E- Waste

E-WasteElectronic waste or e-waste is any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic appliance.

E-waste includes computers, entertainment electronics, mobile phones and other items that have been discarded by their original users.

Composition includes :• High-quality plastics• Valuable metals• Toxic and hazardous pollutants

Indian Scenario: Numbers tell the story

Historic Waste: Over 20 Lakhs old PCs ready for disposal in India

Every year, 30000 computers become obsolete

Last year, 8.1 million PCs and notebooks sold

More than 100 thousand servers sold

By May 2012, India had 929.37 million mobile phone base

…………And every month, 10 million new mobiles are added

It has the world's third-largest Internet user-base with over 137 million as

of June 2012.

IT & Telecom sector accounts for 25% of the e-waste pie:

Washing Machine,ACs, Dryers,

VacuumCleaner, toaster, Irons

30%

Refrigirators20%

Monitors10% Televisions

10%

Computers, phones, printers, fax

15%DVD/VCR

Player, radios, HiFi sets

15%

E-Waste: Main Sources

Imports

Govt., public and private sector discards (over 70%)

PC retailers, manufacturers

Secondary market of old PCs

Individual Households

Why is Import a Main Source ? It is estimated that U.S. alone Exports 80% of its E-Waste to

China, India and Pakistan.

The developed countries industrialized and generate a lot of electronic waste.

The people in the developing country soon realized that they can extract a few components out of the electronic wastes and that may serve their need.

So, its (e-waste’s) demand in the market increased which in turn increased its exports at international market.

Informal processing of electronic waste in developing countries may cause serious health and pollution problems, though these countries are also most likely to reuse and repair electronic items.

This trade is also a defiance of certain international environment laws .

ProblemsE-waste is the most rapidly growing waste problem inthe world.

It is a crisis of not quantity alone but also a crisis bornfrom toxics ingredients, posing a threat to theoccupational health as well as the environment.

Rapid technology change, low initial cost, highobsolescence rate have resulted in a fast growingproblem around the globe.

Legal framework, proper collection system missing.

Imports regularly coming to the recycling markets.

Inhuman working conditions for recycling.

Average PC of approx. 31.5 kg

wt. contains:

7.24 kg - Plastics

1.98 kg - Lead

0.693g - Mercury

0.4095g - Arsenic

2.961g - Cadmium

1.98g - Chromium

9.92g - Barium

4.94g - Beryllium

Two million ObsoletePCs would mean:

14,427,000 kg

3,962,700 kg

1,386 kg

819 kg

5,922 kg

3,969 kg

19,845 kg

9,891 kg

E-Waste Hazards

Some More Problems

Pollution of Ground-Water

Acidification of soil

Air Pollution

E-Waste accounts for 40 percent of the lead and 75 percent of theheavy metals found in landfills

E-waste Effects on Human health:

Damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, blood

systems and kidney damage

Affects brain development of children

Chronic damage to the brain

Respiratory and skin disorders due to bioaccumulation in fishes

Asthmatic bronchitis

DNA damage

Reproductive and developmental problems

Immune system damage

Lung Cancer

Damage to heart, liver and spleen

E-waste Management:

E-waste management starts right from the point of production.

Sustainable Product Design ensures:

1. Toxics-free Products

2. 100% recyclability

3. Serviceability

4. Energy Efficient Products

Toxics Free Products:

Computer manufacturers should have a cradle-to-grave approach

Products should be made with minimum toxic-chemicals, resulting inconsequent toxic-free e-waste

Major Toxic Chemicals to be considered:

1. PVC

2. BFR

3. Antimony

4. Beryllium

Product Packaging Optimization for minimum Environmental Impact

100% recyclability:

Chemical Compliance of Global standards: PCV free+ BFR Free+ RoHScompliant products

Products should be designed with Antimony Free and Beryllium Freecomponents

Substance Toxicity Recyclability

PVC Carcinogen Limited

BFR Carcinogen Extremely tough

Antimony Carcinogen; organ Recyclable

failure

Beryllium Ulcers; skin Recyclable

Upgradeability & Serviceability

Design for Upgradability: Consumer should have the option of upgradingthe products: CPU, RAM, HDD …….etc

Design for Serviceability

Availability of Spare Parts, and Support over reasonable product life

The manufacturers must ensure the following so that the product life is long enough and disposal of IT products can be reduced:

Refurbishing v/s Recycling:

Although Refurbishing is a good option on paper, practically it has not

been very successful. Here’s why:

1. Technology changes in Hardware and Software render the old

computers non-refurbishable beyond a point

2. The refurbishing charges are relatively higher, acting as a deterrent to

the customer to refurbish

3. Original Software licensing is not clear for reused/refurbished

products

4. Prices of newer hardware keep on slashing down, prompting the

customer to buy a new-product, rather than go thru the hassle of

Energy Efficient Products:

Product should be Energy Star 5.0 compliant- 20% savings on bills and

20% lesser CO2 emissions in the air

Product should have energy Optimizing software features

Major components to consider:

1. Display: LCD displays save energy

2. Processor: New Generation processors are more energy efficient

Are we as consumers willing to pay a little extra premium to protect theenvironment

Steps for Sustainable e-waste handling:

For End-of-life Products:

Sensitize all stakeholders

Don’t auction-off; Hand it over to a responsible recycler/ Refurbisher

Do not dispose it as part of regular garbage or into land fills

Ensure 100% recyclability & safe disposal of your e-waste, thru duediligences.

For End-of-Use Products:

Hand me downs

Basel Convention

• It is an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries.

• The Convention was opened for signature on 22 March 1989, and entered into force on 5 May 1992.

• The Convention is also intended to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated, to ensure their environmentally sound management.

• The Convention states that illegal hazardous waste traffic is criminal but contains no enforcement provisions.

Need for Legal Framework

Ban on total imports of E-waste.

Domestic legal framework to address these gaps in import of E-Waste

Need to address safe disposal of domestic waste.

Tie recycling in with take-back product

responsibility.