Electronic Waste: Growing issues Practices and strategies

Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2017

E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world in terms of volume and its environmental impact on the planet. The existence of precious metals in the e-waste stream provides a major economic benefit for recycling industries but due to the presence of hazardous chemicals, a proper recycling technique is required prior to the disposal of the e-waste. This paper presents an overview of the statistics on global e-waste generation and the sales of new electrical equipment and electronics in general. The total amount of e-waste produced has reached approximately 41 million tonnes in 2014 and increasing at a rate of 3-5% every year. A correlation between e-waste generated, gross domestic product and population of the country has also been explored that suggested that the GDP of any country has a direct correlation with the amount of e-waste produced by that country. The population of the country doesn't have a significant impact. The paper also describes the importance and benefits of recycling are emphasized while presenting the techniques currently used by the recycling facilities.

International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology

In the electronic industry, e-scraps or e-wastes refer to electronic goods that are discarded or unneeded. About 50 million ton of e-wastes are produced every year. Depending on their reactions, there might be potential danger. E-wastes, such as computer batteries and other electrochemical waste, may cause unwanted results, so it is important to consider them along with physical wastes. India generates about 1.5 lakh tons of e-waste annually, and almost all of it ends up in the informal sector as there is no organized alternative. It is well documented that humanity's capabilities were enhanced by the industrial revolution. However, the revolutionary changes experience by societies across the globe due to the application of electronics are deeper and more widespread than the impact of the industrial revolution. Human society has been profoundly changed by the electronics age and has become more connected than ever before. Electronic items have contributed to smoother communication, economic growth, and job opportunities. However, in addition to the positives, technology has brought to light a number of concerns, such as the growing problem of ewaste, which society must confront head on. In the existing situation, it is always possible that human health and the environment would be in trouble. If coordinated legislation and activities for efficient e-waste management and disposal were not enacted. This paper aims to provide a quick overview of the relatively new notion of e-waste, its production in India, and the associated environmental and health implications. It emphasizes the booming informal and nascent official e-waste recycling economies, as well as the urgent need for more explicit legislation and a forward-looking strategy. The paper also examines global e-waste trading and international experience in this area. There is also a list of references at the conclusion for further reading. Each year, hundreds of thousands of consumer electronics, computers, monitors, phones, printers, televisions and other portable devices become outdated and were mainly dumped to the landfills or poorly recycled. Recent technological development and growing demands for new and better functioning electronics accelerate the amount of electronic waste (e-waste) worldwide, making it to be one of the fastest growing streams in many countries. The estimated lifespan of electronics is about three to five years because of the increasing rates of consumption, new developments and urbanization.

International Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2012

E-waste can be defined as electronic equipments / products which have become obsolete due to advancement in technology, changes in fashion, style and status, nearing the end of their useful life. E-wastes are considered dangerous, as certain components of some electronic products contain materials that are hazardous, depending on their condition and density. Discarded computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, fax machines, electric lamps, cell phones, audio equipment and batteries if improperly disposed can leach lead and other substances into soil and groundwater. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled in an environmentally sound manner so that they are less harmful to the ecosystem. The Waste minimization in industries involves adopting inventory management, production-process modification, volume reduction, recovery and reuse. This paper highlights the hazards of e-wastes, the need for its appropriate management and options that can be implemented.

Use of electronics equipment and their disposal is increasing exponentially with time. The disposal of equipment is in proportion to obsolescence which in turn is linked with adoption of new technology. It has attributed around 10 % growth in e-Waste in India. Recycling of e-Waste through environment friendly means is utmost need of the day. Still in India, instead of using standardised technology based methods in recycling, it is carried out by using primitive means which are extremely hazardous and spoiling the environment. Development of an ecosystem comprising adequate legislation, restrictions on hazardous substance (RoHS) , cost-effective technology based recycling solution, awareness to all stakeholders & general public on electronic waste is to be ensured and full proof management practices warrantying environment protection and eco-friendly manufacturing and recycling are to be adopted.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), 2022

Electronic Waste or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) are the ones which are loosely rejected, out-dated, damaged electrical or electronic equipments which are dangerous to the environment and affect the health of the human beings. Therefore Electronic Waste Management is very essential in present day life. These waste electrical equipments can be reused and recycled. Various Administrations, bodies, and governments of countries have implemented and established strategies for Electronic Waste Management to cope up with the threat of Electronic Waste to the environmental setting and health of humans. Electronic Waste includes non-ferrous and costly metals extracted from the equipments which are out-dated. This paper focuses on E-waste composition, Indian E-waste scenarios, dangerous materials found in the Electronic Waste, Best Practices, reusing, and regaining methods followed in order to safeguard the environment. Electronic waste is a major threat faced by many countries so the government focuses on reducing and eliminating the E-waste by adopting various techniques and best practices to safeguard the health of the humans and environment.

Increase in the end of life of electrical and electronic products depends on the economic growth of the country, population growth, market penetration, technology up-gradation, and obsolescence rates. It can be assumed that the disposal of electronic products is fundamentally driven by the production of new ones. The management of electronic waste has become an environmental concern in many developing countries as urbanization continues to take place. The situation is not so grim in the developed countries, as the laws are adequate to take care of the stocking, disposal and land filling of the end-of life electronics products. Moreover, availability of skilled recyclers and adequate technologies in those countries make the e-waste recycling a profitable business. Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) is currently the largest growing waste stream. It is hazardous, complex and expensive to treat in an environmentally sound manner, and there is a general lack of legislation or enforcement surrounding it. Today, most e-waste is being discarded in the general waste stream. The e-waste containing toxic material that can have adverse impact to human health and environment, if not treat properly.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RECENT TRENDS IN ENGINEERING & RESEARCH, 2019

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) describes discarded electrical devices. Each year, around 50-million-ton e-waste is generated in the world, from which India produce 1.5 lakh ton of e-waste annually. There is lack of concurrence as to whether the term should apply to reuse, recycle, recovery and refurbishing industries. E-waste contains hazardous materials which are very harmful to human health and environment. There is lack of knowledge in disposal methods of e-waste. This is the alarming situation to find the proper path to manage and dispose the e-waste safely. This paper discusses the present scenario of e-waste management and possible handling strategies. Keywords-Electronic waste, sources, presents scenario, impact, disposal methods, management strategies. I. INTRODUCTION Electronic Wastes are one of the fast-growing wastes in the world. It is a situation that prevails everywhere and it's hard to survive in this world without machines. The humans are fully influenced that machines that make our lives more comfortable. So, to satisfy the requirements of the people, electrical goods are increasing day by day and they get crowded in the market. This finally results in the generation of E Wastes. Basel Action Network (BAN) estimates that the 500 million computers in the world contain 2.87 billion kgs of plastics, 716.7 million kgs of lead and 286, 700 kgs of mercury. The average 14-inch monitor uses a tube that contains an estimated 2.5 to 4 kgs of lead. The lead percolates into the ground water from landfills thereby contaminating it. If the tube is crushed and burned, it emits toxic fumes into the atmosphere. Disposing e wastes by burning leads to major problems and it accounts for a major part of air pollution. The unwanted chemicals produce fumes that get mixed up with the air and it destroys the nature of the air. Sequentially, it attacks human beings during respiration. So, recycling should be done to use them efficiently again.

Environment International, 2017

Advancements in technology, materials development, and manufacturing processes have changed the consumer products and composition of municipal solid waste (MSW) since 1960s. Increasing quantities of discarded consumer products remain a major challenge for recycling efforts, especially for discarded electronic products (also referred as e-waste). The growing demand for high tech products has increased the e-waste quantities and its cross boundary transport globally. This paper reviews the challenges associated with increasing ewaste quantities. The increasing need for raw materials (especially for rare earth and minor elements) and unregulated e-waste recycling operations in developing and underdeveloped counties contribute to the growing concerns for e-waste management. Although the markets for recycled materials are increasing; there are major challenges for development of the necessary infrastructure for e-waste management and accountability as well as development of effective materials recovery technologies and product design.

Hazardous Wastes [Working Title]

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is said to be the fastest growing stream of hazardous waste in the world. E-waste is comprised of a variety of inputs including hazardous materials, potentially valuable and recyclable materials, and other inputs. E-waste follows a range of pathways after disposal, including formal and informal recycling, storage, and dumping, in both developed and less-developed country contexts. Globally, the handling and regulation of e-waste as both a hazardous waste stream and as a source of secondary raw materials has undergone significant changes in the past decade. A growing number of countries have adopted extended producer responsibility laws, which mandate electronics manufacturers to pay for proper recycling and disposal of electronics. The e-waste recycling industry is becoming more formalized as the potential to recover valuable materials has increased, but a range of recent studies have shown that e-waste recycling continues to carry a range of occupational health and environmental risks.