the environmental forums. E-waste includes computers, entertainment electronics, telecommunication equipment, cooling appliances and tools that are discarded. Technically, E-waste is the component which is dumped or disposed or discarded rather than recycled.

E-waste is a matter of concern, largely due to the toxicity and carcinogenicity of some of the substances. Toxic substances in E-waste may include lead, mercury and cadmium. Carcinogenic substances in E-waste may include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). A typical monitor may contain more than 6% lead by weight, much of which forms a part of the lead glass of the CRT. Capacitors, transformers, PVC insulated wires, PVC coated components manufactured before 1977 often contain large amounts of PCBs.

Many of the plastics used in electronic-equipments contain flame retardants. These are generally halogens added to the plastic resin, making it difficult to recycle them. Land filling E-waste, one of the most widely used methods of disposal, is perilous because of leachate which often contains heavy water resources.

Due to lack of awareness, the workers are risking their health and the environment as well. They use strong acids to retrieve precious metals such as gold. Working in poorly-ventilated or no ventilation areas, without masks and technical expertise results in exposure to dangerous and slow-poisoning chemicals, which not only affects them but their coming generations.

Toxics Link, a Delhi-based NGO, says that India generates $1.5 billion worth of E-waste annually. As per a study done by Bengaluru-based NGO, Saahas, Bengaluru generates around 8,000 tons of E-waste every year. IT companies are the single largest contributors of E-waste because 30 percent of their equipment is rendered passé every year. Although many steps have been taken to bring E-waste under control, it is still a grave matter.

E-Parisaraa, Bengaluru, is India’s first scientific E-waste recycling unit and is helping to recover valuable metals, plastics and glass as well as reducing degradation to the environment. Trishyiraya Recycling India Private Limited, Chennai, is also involved with making use of E-waste. E-waste recycling plants have come up at Mumbai, Meerut and Firozabad. Allied Computers International (Asia), a Mumbai-based company which makes laptops, is planning to set up country’s first chip-level laptop motherboards and parts recycling plant at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

The government should form a proper E-waste policy and legislation. It should encourage an organized system of recycling and should collect fees from manufacturers/consumers for the disposal of toxic materials. In order to promote recycling, the government should subsidize recycling and disposal industries. State-of-the-art infrastructure would help in mitigating the issues surrounding the workers working in the recycling plants. The General public should be encouraged to collect and hand-over the E-waste to the concerned authorities. Awareness programmes on E-waste should be organized. Each country should dump its own E-waste, rather than exporting it to other countries.

TCS and other companies have set an example by following the ‘Green purchase policy’ – where consumers buy PCs only from companies with a take-back policy. IT R&D should be encouraged to find some means to upgrade rather than to replace. The minerals procured can be an added advantage if they are collected by eco-friendly means like bio-leaching (use of microorganisms for the recovery of metals from finely grained e-waste).

Only two things can be done with the environment: Either preserve and live in it or destroy and summon your death. The choice is all yours.

Hazardous E-Wastes

Hazardous E-Wastes

In my kindergarten days, we learnt that the Indian subcontinent undergoes six seasons, with the approximate duration of each being two months. These are as follows: spring, summer, monsoons, early autumn, late autumn & winter. But now summer and winter are the only two seasons that we experience. Infact, last year Delhi did not experience winters and this time the rainy season disappeared. I just wonder what the main concern for this change is. Who is responsible for it?

At once I get my reply, it’s “we” who are polluting the nature, our environment. We are experiencing this change now. Our glaciers are melting fast, the level of pollution is increasing, rivers are getting polluted etc. and all these are directly affecting our lives. I would be talking on e waste in this article. E-waste can be defined as electronic equipments / products that connect with hardware, batteries which have become obsolete and are nearing the end of their useful life. We tend to throw our old products such as computers, servers, main frames, monitors, TVs and do not realize the harmful effect that it is causing the nature.

There is an estimate that the total obsolete computers originating from government offices, business houses, industries and household is of the order of 2 million . Manufactures and assemblers in a single calendar year, estimated to produce around 1200 tons of electronic scrap. Also, we find it convenient to buy a new computer rather than upgrade the old one due to the changing configuration, technology and the attractive offers of the manufacturers. This disposal of e- waste mostly ends up in landfills or partly recycled in an unhygienic conditions and partly thrown into waste streams. The use of technology has worsened the condition. Computer waste is generated from the individual households; the government, public and private sectors; computer retailers; manufacturers; foreign embassies; secondary markets of old PCs.

E-waste is one of the rapidly growing environmental problems of the world. In India, it assumes greater significance not only due to the generation of our own waste but also dumping of e-waste particularly computer waste from the developed countries.

The extensive use of computers and electronic equipments and people dumping old electronic goods for new ones, is increasing the amount of e-waste generated.

The hazardous substances found in the e-waste include substantial quantities of lead, cadmium, chromium and flame-retardant plastics. Cathode ray tubes in our TV’s and components with high lead content are considered dangerous to health. Inhaling or handling such substances and being in contact with them on a regular basis can damage the brain, nervous system, lungs, kidneys and the reproductive system . In present day, the maximum numbers of asthmatic patients are among the youth. The direct effect of this behaviour of ours could be seen. In chemical or manufacturing sites due to lack of awareness, workers or labourers are risking their health and environment as well.

So people should now realise this and take steps to this dangerous call. There is an urgent need for improvement in e-waste management consisting technological improvement, institutional arrangement, operational plan, protective environment for workers working in e-waste disposal and last but not the least education of general population about this emerging issue posing a threat to the environment as well as public health. Our old products like computers, printers, digital cameras that we do not wish to use could be given to rural schools so that the young people there could use it for skill enhancement. The society should also take ownership of the city and clean it up with the encouragement and support from the government.

Being in Delhi, each time when I pass through the Yamuna bridge, the view is pathetic. The factory wastes, wastes from the slums all accumulate in the river making it a victim of our actions. Some steps should be taken like developing of environmentally sound recycling facilities in India, collection and recycling of these e- wastes without causing any harm. It is very important to create awareness among the mass and educating them about their actions and its ill- effects. The societies will then gradually rise and it will save our environment “Making it a Better Place to Live .