ABSTRACT

E-waste encompasses a broad and growing range of electronic devices ranging from large
household appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, hand-held cellular phones, personal
stereos, and consumer electronics to computers.

E-waste has become a problem of crisis proportions because of two primary characteristics:

• E-waste is hazardous —

E-waste contains over 1,000 different substances, many of which are toxic, and creates
serious pollution upon disposal. Just some of the materials found in computers can be found
in Annex I. A full discussion of the hazardous characteristics of E-waste is at the Hazards in
E-Waste section of this report.

• E-waste is generated at alarming rates due to obsolescence —

Due to the extreme rates of obsolescence, E-waste produces much higher volumes of waste
in comparison to other consumer goods. Where once consumers purchased a stereo console
or television set with the expectation that it would last for a decade or more, the increasingly
rapid evolution of technology combined with rapid product obsolescence has effectively
rendered everything disposable. Consumers now rarely take broken electronics to a repair
shop as replacement is now often easier and cheaper than repair.

The average lifespan of a computer has shrunk from four or five years to two years.1 Part
of this rapid obsolescence is the result of a rapidly evolving technology. But it is also clear that
such obsolescence and the throw away ethic results in a massive increase in corporate profits,
particularly when the electronics industry does not have to bear the financial burden of
downstream costs. Now expert and scientists are looking for reducing the e waste and they
suggest different solutions.

INTRODUCTION
Electronics has made life easier for us. But the omnipresence of electronics in modern
life has a seamy underside. Certain materials used in electronic products are toxic and pose a
threat to the environment. The situation is becoming serious with the increasing use of
electronics.

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is the inevitable by-product of a technological revolution.

Driven primarily by faster, smaller and cheaper microchip technology, society is experiencing an
evolution in the capability of electronic appliances and personal electronics. For all its benefits,
innovation brings with it the byproduct of rapid obsolescence.

According to the EPA, nationally, an estimated 5 to 7 million tons of computers,

televisions, stereos, cell phones, electronic appliances and toys, and other electronic gadgets
become obsolete every year. According to various reports, electronics comprise approximately 1-
4 percent of the municipal solid waste stream. The electronic waste problem will continue to
grow at an accelerated rate
 Alarm bells have started ringing. And to grapple with the situation, the industry is
resorting to 'green electronics.' Green electronics focuses on elimination of harmful elements and
components, and recycling of electronic products at the end of life. Among the harmful elements
are lead, cadmium, mercury and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE).

ELECTRONIC WASTE

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is the inevitable by-product of a technological revolution.

Driven primarily by faster, smaller and cheaper microchip technology, society is experiencing an
evolution in the capability of electronic appliances and personal electronics. For all its benefits,
innovation brings with it the byproduct of rapid obsolescence.

According to the EPA, nationally, an estimated 5 to 7 million tons of computers,

televisions, stereos, cell phones, electronic appliances and toys, and other electronic gadgets
become obsolete every year. According to various reports, electronics comprise approximately 1-
4 percent of the municipal solid waste stream. The electronic waste problem will continue to
grow at an accelerated rate.

Electronic, or e-waste, refers to electronic products being discarded by consumers. These

include:

• Televisions and computer monitors

• Computers and computer peripherals
• Audio and stereo equipment
• VCRs and DVD players
• Telephones, cellular phones and other wireless devices

Computer monitors and older television picture tubes contain an average of four pounds of
lead. In addition to lead, electronics can contain chromium, cadmium, mercury, beryllium, nickel,
and zinc. When electronics are not disposed of or recycled properly, these toxic materials can
present problems. Safely recycling outdated electronics can promote the safe management of
hazardous components and allows for the recovery and reuse of valuable materials.

E-WASTE: WHAT'S THE BIG ISSUE?

Most homes in Arkansas have at least one television and a computer, as well as
several other consumer electronics devices. Most Arkansas businesses and industries rely on
electronics in their work. From banking to the traffic signals on city streets, electronic
equipment makes our world comfortable and productive. But what happens to all of these
electronics when they break down or no longer serve the users' needs? They become part of
the fastest growing component of our daily solid waste stream - electronic waste, commonly
referred to as e-waste.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, about year. By 2004, as

many as 315 million obsolete computers 1.5 million computers currently enter the waste
stream each could be disposed of in landfills; by 2005, most people will trade in their
computers for newer models every two years. Plus, with High Definition Televisions
entering the market, many consumers will purchase new televisions just to have the latest
electronic gadget. European research shows that electronics waste is growing at three times
the rate of other municipal waste.
Typically, electronics are discarded with household garbage. However

hazardous elements lead, mercury and cadmium for example found in electronics can be
dangerous when they are compacted at landfills. Televisions and CRT (cathode ray tube)
monitors contain an average of four pounds of lead and could contain double that amount
depending on size and make. Mercury from electronics has been cited as a leading source of
mercury in municipal waste. The largest source of cadmium in municipal waste is
rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries, commonly found in laptops, cell phones and
cameras. In addition, brominated flame-retardants are commonly added to plastics used in
electronics. If improperly handled, these toxins can be released into the environment, posing
a threat to human health.

Hazards in E-Waste

Although it is hardly well known, E-waste contains a witches’ brew of toxic substances
such as lead and cadmium in circuit boards; lead oxide and cadmium in monitor cathode ray
tubes (CRTs); mercury in switches and flat screen monitors; cadmium in computer batteries;
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in older capacitors and transformers; and brominated flame
retardants on printed circuit boards, plastic casings, cables and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cable
insulation that release highly toxic dioxins and furans when burned to retrieve copper from the
wires. Due to the hazards involved, disposing and recycling E waste has serious legal and
environmental implications. When computer waste is land filled or incinerated, it poses
significant contamination problems. Landfills leach toxins into groundwater and incinerators emit
toxic air pollutants including dioxins. Likewise, the recycling of computers has serious
occupational and environmental implications, particularly when the recycling industry is often
marginally profitable at best and often cannot afford to take the necessary precautions to protect
the environment and worker health.

Lead—the negative effects of lead are well established and recognized. It was first banned from
gasoline in the 1970s. Lead causes damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood
systems, kidney and reproductive system in humans.

Cadmium—Cadmium compounds are toxic with a possible risk of irreversible effects on human
health, and accumulate in the human body, particularly the kidneys.

Mercury—Mercury can cause damage to various organs including the brain and kidneys, as well
as the fetus.

Mercury, used in flat panel displays, will likely increase as

Their use replaces cathode ray tubes.28

E-WASTE PREDICTIONS

• It is estimated that 130 million cell phones will be discarded this year alone. Counting
batteries and chargers as well as the phones themselves, the estimated waste amounts to
65000 tones a year.
 • A report from the Silicon Valley toxic
coalition predicts that 500 million computers
will become obsolete by 2007, resulting in
2.87 million tones of plastic and 717
thousand tones of lead.
• The world watch institute reported that
more than 2.9 million tons of electronic
waste was land filled in 1997.
• Toxics link, a Delhi based organization
says that India generate $1.5 billion worth of
e- waste annually. In other words,
manufactures and assemblers produce
around 1050 tones of electronic scrap in a
single year
• 40 million computers were obsolete in
2001
• Only about 10% were recycled
• Electronics are a rapidly growing part of
the waste stream
• Toxic components can present hazards
• 315 Million PCs will become obsolete in
2004.
• 130 Million Mobile phones will be disposed
of in 2005.
• Similar waste flows for Pads, MP3 players,
computer game equipment.
• 20 to 50 Million tons of e-waste per year world-wide.

CAN WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEAD?

 Around 90 percent of all electronic components contain some lead. There are many
technological and economic challenges before the initiative to produce lead-free components.
Efforts are being made to find feasible and cost-effective ways to reduce lead in electronic
products.

The ever-increasing functionality of information technology (IT) products is enabled by

semiconductors. Semiconductors are the basis of all the electronic components and lead is the
glue that binds all the semiconductor devices to make them work efficiently. Lead is used to a
large extent in solders used in electronics. Without the use of lead solders and leaded glass, you
would not be able to safely sit in front of your computer. Lead alloy solders enable your computer
to send electronic data.

Lead was discarded from paints, ceramic glazers and plumbing solders years ago due to
its poisoning effects, but the solders used in electronic applications were not targeted for such
elimination because of their limited utilization and disposal. However, within the last decade,
microelectronics has made significant strides resulting in widespread utilization and disposal of
components containing lead solders.

It is estimated that one billion pounds of lead are contained in obsolete computers in the US
alone. Two computers become obsolete for every three purchased. For the year 2005, this ratio is
estimated at 1:1. That means we have to recycle computers as fast

CONSEQUENCES OF USING LEAD-FREE SOLDERS

Lead is very toxic to humans and can, among other things, cause serious chronic damage.
Other metals such as silver (Ag) tin (Sn) and copper (Cu) have significantly lower toxic effects
on the human body. From a health perspective, it therefore seems sound to avoid lead in tin
solders if there is a risk of human exposure.

Use of modern production equipment, in which the soldering process takes place in
closed systems, reduces or eliminates the risk of human exposure in work-related situations.
However, there would always be a risk of exposure in maintenance and repair of production
equipment. In relation to the working environment alone, it is therefore relevant to a certain
extent to phase out alloys containing lead.

In the long term, humans are primarily exposed to lead via the environment. When
soldered products are disposed of, a greater or smaller share of the material will end up in the
waste system. When incinerated, lead contents become easily soluble, leading to increased
leaching from the landfills where residues from waste incineration end up.

The significance of changing to lead-free alloys is uncertain seen from an

ecotoxicological perspective, because it is uncertain how the alternative metals spread and
degrade. Silver, for example, which is present in almost all lead-free alternatives, is far more
toxic to aquatic organisms than lead.

Using toxicological profiles for lead, tin, silver and copper the individual alloy's toxicity to
humans and the environmental aspect were assessed. A total assessment of the metals is shown in the
table here. The number of plusses indicates the magnitude of effects.

DISPOSAL OF E-WASTE
 Just beneath the glamorous surface of the benefits and the wealth created by the
information technology revolution looms a darker reality. Vast resource consumption and

Waste generations are increasing at alarming rates. The electronics industry is the world’s largest
and fastest growing manufacturing industry, and as a consequence of this growth, combined with
rapid product obsolescence, discarded electronics or E-waste, is now the fastest growing waste
stream in the industrialized world. The growing quantity of E-waste is beginning to reach
disastrous proportions and industrialized countries all over the world are just now beginning to
grapple with the problem. After initially turning a blind eye to the problem, governments of all
sizes have been forced to respond as E-waste begins to seriously inundate solid waste disposal
facilities and programs:

e-waste can be disposed in three ways

1.incineration,

2.land filling

3.recycling

INCINERATION.

Incineration entails destroying the e-waste including computers and other electronic
devices and components by burning. But this waste contributes significantly to heavy metals and
halogen Ted substances. Because of the variety of different substances found together in electro
scrap, incineration is particularly dangerous.

The introduction of waste from electrical and electronic equipment into incinerators
results in high concentrations of metals, including heavy metals, in the slag, fly ash, flue gas and
filter cake. More than 90 per cent of cadmium and lead put to an incinerator is found in the fly
ash and more than 70 per cent of the mercury in the filter cake. Some producers send their electro
scrap to cement kilns for use as an alternative to fuel. Smelting can present dangers similar to
incineration.

LANDFILLING

Land filling involves disposing the e-waste by burying it, especially as a method of filling
in and reclaiming excavated pits. But it has Landfills leak. Even the best 'state-of-the-art' landfills
don't remain completely tight throughout their lifetimes and a certain amount of chemical and
metal leaching will occur. The situation is worse for older or uncontrolled dump sites.

Mercury leaches when certain electronic devices, such as circuit breakers, are destroyed. The same
is true for PCBs from condensers. When brominated flame-retarded plastic or cadmium-containing plastics
are land filled, both PBDE and cadmium may leach into the soil and ground water. It has been found that
significant amounts of lead ions are dissolved from broken lead containing glass, such as the cone glass of
cathode ray tubes, when mixed with acid waters.

RECYCLING

Recycling of hazardous products has little environmental benefit it simply moves the
hazards into secondary products that eventually have to be disposed of. Unless the goal is to
redesign the product to use non-hazardous materials, such recycling is a false’ solution
Environmental problems during recycling are not linked to halogenated substances only.
Hazardous emissions to the air also result from the recycling of e-waste containing heavy metals,
such as lead and cadmium. These-emissions could be significantly reduced by pretreatment
operations. Another problem with heavy metals and halogenated substances in untreated waste
occurs during the shredding process. Since most waste is shredded without proper disassembly,
hazardous substances, such as PCBs contained in capacitors, may be dispersed into the recovered
metals and the shredder waste.

Re-use—Re-use constitutes direct second-hand use, or use after slight modifications are made to
the original functioning equipment—memory upgrades, etc. Re-use makes up a small percentage
(about 3% in 1998) of the computers that have been discarded by their users. These computers are
later sold in very small numbers at some recycling stores or are given to schools, or non-profit
organizations. School districts that used to accept older computers though, now demand more
recent generation computers for training students. Foreign markets, on the other hand, have such
cheap labor forces that they can buy working and non-working old computers, repair them at very
little cost, and resell them for a profit. While there are no figures available, the amount of
computers being exported for reuse is increasingly significant. While extending the usable life of
a computer is a good thing, these older units obviously have a limited life span and will end up as
waste sooner or later. Thus, these used computers will also end up as E-waste on foreign shores,
often in countries that are least able to deal with them.

The Recycled Materials

Most of the activity in Guiyu involves physical dismantling by hammer, chisel, screw driver
and bare hand. The most high-tech piece of dismantling equipment witnessed was an electric
drill. The immediate objective of most of the operations involve dismantling—the rapid
separation of primary materials. The following materials were observed being separated for
further recycling:

• Material containing copper: Including printer and other motors, wires and cables, CRT
yokes.
• Steel: Including internal computer frames, power supply housings, printer parts, etc.
• Valuable reusable processors and chips: for resale
• Other chips and connectors containing gold: for acid processing
• Solder: (lead/tin base) for resale
• Plastic: Including housings of computers, printers, faxes, phones, monitors, keyboards, etc.
• Aluminum: Printer parts, etc.
• Printer Toner: From spent toner cartridges
• Circuit Boards: These come from many applications including computers, phones, disc
drives, printers, monitors, etc. These boards were subject to further separation in other
facilities as follows:

IMPORTANCE OF COMPUTE RECYCLING

The electronic computer equipment is a complicated assembly of more than 1000

materials, many of which are highly toxic. These include chlorinated and brominated substances,
toxic gases, toxic metals, photo-active and biologically active materials, acids, plastics and plastic
additives. When computer waste is land filled or incinerated, the toxic materials and emissions
contaminate the water resources and air. So recycling of electronic components has also assumed
importance.
The e-toxic components in computers include:

• Computer circuit boards containing heavy metals like lead and cadmium
• Computer batteries containing cadmium
• Cathode ray tubes with lead oxide and barium
• Brominated flame-retardants used on PCBs, cables and plastic casing
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coated copper cables and plastic computer casings that release
highly toxic dioxins and furans when burnt to recover valuable metals
• Mercury switches
• Mercury in flat screens
• Polychlorinated biphenyls present in older capacitors and transformers

It is estimated that one billion pounds of lead are contained in obsolete computers in the US
alone. Two computers become obsolete for every three purchased. For the year 2005, this ratio is
estimated at 1:1. That means we have to recycle computers as fast. It is estimated that one billion
pounds of lead are contained in obsolete computers in the US alone. Two computers becom
obsolete for every three purchased. For the year 2005, this ratio is estimated at 1:1. That means
we have to recycle computers as fast

ROLE OF SOCIETY AND COMPANIES

Role of society

The society plays a pivotal role in addressing the problem of e-waste. We just have to keep
these things in mind:

1. Identify durable products: When shopping for electronic and electrical equipment, review
the products for re pair history and consumer reliability ratings.

2. Repair instead of replace: Repairing an electronic or electrical item may be cheaper than
replacing it.

3. Buy upgradeable gear: Some products can be upgraded by replacing a single component
instead of the complete unit. This saves money and reduces waste.

Role of companies

Companies need to stick to:

1. Material innovation: Reduce the amount of material used and develop materials that have
less environmental impact and more value at the end of life.

2. Recyclable designs: De RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Currently, three proposals are under consideration that will significantly affect the design,
manufacture and disposal of all forms of electrical and electronic equipment:

1. Directive on waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The WEEE directive
aims at preventing generation of waste equipment and seeks collection of end-of-life
equipment for reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery. It also seeks to improve the
environmental performance of all economic operators involved in the life cycle of electrical
 and electronic equipment, particularly those who are directly involved in the treatment of
waste equipment. The proposal covers all the electronic equipment used by consumers and
currently not treated before going to incinerators or landfills.

2. . Directive on restriction of use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic

equipment (ROHs). Originally part of the WEEE directive, the phase-out of hazardous
substances has now been made into a separate directive. It seeks to harmonize national
measures on restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic
equipment and introduces a substitution requirement for those sub stances in electrical and
electronic equipment which pose major environ mental problems during the disposal and
recycling of such waste.

3. Working paper for an electrical and electronic equipment directive (EEE). This working paper
from the European Commission's Enterprise Directorate General contains the initial draft for
a directive that harmonizes the requirements concerning the design of electrical and
electronic equipment. It aims at ensuring that the overall impact of electrical and electronic
equipment on the environment during their life cycle is minimised and specifies provisions
for the design and manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment to do this.

EXTENDED PRODUCT RESPONSIBILITY

But it's more than recycling. It's also about sustainability. Extended Product
Responsibility (EPR) challenges each of us to reduce the life cycle environmental effects of
products. It is a challenge that consumers, governments and the private sector must accept.

Some manufacturers and retailers already have accepted that challenge. Sony Electronics
recently announced that it is setting up a take back and recycling program for Sony products in
Minnesota. IBM offers a computer recycling service for consumers and small businesses.
Gateway Country stores give discounts for new personal computers to individuals who donate
working 386-class or better computers of any brand to Goodwill. Dell Computer Corporation is
manufacturing a line of computers that are completely recyclable. Hewlett Packard has added
design improvements that help with disassembly.

One campaign, "Take It Back" has been developed by several organizations to support
EPR. Their objective is to encourage manufacturers assume financial responsibility for their
products when they become obsolete. If this were the case, organizers believe that manufacturers
would have an incentive to reduce cost by designing products that are reusable, repairable,
upgradeable, and recyclable and so on.

Recently, Massachusetts has formed the Product Stewardship Institute. The Institute,
which is housed at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, will assist Massachusetts and other
states in promoting environmentally sound product management and design through coordinated,
multi-stakeholder stewardship agreements negotiated with industry.

Currently, there are no electronic products recycling programs in South Carolina. The
S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Recycling Market Development
Advisory Council are currently working with the Product Stewardship Institute on this issue.

sign equipments that is easier to upgrade or rec USEFUL CONTACTS

EIA Consumer Education Initiative (CEI) The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), a trade
association for the electronic industry, has developed the Consumer Education Initiative web site
to help households and small businesses find environmentally responsible options for donating
and recycling electronics in their community. This web site also provides information on what
member companies are doing to incorporate environmental attributes into electronic products.

International Association of Electronics Recyclers (IAER) IAER has an online directory of

electronic recyclers. This database is ideal for large organizations that are looking for a company
to handle used electronics. The IAER web site also has information on electronics recycling news
and industry events.

National Recycling Coalition (NRC) NRC is a non-profit group dedicated to advancing

recycling and source reduction. NRC's Electronics Recycling Initiative web site contains
information on procurement and other electronics recycling issues.

EPA's Product Stewardship Program EPA's Product Stewardship program encourages

environmentally sustainable management of a variety of products, including electronics. Visit the
program's web site for information about electronics stewardship projects that are occurring
across the country.

Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Arkansas's environmental agency

offers technical and educational assistance. Contact the Solid Waste Management Division,
Recycling Branch for assistance with recycling information and educational opportunities. This
web site also contains contact information for the state's 16 Regional Solid Waste Management
Districts.

The Wireless Foundation This organization collects and distributes cellular phones for
neighborhood crime prevention, domestic safety and education programs. Click on "Donate a
phone" in the left column and follow text instructions to find drop-off locations.

CONCLUSION

Companies go after newer products without actually looking after the impacts they have
on the environment. So, green electronics deals with creating awareness about the electronic
wastes that are being introduced very rapidly. It focuses on disposal, recycling, designing
products that are less hazardous, etc. The knowledge of green electronics is essential for a good
electronics engineer for good future.