E-WASTE: A THREAT TO THE FUTURE

A.S.Arul Lawrence and 2J.Arul Suresh

Abstract "E-waste" is a popular, informal name for electronic products 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. The hazardous content of these materials pose a threat to human health and environment. 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. In this paper, the author deals with the basic information about e-waste and highlights hazards and effects of e-wastes, the need for its appropriate management and options that can be implemented.

INTRODUCTION Social revolution followed by the advances in information technology during the last century has radically changed people's lifestyle. Although this development has helped the human race, mismanagement has led to new problems of contamination and pollution. Ewaste is the most rapidly growing waste problem in the world. In India, e-waste management assumes greater significance not only due to the generation of our own waste but also dumping of e-waste, particularly from the developed countries. With extensively using electronic equipments, people dumping old electronic goods for new ones, the amount of ewaste generated has been steadily increasing. It is a crisis of not quantity alone but also a crisis born from toxic ingredients, posing a threat to the occupational health as well as the environment. E-WASTE Electronic waste, e-waste, e-scrap, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is any broken and/or unwanted or discarded electrical or electronic appliance. According to the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), E-waste comprises of wastes generated from used electrical, electronic devices and household appliances which are not fit for their original intended use and are destined for recovery, recycling and/or disposal. The proposed definition of e-waste rules under consideration of the Government of India is E-waste means waste electrical and electronic equipments, whole or in part that are not fit for their original intended use and are destined for refurbishment, dismantling, recycling or disposal, it also includes scrap rejects from the manufacturing process of electrical and electronic equipments.
1

Principal-in-charge, St.Joseph College of Education, Kadamboduvalvu, Nanguneri627108, Tirunelveli District. 2 Asst. Professor of Tamil, St.Joseph College of Education, Kadamboduvalvu, Nanguneri627108, Tirunelveli District.

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COMPONENTS OF E-WASTE E-waste encompasses ever growing range of obsolete electronic devices (computers, servers, main frames, monitors, TVs & display devices), telecommunication devices (cellular phones & pagers, calculators, audio and video devices, printers, cartridges, scanners, copiers and fax machines), white goods (refrigerators, air conditioners, cooling and freezing appliances, washing machines, dryers and microwave oven), home entertainment and stereo systems, recording devices (iPods, pen drives, DVDs, CDs, floppies, tapes and cassettes), laboratory electronic waste (OHP, LCD and film strip projectors, hot air ovens, centrifuges, agitators etc.), military and medical electronic waste, automobile catalytic converters, electronic components (chips, processors, mother boards and printed circuit boards), industrial electronics (sensors, alarms and sirens), security devices, automobile electronic devices, household items (mixers, grinders, juicers, coffee makers, toasters, kettles etc) playthings like toys and almost any household or business item with circuitry or electrical components with power or battery supply. CATEGORIES OF E-WASTE E-waste has been categorized into 3 main categories. They are (i) Large Household Appliances (Refrigerator and Washing Machine) (ii) IT & Telecom (PC, Laptop and cellular phones) and (iii) Consumer Equipment (TV). Each of these E-waste items has been classified with respect to 26 common components, which could be found in them. These are the building blocks of each item and they are readily identifiable and removable. These components are metal, motor/compressor, cooling, plastic, insulation, glass, LCD, rubber, wiring/electrical, concrete, transformer, magnetron, textile, circuit board, fluorescent lamp, incandescent lamp, heating element, thermostat, BFR-containing plastic, batteries, CFC/HCFC/HFC/HC, external electric cables, refractory ceramic fibers, radioactive substances and electrolyte capacitors (over L/D 25 mm). WHY IS E-WASTE GROWING? Unfortunately, electronic discards is one of the fastest growing segments of our nation's waste stream. E-waste becomes outdated due to: advancement in technology, rapid product innovations and replacement, changes in fashion, style and status, nearing the end of their useful life, low initial cost, high obsolescence rate, legal framework, improper collection system, imported e-waste coming regularly to the recycling markets, the markets in which these products are produced are also growing rapidly.

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E-WASTE GROWTH IN INDIA The e-waste inventory in India for the year 2005 showed approximately 1,46,180 tonnes and is expected to exceed 8,00,000 tonnes by 2012. An assessment made in Chennai city in 2004-05, on the e-waste generated from PCs, TVs and mobile phones revealed that about 26,183 tons e-waste was generated in the year, which was estimated to increase to 1,32,778 tones by 2013-14. 65 cities in India generate more than 60% of the total e-waste generated in India. 10 states generate 70% of the total e-waste generated in India. Maharashtra ranks first followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab in the list of e-waste generating states in India. Among top 10 cities generating e-waste, Mumbai ranks first followed by Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Surat and Nagpur. There are 2 small e-waste dismantling facilities that are functioning in Chennai and Bangalore. There is no large scale organized e-waste recycling facility in India and the entire recycling exists in unorganized sector. E-WASTE: DIFFERENT FROM MUNICIPAL WASTE E-waste is not just like a general municipal waste, because the composition of e-waste is very diverse and differs in products. It contains more than 1000 different substances, which fall under hazardous and non-hazardous categories. In addition, e-waste contains many valuable and precious materials. In fact up to 60 elements can be found in complex electronics. Substances found in large quantities include epoxy resins, fiberglass, PCBs, PVC, thermosetting plastics, lead, tin, copper, silicon, beryllium, carbon, iron and aluminium. Elements found in small amounts include cadmium, mercury, and thallium. Elements found in trace amounts include americium, antimony, arsenic, barium, bismuth, boron, cobalt, europium, gallium, germanium, gold, indium, lithium, manganese, nickel, niobium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, selenium, silver, tantalum, terbium, thorium, titanium, vanadium, and yttrium. Almost all electronics contain lead and tin and copper, though the use of lead-free solder is now spreading rapidly. Because of this complex composition of valuable and hazardous substances, specialized, often high-tech methods are required to process e-waste in ways that maximize resource recovery and minimize potential harm to humans or the environment. EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH Disposal of e-wastes is a particular problem faced in many regions across the globe. Computer wastes that are landfilled produces contaminated leachates which eventually -3-

pollute the groundwater. Acids and sludge obtained from melting computer chips, if disposed on the ground causes acidification of soil. Incineration of e-wastes can emit toxic fumes and gases, thereby polluting the surrounding air. Improperly monitored landfills can cause environmental hazards. Mercury will leach when certain electronic devices, such as circuit breakers are destroyed. The same is true for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from condensers. It has been found that significant amounts of lead ion are dissolved from broken lead containing glass, such as the cone glass of cathode ray tubes, gets mixed with acid waters and are a common occurrence in landfills. If these electronic items are discarded with other household garbage, the toxics pose a threat to both health and vital components of the ecosystem. In view of the ill-effects of hazardous wastes to both environment and health, several countries exhorted the need for a global agreement to address the problems and challenges posed by hazardous waste.
Source of e-wastes Diodes, semiconductors and batteries Integrated circuits and semiconductors Front panel of CRTs Motherboard Plastic housing of electronic equipments and circuit boards. Chip resistors and semiconductors Corrosion protection of untreated and galvanized steel plates, decorator or hardener for steel housings Solder in printed circuit boards, glass panels and gaskets in computer monitors Relays and switches, printed circuit boards Cabling and computer housing Constituent Antimony (Sb) Arsenic (As) Barium (Ba) Beryllium (Be) Brominated flame retardants (BFR) Cadmium (Cd) Hexavalent chromium (Cr) VI Health effects in Human Toxic to humans in ways similar to arsenic; fatal in large doses It is a notoriously potent poison; causes severe damage to the digestive tract Causes muscle weakness; damage to heart, liver & spleen. Long term exposure can be carcinogenic, especially for the lungs. Extreme exposure can lead to a potentially fatal condition known as Acute Beryllium Disease or Beryllicosis. Disrupts endocrine system functions Potentially carcinogenic & teratogenic; accumulates in kidney and liver; Causes neural damage. Asthmatic bronchitis; DNA damage. Extremely harmful to the human body; damages both the central and peripheral nervous systems; cause seizures, retardation, high blood pressure, damage to the kidneys and liver; adversely affects brain development of children Attacks the central nervous and endocrine systems; harmful to mouth, teeth and gums; poses risk in the neurological development of unborn fetuses Burning produces dioxin. It causes reproductive and developmental problems; immune system damage; interfere with regulatory hormones

Lead (Pb)

Mercury (Hg) Plastics including PVC

E-WASTE MANAGEMENT E-waste management begins at the point of generation. This can be done by waste minimization techniques and by sustainable product design. Waste minimization in industries involves adopting: inventory management, production-process modification, volume

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reduction, recovery and reuse. Minimization of hazardous wastes should be at product design stage itself keeping in mind the following factors:

Rethink the product design: Efforts should be made to design a product with fewer amounts of hazardous materials. For example, the efforts to reduce material use are reflected in some new computer designs that are flatter, lighter and more integrated.

Use of renewable materials and energy: Bio-based plastics are plastics made with plant-based chemicals or plant-produced polymers rather than from petrochemicals. Bio-based toners, glues and inks are used more frequently. Solar computers also exist but they are currently very expensive.

Use of non-renewable materials that are safer: Because many of the materials used are non-renewable, designers could ensure the product is built for re-use, repair and/or upgradeability.

BEST PRACTICES FOR E-WASTE MANAGEMENT It is estimated that 75% of electronic items are stored due to uncertainty of how to manage it. The formula of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle is the only answer for e-waste. Reduce the generation of e-waste through smart procurement and good maintenance; Reuse still functioning electronic equipment by donating or selling it to someone who can still use it; Recycle those components that cannot be repaired. 1. Be aware of local and federal regulations. A number of legislative issues can pose a liability to organizations failing to adhere to sound computer disposal practices. 2. Donate. Giving old PCs to charity not only helps others in need but can also result in a tax break for your organization. Charitable organizations that take old computers, non-profit organizations that accept computer donations. 3. Recycle. Most electronic devices contain a variety of materials, including metals that can be recovered for future uses. Recycling involves dismantling i.e. removal of different parts of e-waste containing dangerous substances, separation of plastic, removal of CRT, segregation of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and printed circuit boards. 4. Return to manufacturer. A number of manufacturers such as Dell, Apple, and HP, offer product take-back programs.

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5. Re-use or sell. E-devices that are slightly past their prime can be transferred to others who don't require quite as much functionality. Old equipment can also be sold to others for their own personal use. 6. Sanitize before disposal. It is crucial that PCs and laptops are properly sanitized before they are disposed of, as hard drives often contain sensitive information that could cause privacy violations. A digital sanitization tool must be used to sanitize hardware. Hardware can also be destroyed using a variety of physical methods such as incineration or melting. 7. Shop green. IT managers should be proactive in reducing the environmental impact of their department by shopping for environmentally friendly products to begin with. INFORMATION EDUCATION COMMUNICATION (IEC) According to the UN, e-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world today, and the environmental and legal concerns involved in disposing of e-waste can have important implications for organizations. Awareness needs to be created among all stakeholders in the e-waste value chain i.e., beginning from commercial and domestic users, industries, recyclers, government agencies and the public on environmentally sound management of e-waste. The following training and awareness programmes can be organized for different stakeholders educating them on various aspects of e-waste handling: 1. Consumer awareness programmes to be organized on the selection of eco-friendly and green products. 2. Information to be provided to consumers to deposit the end-of-life used equipments (e-waste) in the designated collection boxes or collection centres. 3. E-waste collectors and waste pickers to be given specialized training through identified organizations for handling different categories of e-waste. 4. Professional training to be imparted to workers employed/likely to be employed in ewaste recycling units, through well-designed training programmes and participants to be certified. 5. Industries may be encouraged to conduct awareness programmes for their employees and their families. 6. Awareness programmes on safe disposal / recycling of e-waste may be included in the curriculum / co-curriculum at the school and college level. 7. All types of media shall be used in the awareness campaign. -6-

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITIZEN E-wastes should never be disposed with garbage and other household wastes. This should be segregated at the site and sold or donated to various organizations. But care should be taken while donating such items i.e. the items should be in working condition. While buying electronic products opt for those that are made with fewer toxic constituents, use recycled content, are energy efficient, are designed for easy upgrading or disassembly, utilize minimal packaging, offer leasing or take-back options, have been certified by regulatory authorities. Customers should opt for upgrading their computers or other electronic items to the latest versions rather than buying new equipments. CONCLUSION In summary one can clearly grasp and understand that the e-waste problem is of global concern because of the nature of production and disposal of waste in a globalized world. Although it is difficult to quantify global e-waste amounts, we do know that large amounts are ending up in places where processing occurs at a very rudimentary level. This raises concerns about resource efficiency and also the immediate concerns of the dangers to humans and the environment. There is a long and often complicated chain of events in the ewaste problem, beginning from an idea that someone has for a new product and then its production, ending in its purchase and eventual disposal by the end user. By engaging with various stakeholders and relevant scientific wisdom within this chain of events, we are on the way to Solve the E-waste Problem (StEP). E-waste is not only a concern for environmentalists but for every citizen as well. It is important for every citizen to familiarize themselves with the legalities involved in disposing of old PCs, monitors, and peripherals to help both the environment and their organization's bottom line.
***** References 1. E-Waste Policy (2010). Government of Tamil Nadu, from http://www.tn.gov.in/gosdb/gorders/it/it_e_18_2010.pdf 2. Freeman M. H., (1989). Standard Handbook of Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal, McGrawHill Company, USA. 3. Guidelines for environmentally sound management of e-waste (2008), Ministry of Environment & Forests from http://www.cpcb.nic.in/latest/27.06.08_guidelines_for_E-Waste.pdf 4. http://ecoreco.com/pdf/about-e-waste.pdf 5. http://www.step-initiative.org/initiative/what-is-e-waste.php 6. IRGSSA (2004) Management, handling and practices of E-waste recycling in Delhi. IRGSSA, India. 7. Ramachandra and Varghese (2004). Environmentally sound options for e-wastes management. Envis Journal of Human Settlements. 8. Sharon M. Manalac (2010), Electronic Waste: A threat in the future, University of the Philippines, from http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/ptb/ejgc/ejgc3/manalac_paper.pdf

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