PRESENTATION OUTLINE Background Problems
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Transcript of PRESENTATION OUTLINE Background Problems
PRESENTATION OUTLINE Background Problems
Management and disposal options The governments responsibilities
Indian perspective BACKGROUND 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, handcell phones are commonly referred to as
electronic waste E-Waste Electronic 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. E-Waste- An
Indian Perspective Problems E-waste is the most rapidly growing
waste problem in the world. It is a crisis of not quantity alone
but also a crisis born from toxics ingredients, posing a threat to
the occupational health as well as the environment. Rapid
technology change, low initial cost, high obsolescence rate have
resulted in a fast growing problem around the globe. Legal
framework, proper collection system missing. Imports regularly
coming to the recycling markets. Inhuman working conditions for
recycling. Problems Management and disposal of e-waste has become a
serious problem amongstates nationwide. The problem of electronic
waste (e-waste) is growing at an unsustainable rate. E-waste is now
the fastest growing, and most toxic, component of municipal
garbage. Local governments are facing huge costs to handle e-waste,
and even greater costs if they do not capture this toxic stream and
handle it in an appropriate manner. Mobile phones; facts Production
today- 23 phones/sec
Sales million Sales million Sales million Subscribers-1.9 billion
in 2005 Subscribers- 2.6 billion in 2009 Lifespan (with 1st user)
(estimates from the Basel convention based study 2006) E-waste
accumulation in China 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 ofheavy 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 became obsolete between 1997 and 2007 contain nearly
1.6 billion pounds of lead Cathode ray tubes Much of the focus
ofmanaging e-waste revolves around Cathode Ray Tubes-which converts
an electronic signal into a visual image. Computer Monitors,
televisions, camcordersand other electronic devices contain CRT. A
typical CRT contains between 2 and 5 pounds of lead. Other problems
Illegal exporting especially to Asia
Uncontrolled burning and disposal are causing problems The toxicity
of some of the substance, eg mercury, cadmium may also pose an
environmental and health challenge Management and disposal
options
Due to increased public,regulatory and commercial scrutiny and also
a commensurate entrepreneur interest,there has been a diversion
from energy intensive down cycling processes to more mature
processing systems This has been largely achieved through reuse and
refurbishing reuse Preventing waste in the first place is the
preferred management option This can be achieved through repairing,
upgrading used electrical equipment Example- adding memory to a
computer,upgrading software recycle Make use of take back
programs
Through recycling units are either reused or dismantled for
recycling. The silver,gold,lead and other heavy metal are
recyclable dispose The least preferred option is to landfill
electronic waste
This should only come as a last option but care to consult with
state regulations on disposal of any hazardous waste Benefits of
reuse (social and environment)
Diminished demand for new products and their commensurate
requirement for virgin raw material There is lessened need for
water and energy for the associated manufacturing Less packaging
per unit Availability of tech to wider swaths of society due to
greater affordability of products Saved landfill space challenges
When materials cannot or will not be used, conventional recycling
or disposal via landfillwill follow Each one of us has a role to
play!
Need for a e-waste policy and legislation Encourage and facilitate
organizedrecycling systems Should subsidies recycling and disposal
industries Collect fee from manufactured/consumers for the disposal
of toxic material Incentive schemes for garbage collectors and
general public for collecting and handling over e-waste Awareness
programme on e-waste for school children and general public
continuation Transparency and accountability to the public Handling
large amounts of e-waste poses risks of toxic contamination to
workers and surrounding communities if conducted carelessly. Thus,
the most basic criterion that employees and citizens should
rightfully expect from any recycling operation is that it be open
to public inspection. General compliance with occupational health
and safety standards Observance of health and safety standards in
the workplace is important for protecting workers from exposure to
toxics whilst handling e-waste Well-trained workers, who are fully
protected by the law to seek advice and take action to protect
their health and the environment without fear of reprisal from
their employer, are the most effective environmental protection
Conclusion it is important that we create a national framework for
the environmentally sound management of e-waste including wide
public awareness and education Conduct detailed inventories of
e-waste Initiate pilot schemes on collection and sorting of
e-wastes,including take back schemes and schemes for repair
refurbishment and recycling E- Waste An Indian Perspective E-Waste:
Growth IT and telecom are two fastest growing industries in the
country. India, by 2008, should achieve a PC penetration of 65 per
1,000 from the existing 14 per 1,000 (MAIT) At present, India has
15 million computers. The target being 75 million computers by
2010.# Over 2 million old PCs ready for disposal in India. Life of
a computer reduced from 7 years to 3-5 years. #
Source:http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id= , E-Waste- An Indian
Perspective E-Waste: Growth Over 75 million current mobile users,
expected to increase to 200 million by 2007 end.* Memory devices,
MP3 players, iPods etc. are the newer additions. Preliminary
estimates suggest that total WEEE generation in India is
approximately 1,46,000 tonnes per year. # # Source: * Source: Hindu
E-Waste- An Indian Perspective E-Waste: Growth Three categories of
WEEE account for almost 90% of the generation: Large Household
appliances:42.1% Information and communications:33.9% technology
equipment Consumer Electronics:13.7% E-Waste- An Indian Perspective
E-Waste: Main Sources Imports;
Govt., public and private sector discards (over 70%); PC retailers,
manufacturers; Secondary market of old PCs; and Individual
Households. E-Waste- An Indian Perspective E-Waste Hazards Average
PC of approx kg wt. contains: 7.24 kg - Plastics 1.98 kg - Lead
0.693g - Mercury g - Arsenic 2.961g - Cadmium 1.98g - Chromium
9.92g - Barium 4.94g - Beryllium Two million Obsolete PCs 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- An Indian Perspective Existing
Legislation Trans boundary movement of E waste covered under the
Basel convention. India ratified the convention in 1992. Waste
listed in list A and list B which prohibits such movements. Waste
importers exploit such gaps as listed in the convention. Allowed to
import against a license. E-Waste- An Indian Perspective The Basel
Convention The Basel Convention on the Control of Tran boundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was adopted in
Basel, Switzerland on 22 March The Convention was initiated in
response to numerous international scandals regarding hazardous
waste trafficking that began to occur in the late 1980s. The
Convention entered into force on 5 May 1992 and today has its
Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. For an up-to-date list of Basel
Convention Parties see the Existing Legislation
Covered under the Hazardous Waste Amended Rules, 2003 in List A and
B of Schedule 3. The Rule is inadequate to handle generation,
transportation and disposal of this complex waste Regulators unable
to monitor and regulate the informal sector. DGFT and Foreign Trade
Policy trade and licensing not under free imports. E-Waste- An
Indian Perspective 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
productresponsibility. The Framework should address the issue of E
waste imports for reuse and recycling. Attract investment in this
sector Link up activities of informal sector with formal sector
Provide for appropriate framework for processes Promote adequate
ESM technologies for recycling Incorporate precautionary principles
and polluter pays Adopt Consultative process E-Waste- An Indian
Perspective PREPARED BY INDRANI FOR DP1 - ITGS