E-Waste
E-Waste
Home:- The discarded and end of life electronic products ranging from computers, equipment used in information and communication technology (ICT), home appliances, audio, etc. products and all of their peripherals are popularly known as Electronic waste, E-waste is not hazardous if it is stocked in safe storage or recycled by scientific method or transported from one place to the other in parts. The e-waste can however, be considered hazardous if recycled by primitive methods. Evolutions are made in electronics to make human life comfortable. But this comfort can destroy the earth and can become a cause for the survival of future generation.
Sources of E-Waste:-
(i) Sources of Lead- It is used in panels and gaskets in computer monitors and solder in printed circuit boards and other components. It is used in the manufacturing of pencils.
(ii) Cadmium- It is used in the SMD chip resistors, infrared detectors and semiconductors chips. It also used in old cathode ray tubes. It is also used in Nuclear power reactor to control the rate of reaction.
(iii) Mercury- It is used in thermostats, sensors, relays, switches, medical equipments, lamps, mobile phones and in batteries. Mercy is also used in flat panel displays.
A/c to the report of WHO, “It is estimated that 22% of the yearly world consumption of mercury is used in electrical and electronic equipment.”
(iv) Hexavalent chromium/chromium VI29- Chromium VI is used in corrosion protector of untreated and galvanized steel plates, as a decorative or hardner for steel housings, plastics, etc.
A/c to the report of Nidhivan Foundation and WHO, “The largest volume of 26% (approx) used in electronics has been PVC.”
(v) Beryllium- Beryllium is commonly found in finger clips and motherboards. It is used as a copper beryllium alloy to strengthen connectors and tiny plugs while maintaining electrical conductivity.
(vi) Barium- Barium is a soft silvery-white metal that is used in computers in the front of panels of a CRT, to protect users from radiation.
(vii)Brominated flame retardants (BFRs)- BFRs are used in the plastic housings of electronic equipment and in circuit boards to prevent flammability.
(viii) Toners- Toners are used in the plastic printer cartridge containing black and color toners.
Definition of Electronic Waste Pollution:-
The pollution occurred due to the electronic waste obtained from various electrical and dielectric goods. When dumped into environment after their life time; they accumulate in environment and create detrimental effects to human beings.
Effects of E-Waste:-
• The landfills on which the e-waste is dumped sometimes may leak and leach the heavy metals and other toxic substances that percolated through the soil and reach the water table, thus polluting the soil as well as ground water. Through soil and water these toxic substances may enter the food chain of the ecosystem.
• The dumps of e-waste are prone to fire releasing fumes with highly toxic substances, which are very dangerous.
• The recycling processes are very dangerous, which may include incineration, acid bath leaching involving the recovery of precious metals from E-waste, cause severe damage to the environment.
• Short term exposure to barium causes brain swelling, muscle weakness, damage to the heart, liver and spleen. Toxic cadmium compounds accumulate in the body, especially the kidney.
• Exposure to beryllium can cause long cancer. Beryllium can also cause skin disease that is characterised by poor wound healing and wart like bumps. Chromium VI can cause damage to DNA and is extremely toxic in the environment.
• Mery can cause damage to organs including the brain and kidneys, as well as the foetus. Lead causes damage to the control nervous system and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems, kidney and reproductive system in humans. Lead accumulate in the environment and has high acute and chronic effects on plants, animals and microorganisms.
International Laws: Basel Convention :-
• The Basel convention on Transboundary movements of Hazardous wastes and their disposal was adopted in march 1989 and enforced in May 1992 by the conference of parties.
• The Basel Action Network identified Goiyo in China as an E-waste hub way back in December 2001.
A/c to the report of Nidhivan Foundation, “In 2007 due to government action more than 800 furnaces were destroyed and air quality levels were partially restored in China.”
• There is a convention which states that deliberate dumping of E-waste in other countries goes against the principles of international law.
• US has not ratified the convention and hence continues to “export” old, used and discarded models to poorer countries.
As per the report of Nidhivan Foundation, “38 million tons per annum of unaccounted e-waste in the US and EU make up ‘hidden flow’ to the Asian backyards.”
Regulations/Laws in India on E-Waste:-
• The Government of India introduced the e-waste Management and Handling Rules in May 2010, under the Environment protection Act of 1986.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate change (MoEFCC) has notified the E-waste Rules, 2011 for proper management and handling of E-waste.
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change has published the draft “The E-Waste Rule, 2015” to supersede “The E-waste Rules, 2011.”
Global Scenario of E-Waste:-
• The UN has estimated that 20-50 million tonnes of E-Waste are generated world wide each year. The rich countries after legally or illegally diver this problem from their own scrap yard to that of poorer countries.
• About 38 million tones of e-waste gets illegally dumped in Asian countries like China and India where it is recycled in highly risky conditions with no protection.
• The development of technology from analogue to digital has seen consumers migrating to flat screen TVs and Monitors.
Indian Scenario of E-Waste:-
• The size of Indian electronic industry was worth USD 158 billion by 2015.
• Around 25,000 workers are employed at E-waste scrap yards in Delhi alone.
• In Delhi 10,000 – 20,000 tonnes of E-waste is handled each year, 25% of this being computers.
• Sale of PCs has increased in India by 400% in the last six years according to MAIT.
