NEW DELHI: Recently, the Delhi Municipality has partnered with a private company to collect and dispose of e-waste, while the Bihar government approved 142 e-waste collection points in different districts. So what is this e-waste and why is it important to collect and dispose of it?
What is e-waste? E-waste can be broadly described as discarded, excess, obsolete, broken, electrical or electronic equipment. This includes all waste electronic and electrical equipment that has reached the end of its useful life or is unfit for its original purpose and destined for recycling, recycling or disposal. It could be a computer and its accessories like monitors, printers, keyboards, central processing units; Typewriters, cell phones and chargers, remote controls, CDs, headphones, batteries, LCD/Plasma TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators and other household appliances.
Hazardous and non-hazardous e-waste are classified as ferrous and non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminum, silver, gold, platinum, palladium, etc., plastics, glass, wood and plywood, circuit boards, concrete, ceramics and rubber. It is the presence of elements such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium, hexavalent chromium and flame retardants that make e-waste hazardous. E-waste disposal contains over 1000 different substances, some of which are highly toxic, causing serious environmental pollution.
Quantum of E-Waste Generation The United Nations 2019 report states that consumers dispose of 44 million tonnes (MT) worth of electronics each year, of which only 20 percent is sustainably recycled. India produces about 3 million tons annually and is the third largest e-waste producing country after China and the US. An Assocham EY report suggests that given this growth rate, the country will have 5 MT by 2021.
The rapid advances in technology and newer electronic products are prompting consumers to change their existing models. This shortens the lifecycle of these goods while exponentially increasing the generation of e-waste.
Another factor this time around is the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that has kept people indoors, leading to higher consumption of electronic products.
While the growing amount of discarded e-waste is overwhelming, its improper disposal is of particular concern. It usually ends up either in landfills or in unregulated markets. Ashley Delaney, founder of Group TenPlus, a Goan company that manages e-waste collection, summarizes this process in an article published on india.mongabay.com: “A typical cell phone or laptop circuit board contains about 16 different ones metals. Most informal sectors will likely be able to recover some metals and dump the rest. Dangerous chemicals like mercury used to extract these metals seep into the soil damaged forever. If you find discarded batteries, tube lights, CFL bulbs, chances are the ground around them is barren.”
Increased levels result in leaching of metal that goes everywhere, including food. E-waste that enters the oceans in large quantities contaminates the water with gaseous or liquid toxins that are not visible.
Recycling helps to use the metals and plastics extracted from e-waste to manufacture more electronic devices. Sounds good, but the process is not easy.
Metals are difficult to extract, according to a United Nations report. It states that the overall recovery rate for cobalt is 30 percent, although there are technologies that could recycle 95 percent. In particular, the energy efficiency of recycled metals is two to ten times higher than that of metals smelted from virgin ore. Therefore, it makes sense to have effective reuse methods in place by ensuring a sustainable chain of manufacture and recycling.
In addition, mining provides access to rare earth metals – which are definitely minable – and therefore worth recycling. It is estimated that the global e-waste is worth around 62.5 billion US dollars annually.
The formal sector dilemma There are few formal recyclers in India and their role is limited to separating and dismantling e-waste to shredding printed circuit boards (PCBs). The pre-processed PCBs are sent abroad to smelting refineries for further recovery of precious metals such as copper, silver, gold, aluminum, palladium, tantalum, ruthenium, platinum, etc., and the slag by-product is treated in an environmentally friendly manner.
The limited organized recyclers face stiff competition from the informal sector and receive a very small share of obsolete goods. A Rajya Sabha document on e-waste cites the example of a Noida-based unit with a capacity of 500 tons that has so far only processed 200 tons. Likewise, a 36,000 tonne facility in Roorkee processes only 600 a year.
Dangers of the informal segment The informal sector dominates the collection, transport, processing and recycling of e-waste. Well connected and unregulated, it is unable to recover materials which, moreover, can create serious hazards in terms of the release of toxins into the environment and affect workers’ health and safety.
For example, Seelampur in Delhi is India’s largest e-waste disposal center, where adults and children spend 10 hours a day extracting reusable components and precious metals. They use processes like open burning and acid leaching that harm themselves and the environment. Such workers suffer from stress, headaches, shortness of breath, chest pains, weakness and dizziness, and even DNA damage.
The same situation prevails elsewhere, as shown in a 2018 documentary “Welcome to Sodom” that explores the Agbogbloshie dump in Ghana, where life revolves around toxic waste, as each year about 2,50,000 tons of discarded computers, smartphones , air conditioners and other equipment to be sorted out outside are dumped here. India is importing too much waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from abroad.”
Interestingly, the informal channel includes repair shops, thrift retailers, and e-commerce portal providers that use discarded electronics to recycle and cannibalize components.
India is ahead of most other countries in the region as it is the only country in South Asia with e-waste laws. The law only obliges authorized dismantling and recycling companies to collect electronic waste. In 2016, the E-waste (Management) Rules mandated collection targets and delegated responsibilities to producers – Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Involving the informal sector in a transparent recycling system is crucial for the collection and disposal of e-waste.
Speaking to india.mongabay.com Pranshu Singhal, founder Karo Sambhav said: “We work with waste collectors and collection points and help them with the formalization – make sure everyone has pan cards and bank accounts and bills and issue ensure that waste is traceable. ”
Manufacturers also play a key role in e-waste management. They need to integrate the use of recycled material into their production process and not just act as a collector of their old products for recycling.
Role of consumers Consumers should use their gadgets longer and only change them when necessary and not for fashion reasons. If a fault in the device is fixable, they should opt for it instead of throwing it away. When buying a product, they need to keep in mind that it should be recyclable.
As a World Economic Forum report points out, products should be designed to be reusable, durable and safe for recycling. In addition, manufacturers should also have buyback or return offers for old equipment.
An article on teriin.org emphasizes the value of e-waste: “E-waste is a rich source of metals like gold, silver and copper that can be recovered and put back into the production cycle. There is significant economic potential in efficiently recovering valuable materials from e-waste and can provide income generating opportunities for individuals and businesses.”
What is e-waste? E-waste can be broadly described as discarded, excess, obsolete, broken, electrical or electronic equipment. This includes all waste electronic and electrical equipment that has reached the end of its useful life or is unfit for its original purpose and destined for recycling, recycling or disposal. It could be a computer and its accessories like monitors, printers, keyboards, central processing units; Typewriters, cell phones and chargers, remote controls, CDs, headphones, batteries, LCD/Plasma TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators and other household appliances.
Hazardous and non-hazardous e-waste are classified as ferrous and non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminum, silver, gold, platinum, palladium, etc., plastics, glass, wood and plywood, circuit boards, concrete, ceramics and rubber. It is the presence of elements such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium, hexavalent chromium and flame retardants that make e-waste hazardous. E-waste disposal contains over 1000 different substances, some of which are highly toxic, causing serious environmental pollution.
Quantum of E-Waste Generation The United Nations 2019 report states that consumers dispose of 44 million tonnes (MT) worth of electronics each year, of which only 20 percent is sustainably recycled. India produces about 3 million tons annually and is the third largest e-waste producing country after China and the US. An Assocham EY report suggests that given this growth rate, the country will have 5 MT by 2021.
The rapid advances in technology and newer electronic products are prompting consumers to change their existing models. This shortens the lifecycle of these goods while exponentially increasing the generation of e-waste.
Another factor this time around is the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that has kept people indoors, leading to higher consumption of electronic products.
While the growing amount of discarded e-waste is overwhelming, its improper disposal is of particular concern. It usually ends up either in landfills or in unregulated markets. Ashley Delaney, founder of Group TenPlus, a Goan company that manages e-waste collection, summarizes this process in an article published on india.mongabay.com: “A typical cell phone or laptop circuit board contains about 16 different ones metals. Most informal sectors will likely be able to recover some metals and dump the rest. Dangerous chemicals like mercury used to extract these metals seep into the soil damaged forever. If you find discarded batteries, tube lights, CFL bulbs, chances are the ground around them is barren.”
Increased levels result in leaching of metal that goes everywhere, including food. E-waste that enters the oceans in large quantities contaminates the water with gaseous or liquid toxins that are not visible.
Recycling helps to use the metals and plastics extracted from e-waste to manufacture more electronic devices. Sounds good, but the process is not easy.
Metals are difficult to extract, according to a United Nations report. It states that the overall recovery rate for cobalt is 30 percent, although there are technologies that could recycle 95 percent. In particular, the energy efficiency of recycled metals is two to ten times higher than that of metals smelted from virgin ore. Therefore, it makes sense to have effective reuse methods in place by ensuring a sustainable chain of manufacture and recycling.
In addition, mining provides access to rare earth metals – which are definitely minable – and therefore worth recycling. It is estimated that the global e-waste is worth around 62.5 billion US dollars annually.
The formal sector dilemma There are few formal recyclers in India and their role is limited to separating and dismantling e-waste to shredding printed circuit boards (PCBs). The pre-processed PCBs are sent abroad to smelting refineries for further recovery of precious metals such as copper, silver, gold, aluminum, palladium, tantalum, ruthenium, platinum, etc., and the slag by-product is treated in an environmentally friendly manner.
The limited organized recyclers face stiff competition from the informal sector and receive a very small share of obsolete goods. A Rajya Sabha document on e-waste cites the example of a Noida-based unit with a capacity of 500 tons that has so far only processed 200 tons. Likewise, a 36,000 tonne facility in Roorkee processes only 600 a year.
Dangers of the informal segment The informal sector dominates the collection, transport, processing and recycling of e-waste. Well connected and unregulated, it is unable to recover materials which, moreover, can create serious hazards in terms of the release of toxins into the environment and affect workers’ health and safety.
For example, Seelampur in Delhi is India’s largest e-waste disposal center, where adults and children spend 10 hours a day extracting reusable components and precious metals. They use processes like open burning and acid leaching that harm themselves and the environment. Such workers suffer from stress, headaches, shortness of breath, chest pains, weakness and dizziness, and even DNA damage.
The same situation prevails elsewhere, as shown in a 2018 documentary “Welcome to Sodom” that explores the Agbogbloshie dump in Ghana, where life revolves around toxic waste, as each year about 2,50,000 tons of discarded computers, smartphones , air conditioners and other equipment to be sorted out outside are dumped here. India is importing too much waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from abroad.”
Interestingly, the informal channel includes repair shops, thrift retailers, and e-commerce portal providers that use discarded electronics to recycle and cannibalize components.
India is ahead of most other countries in the region as it is the only country in South Asia with e-waste laws. The law only obliges authorized dismantling and recycling companies to collect electronic waste. In 2016, the E-waste (Management) Rules mandated collection targets and delegated responsibilities to producers – Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Involving the informal sector in a transparent recycling system is crucial for the collection and disposal of e-waste.
Speaking to india.mongabay.com Pranshu Singhal, founder Karo Sambhav said: “We work with waste collectors and collection points and help them with the formalization – make sure everyone has pan cards and bank accounts and bills and issue ensure that waste is traceable. ”
Manufacturers also play a key role in e-waste management. They need to integrate the use of recycled material into their production process and not just act as a collector of their old products for recycling.
Role of consumers Consumers should use their gadgets longer and only change them when necessary and not for fashion reasons. If a fault in the device is fixable, they should opt for it instead of throwing it away. When buying a product, they need to keep in mind that it should be recyclable.
As a World Economic Forum report points out, products should be designed to be reusable, durable and safe for recycling. In addition, manufacturers should also have buyback or return offers for old equipment.
An article on teriin.org emphasizes the value of e-waste: “E-waste is a rich source of metals like gold, silver and copper that can be recovered and put back into the production cycle. There is significant economic potential in efficiently recovering valuable materials from e-waste and can provide income generating opportunities for individuals and businesses.”
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