Electronic waste or e-waste is any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic appliance. This presentation contains: -Introduction -Indian Scenario -Main Sources -Problems -Hazards -Effects on Human Health -E-waste Management (Solutions) -Sustainable E-waste handling -Basel Convention -Need for Legal Framework

1. E-Waste

2. 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.
Composition includes :
•High-quality plastics
•Valuable metals
•Toxic and hazardous pollutants

3. Indian Scenario: Numbers tell the story
Historic Waste: Over 20 Lakhsold 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 929.37million mobile phone base
…………And every month, 10 million new mobiles are added
It has theworld's third-largestInternet user-base with over 137 million as of June 2012.

4. IT & Telecom sector accounts for 25% of the e-waste pie:
Washing Machine,
ACs, Dryers,
Vacuum
Cleaner, toaster, Irons
30%
Refrigirators20%
Monitors
10% Televisions10%
Computers, phones, printers, fax
15%
DVD/VCR
Player, radios, HiFisets
15%

5. E-Waste: Main Sources
Imports
Govt., public and private sector discards (over 70%)
PC retailers, manufacturers
Secondary market of old PCs
Individual Households

6. 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 .

7. Problems
E-wasteisthemostrapidlygrowingwasteproblemintheworld.
Itisacrisisofnotquantityalonebutalsoacrisisbornfromtoxicsingredients,posingathreattotheoccupationalhealthaswellastheenvironment.
Rapidtechnologychange,lowinitialcost,highobsolescenceratehaveresultedinafastgrowingproblemaroundtheglobe.
Legalframework,propercollectionsystemmissing.
Importsregularlycomingtotherecyclingmarkets.
Inhumanworkingconditionsforrecycling.

8. 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
TwomillionObsoletePCswouldmean: 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

9. 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

10. E-waste Effects on Human health:
Damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, bloodsystems 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

11. E-waste Management:
E-waste management starts right from the point of production. Sustainable Product Designensures:
1. Toxics-free Products
2. 100% recyclability
3. Serviceability
4. Energy Efficient Products

12. Toxics Free Products:
Computer manufacturers should have a cradle-to-graveapproach
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

13. 100% recyclability:
Chemical Compliance of Global standards: PCV free+ BFR Free+ RoHScompliant products
Products should be designed with Antimony Free andBeryllium Freecomponents
Substance
Toxicity
Recyclability
PVC
Carcinogen
Limited
BFR
Carcinogen
Extremely tough
Antimony
Carcinogen; organ
Recyclable
failure
Beryllium
Ulcers; skin
Recyclable

14. 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:

15. Refurbishing v/s Recycling:
Although Refurbishing is a good option on paper, practically it has notbeen very successful. Here’s why:
1.Technology changes in Hardware and Software render the oldcomputers non-refurbishablebeyond a point
2.The refurbishing charges are relatively higher, acting as a deterrent tothe customer to refurbish
3.Original Software licensing is not clear for reused/refurbishedproducts
4.Prices of newer hardware keep on slashing down, prompting thecustomer to buy a new-product, rather than go thru the hassle of

16. Energy Efficient Products:
Product should be Energy Star 5.0 compliant-20% savings on bills and20% lesser CO2emissions 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 the
environment

17. 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

18. Basel Convention
•It is an internationaltreatythat was designed to reduce the movements ofhazardous wastebetween nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste fromdevelopedtoless 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 andtoxicityof wastes generated, to ensure their environmentally sound management.
•The Convention states that illegal hazardous waste traffic is criminal but contains no enforcement provisions.

19. 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.