The Recycling Of Electronic Waste In India Environmental Sciences Essay

The cycle Of Electronic Waste In India environsal Sciences leavenE- scourge is growing rapidly and becoming the major issue of all all everyplace the world. E- hook instalments contain different types of toxic and fantastic substances those atomic number 18 harmful for surround and pitying health so it is necessary to handle and manage the E- wargon in a proper and better way. In India the management of E- turn back prepare a great significance cod to the generation of heroic arrive of E- deplete in opposite to lack of appropriate al-Qaida and proper procedure for cycle and disposition of the E- unfounded. This paper endows with current situation of E-waste in India, trends of disposal and recycle of India, status of E-waste management of India and at the last the required activity stairs for better handling of E-waste and its management.samara words E-waste, hazardous substances, Recycling, Disposal and E-waste management. mental hospitalIn nowadayss globalisation world, the consumer market for galvanizing and electronic products is expanding persistingly on high school rate. On the opposite hand due to increasing consume and development of new technology, the vivification span of the products is dropping that result in large amount of electronic scrap. As mentioned by UNEP in 2005every year 20 to 50 zillion tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment waste (E-waste) argon generated world-wide, which could bring serious finds to human health and environment, while 4 million PCs are discarded per year in China alone. (K. Brigden et al., 2005)This large amount of E-waste also contains toxic and hazardous elements in different electrical and electronic components those require serious problem regarding their handling, cycle and disposal.What is E-waste?Electronic waste (E-waste)or Waste Electrical and Electronic Elements ( wantonE) is the term generally used to force disposed electronic and electrical products which are old and end of life rest home appliances including laptops, TVs, DVD players, mobiles, i-pods. However sources of E-waste can be classified into ternary main categories (Pinto, 2008)Large Household AppliancesIT and TelecomConsumer EquipmentThe pie chart in signifier 1below indicates the per centage of electrical and electronic waste generated by different household appliances, IT and consumer products. embark 1 Sources of E-waste (Source India E-waste top)Environmental and Health hazards of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)As per knowledge E-waste contains more(prenominal) than blow0 different substances and chemicals which are hazardous and non hazardous (Pinto, 2008). From that righteous somewhat hazardous substances are toxic and can create some serious problem for the environment and human health. E-waste contains many toxics like sound metals including lead, cadmium, mercury, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), plastics, Brominated flamed Retardant, barium, berylli um, phosphors and additives etc. The impacts of these toxics and hazardous substances on environment and human health are described in table 1 belowTable 1 fantastic Substances and their Impact on Environment and Human Health nephrotoxicUsed componentsImpact on health and environmentLead candy panel and gasket in computer monitorsSolder in Printed rope identity cardCauses damage to the central and peripheral nervous arrangements, blood systems, kidney.Effects fold brain development among children.Lead tends to accumulate in the environment and has high acute and chronic effects on plants, animals and microorganisms.CadmiumInfrared detectors and semiconductor unit chipsSome old cathode ray tubeAccumulate in the human body and it damages the kidneys.MercuryThermostats, relays, switches, mobiles, lamps and medical equipments.Damage to brain and kidneys.It affects the nutriment chain by accumulating in the living organism particularly via fish.Hexavalent chromiumGalvanised steel p latesIt can cause damage to DNA.PlasticsElectronic equipment and computer accommodateWhen it burns it release Dioxin which can damage to human health.BFRsCircuit identity card and plastic housing of equipmentCause neurobehavioral alterations and it affects the immune system of body in animals.BerylliumMother board and finger clipsIt can cause lung pubic louse and skin deceases.Phosphor and additivesApplied as a coat in privileged of the CRTs.It can damage those human who dismantle CRTs by hand.Situation of E-waste in IndiaTelecommunication and information technology are the fastest growing industries forthwith not only in India but world oer. Based on the ripening of electronics and IT equipment in India Manufacturers intimacy of Information engineering science (MAITD) has collected the avocation statistics. (http//www.scribd.com/doc/19009739/E-waste-India, Accessed on May 10th 2010)During 2007-08, PC sales were over 7.3 million units growing by 16% and there is an installe d animal of over 25 million units.The consumer electronics market is growing by 13-15% annually and has an installed base of over 25 million units.The cellular subscriber base up by 96% during 2007-08 and its installed base are estimated to cross 300 million marks by 2010.E-waste generated in India during 2007 was around 332,979 MT besides most 50,000 MT entering the coun elbow grease done spells as per a GTZ-MAIT (Gesellschaft Technische Zusammenarbeit Manufacturers Association for Information Technology) sponsored study by IMRB (Indian Market Research Bureau). Unprecedented growth of the IT industry during the last decade and early product obsolescence due to continuous innovation resulted in the generation of this large total of E-waste. Out of this quantity only 144,143 MT was easy for recycling and refurbishing and only 19,000 MT of E-waste was processed.WEE Generating Top decade CitiesCity WEE (Tonnes)Mumbai 11017.1Delhi 9730.3Bangalore 4648.4Chennai 4132.2Kolkata 4025. 3Ahmadabad 3287.5Hyderabad 2833.5Pune 2584.2Surat 1836.5Nagpur 1768.9WEE Generating Top Ten StatesState WEE (Tonnes)Maharashtra 20270.59Tamil Nadu 13486.24Andhra Pradesh 12780.33Uttarpradesh 10381.11West Bengal 10059.36Delhi 9729.15Karnataka 9118.74Gujarat 8994.33Madhya Pradesh 7800.62Punjab 6958.46DWTable 23 The generated E-waste in Major states and Major cities (source ENVIS, 2008)E-waste Handling Process in IndiaE- Waste is broadly generated in Metropolitan cities in India, where a complex E-waste handling al-Qaida on a long tradition of waste recycling has been developed. So far, the E-waste recycling is purely market driven, operated by a very entrepreneurial light field. A large number of new business es focusing on reuse or extraction of secondary cranky materials resulted due to easy adaption of rag pickers and waste dealers to the new waste stream. (http//india.ewasteguide.info/ , Accessed on April 27th 2010)Figure 2 E-waste Handling Process in India (Source Indian E-w aste guide)The E-waste from corporate consumers and households enters a city unique(predicate) familiar E-waste recycling system. The allurement and allocation of E-waste is done by middlemen, scrap dealers and rag pickers, also cognise as kabadiwalas. The informal recycling system includes acceptable processes such as dismantling and sorting but also very harmful processes such as burning and discharging in order to extract metals from electronic equipment. insalubrious techniques like burning wires are common practice in the informal recycling sectors in big cities in India.Trends in Disposal and RecyclingE-waste has come more desirable due to soaring price of gold, plate and copper. E-waste round-ups are used as fund raisers in some communities. E-waste process industry in Europe was marked by the ban oblige on disposal of electronic waste in get downfills. European amount advanced E-waste policy by downing the waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment leading in 2002 , qualification manufacturers responsible for the disposal of E-waste at the end-of-life. (http//www.scribd.com/doc/20784043/Managing-E-waste-Indian-Perspective, Accessed on May second 2010)Large amount of used electronics have been displace to countries like China, India, and Kenya, where lower working conditions and environmental standards make E-waste processing more profitable due to lack-luster enforcement of order regarding exports of E-waste.In Switzerland after implementation of prototypic electronic waste recycling system in 1991, since 2005 it has been possible to save all the E-waste at array points and sale points free of charge. The total amount of recycled E-waste exceeds 10 kg per capita per year and two established manufacturing business certificate of indebtedness Organizations (PRO) are responsible for handling electronic waste and electrical appliances. A policy known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) was employ by European Union, designed to make equipment manufacturers financially or physically responsible for their equipment at the end-of-life cycle. This policy internalized the end-of-life costs and provided a competitive bonus for companies to design equipment with less costs and liabilities. (http//www.scribd.com/doc/20784043/Managing-E-waste-Indian-Perspective, Accessed on May 2nd 2010)Some states in the US developed policies banning CRTs from landfills recently due to the fear of heavy metals being leached into the ground water. Diversion from landfill has been driver for edict in many states requiring collecting and processing of E-waste separately from the solid waste stream. Increased regulation of E-waste and repairs over the environmental harm has lead to disposal costs. The toxic trade by brokers or recyclers with an incentive to export the E-waste to create countries was first exposed by the Basel Action Network (BAN) in their mobilise abroad in 2002. United States has not sanctioned the Basel Ban Amendmen t and no domestic help laws forbidding the export of E-waste. From 2004, State of California and Canada has begun to impose an Electronic waste recycling fee on the purchase of new television, computers and computer components, making recycling mandatory for all those products. The European Union, South Korea, Japan and chinaware have already demanded that manufacturers and sellers be responsible for recycling 75 per cent of electronics item.Computer scrap is managed through various alternatives such as product reuse, conventional disposal in landfills, incineration and recycling in India. Since the methods of disposal are very rudimentary and pose grave environmental and health hazards, it has become a very serious problem. Processing the waste by runaway burning and disposal are causing environmental problems. The biggest source is through imports of E-waste in India. (ENVIS, 2006)Recycling Steps in IndiaManual Dismantling The accrue electronic and electric waste in India is dismantled and sorted manually to fractions cathode ray tubes, printed wiring boards, metals, plastics, cables for component recovery and in precious materials like wood, plastics and other invaluable metals for mechanical shredding. Refining and teach processes are used for treating valuable fractions.Refining and Conditioning In a variety of refining and conditioning processes like separation, open burning, acid baths, different E-waste fractions are processed to reclaimable components and to secondary raw materials.Final Disposal Solid waste is deposited in a municipal landfill where significant emissions to air and water are caused as systematic gas and water collecting systems are not installed. station is crowded with informal waste pickers and valuable materials for recycling collected by people.Figure 3 Different stages of Recycle steps in India (source K. Brigden et al., 2005)E-waste focus in IndiaThe major concern all over the world today is environment preservation and its protection. The Basel convention on the control of Tran boundary lawsuit of perilous wastes and Disposal was signed by India on 15th March, 1990, ratified in 1992 and amended in 2003. India cannot export the Hazardous wastes listed in filename extension VIII of the convention from the countries who ratified the ban agreement and is free to import E-wastes from countries not ratified the Basel Convention. The classification of E-waste as hazardous is unclear in Indian legislation.In India there is wide range of environment legislation but still there are no any specific rules or laws for E-waste (Joseph, 2007). As per the Hazardous Waste Rules implemented, in 1989 particular E-waste is not treated as hazardous unless it is not proved that they contain higher(prenominal) concentration of toxic substance. The electronic waste included under List-A and List-B of Schedule-3 of the Hazardous Wastes (Management Handling) Rules, 1989 are amended in 2000 2003 and now it requires specific permission from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.At this time informal sector collect the all electronic waste around the country and recycle them, Government has crapn the sideline steps to improve the sense or so recycling of E-waste and to establish a sound E-waste management with healthy environment. (Joseph, 2007) Central Pollution Control senesce (CPCB) collaborated with Toxics Link and organised several workshops on E-waste management. CPCB has started to take quick action for rapid assessment of the E-waste generated in major metropolitan cities of the country. To formulate efficient strategy for better E-waste management CPCB has made up a interior(a) working group. The Department of Information Technology (DIT), Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has published full comprehensive technical guide book coroneted Environmental Management for Information Technology Industry in India and circulated this guide book all around the country . The DIT at the Indian name Industries has set up demonstration projects showing how to recover copper from the Printed Circuit Boards.Challenges involved in E-waste management in IndiaDespite of such awareness and willingness for implementing improvements is increasing rapidly there are still few challenges or major obstacles in the way of managing the E-wastes harmlessly and hard-hittingly. These Challenges arePolicy makers are very keen to make a better strategy for an effective E-waste management but they have to face the challenge of lacking of original data. on that point is no any efficient take back design for consumers so that only 10 % E-waste can reach to recyclers.The formal sector of the country does not pose a safe E-waste recycling infrastructure so they have to depend on informal sector that create severe risks to the environment and human health.The existing e waste recycling systems are purely business-driven that have come about without any government inter vention. Any development in these e waste sectors will have to be built on the existing set-up as the waste collection and pre-processing can be handled efficiently by the informal sector, at the very(prenominal) time offer numerous job opportunities.Recommendations for Reducing E-wasteThe new range of sustainability demanding products to be cleaner, long-lived, upgradable and recyclable should be adopted instead of cheaper and faster products. To come across these goals for sustainable production, environmental justice, corporate and government accountability, few recommendations for action ask to be taken. (http//www.scribd.com/doc/23359394/E-waste-System-failure-imminent, Accessed on May 14th 2010)Ban Hazardous Waste Imports Complying with the rules and regulations forwarded by the Basel Convention that import of all the hazardous waste containing any hazardous elements should be banned dumped from developed countries to developing countries. There is no reason that developin g countries of the world should bear the environmental risk without benefiting from this sort of E-waste.Make the Producer Responsible The principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) makes manufacturer responsible for the products throughout the end-of-life cycle. This will make maker to focus more on designing products with recyclable materials, at the resembling time less hazardous. Incentive provided by the legislation for product take back policy to the original equipment manufacturer will eventually shape up this principle, reducing E-waste all over the globe.Inform the Consumer Electronic and Electrical manufacturers must(prenominal)iness specify the hazardous elements contained in their products thus creating awareness among the masses about environmental and health risks posed through these hazardous elements. Proper waste management protocols should also be prescribed to the consumer.Design for Recycling Mechanisms for acquire raw materials while decommission ing an electronic device must be clean, safe and efficient to environment and human health. During recycling and dismantling process, warning must be placed for possible hazards in the work place and products must be made to recyclable form with rapid and easy reduction. terminationOverall the situation of E-waste can be controlled by achieving zero land fill and Zero land fill is only available if we implement the cycle of four R. This four R areReduce try to reduce the E-wastesReuse reuse the E-waste productRecycle recycle the available E-waste for reuseRecover Recover the valuable products after recyclingFigure 4 Cycle of Four RA Case memorise on Recycling of E-wasteName of Company Infotrek Syscom Ltd.Initiative of Socio environmental concernTo build an environmentally safe recycling patternBuilding a forum of Creators of Electronics, corporate houses and Original Equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to help for the cause.Create partnership program.Key Features of Infotrek Syscom Ltd (www.docstoc.com/docs/33807398/E-waste-Management-_-Recycling, Accessed on May 14th 2010)An ISO 90012000 Certified, probably first of its kind and 100% export oriented unit for carrying recycling activities.Well Structured facilities spread over 7000 Sq.ft of building and further plans to acquire 45,000 sq.ft of land near JNPT. new-fashioned Material handling equipments.Fully equipped laboratory to facilitate R D.Facilities of extending latest knowledge to the qualified experienced engineers.Bar code system for maintaining inventory movements.Registered with green online initiative.E-waste Management and RecyclingEquipment Refurbishment and resaleDe-manufacturing and disassembly recuperation of valuable componentsHazardous and base metal recoveryHazardous component management and environment friendly disposal.OutcomesIn a span of just two years of its existence, Eco Recycling Ltd (subsidiary of Infotrek Syscom Ltd), has developed great awareness about the hazards of waste elect rical electronic equipments (WEEE) and need for systematic handling. The change is visible, more and more corporate and individuals have started taking interest and approaching to Ecoreco. It whitethorn not be out of place to mention that Ecoreco is presently military service to more than 200 corporate entities spread across India. (http//www.scribd.com/doc/18020190/EWaste-PPT, Accessed on May 16th 2010)