Rajagiri college of management and applied sciences

Introduction:

Electronic waste, "e-waste," or "Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment" ("WEEE")

is a waste type consisting of any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic appliance. It
is a point of concern considering that many components of such equipment are
considered toxic and are not biodegradable.

Today, electrical and electronic waste (hereafter referred to as e-waste) is the fastest
growing waste stream
Electronic waste includes computers, entertainment electronics, mobile phones and other
items that have been discarded by their original users. While there is no generally
accepted definition of electronic waste, in most cases electronic waste consists of
electronic products that were used for data processing, telecommunications, or
entertainment in private households and businesses that are now considered obsolete,
broken, or irreparable. Despite its common classification as a waste, disposed electronics
are a considerable category of secondary resource due to their significant suitability for
direct reuse (for example, many fully functional computers and components are
discarded during upgrades), refurbishing, and material recycling of its constituent raw
materials (listed below). Reconceptualization of electronic waste as a resource thus pre-
empts its potentially hazardous qualities.

E-waste, being one of the largest sources of heavy metals and organic pollutants in
municipal waste and the fastest growing waste stream, has become a serious problem
in China and other Asian developing nations . These countries not only generate
tremendous amounts of domestic e-waste due to their fast consumption rates of electrical
and electronic (EE) products, but also receive enormous quantities of used information
technology (IT) devices from overseas.

A Central pollution control board (CPCB) report said 65 cities in India generate more
than 60-70% of the total e-waste, which comes from 10 states, that‘s are followed by
Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi,
Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab in the list of e-waste generating states
in India

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 Rajagiri college of management and applied sciences

Effects of E-Waste

There are a lot of problems caused by an irresponsible human attitude to e-recycling.

First of all, e-waste contains toxic materials like lead, cadmium, and Chromium which
are highly dangerous both for people and the environment. Secondly, e-waste is often
indecomposable, so it just accumulates in the ground.

Some of the most common toxic materials found in electronic waste include:

• Mercury – Even low doses of mercury can be poisonous and may cause kidney and
brain damage.

• Lead – Humans are very familiar with the adverse health effects of lead, including
brain damage, particularly in children.

• Beryllium – Many connectors and motherboards include beryllium, which is a human

carcinogen.

• Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) – BFRs affect hormonal functions that are
essential for healthy development negatively.

• Cadmium – Cadmium may cause cancer. When it accumulates within the body, it can
result in kidney damage.

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Causes Of E-Waste

To understand how the e-waste crisis is growing into such a huge problem, it’s essential
to acquaint yourself with the problems that are driving this crisis. Let’s take a look at a
few electronic waste issues.

Upgrading Tech is Easier, Faster, and Acceptable

First, the combination of the high demand for new electronics and the speed at which
gadgets become obsolete continue to drive this crisis. Unfortunately, many consumers
think of purchasing the latest technology without considering what will happen to their
old electronics when they replace them.

Modern Electronics Have a Short Lifecycle

Today, all electronics have a shorter lifecycle than they did years ago. Many individuals
upgrade electronics regularly, which is especially common among cellphone users. New
electronics are continually flooding the market, and the combination of new electronic
products and shorter lifecycles result in more e-waste than ever before.

A Growing Throw Away Culture

Over the past couple of decades, our society has become dependent on electronics and
electronics have become more readily available. Fifty years ago, when a family
purchased a television, they kept it for a decade or more before disposing of it. However,
many families upgrade a TV every couple of years as companies continually market new
upgrades and improved technology.

Toxic Materials Used in Production

Another problem is the poisonous design of electronic equipment since most electronics
contain toxins such as arsenic, mercury and lead. The models of today’s electronics often
fail to take recycling and protecting the environment into account. Other problems
driving the e-waste crisis include few financial incentives to recycle and no laws that
regulate the disposal.

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Solution To E-Waste Problem

The manufacturing of these devices and the use of rare materials that go into their
production represent a huge source of embodied energy. Minimizing e-waste helps to
conserve resources and reduces the amount of energy we take from the earth.Reusing the
precious metals and plastics in old cell phones alone instead of making or mining more
of them would save as much energy as flipping off the power to 24,000 US homes for an
entire year

Re-evaluate: Ask oneself the question that do you really need that extra gadget? Try
finding one device with multiple functions.

Extend the life of your electronics: Buy a case, keep your device clean, and avoid
overcharging the battery.

Buy environmentally friendly electronics: Look for products labeled Energy Star or
certified by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT).

Donate used electronics to social programs: and help victims of domestic violence,
children safety initiatives, environmental causes, and more.

Reuse large electronics: Recycle electronics and batteries in e-waste recycling bins
located around campus. Large electronics can go in the larger bins found in your
building.