E-WASTE

MANAGEMENT

E-Waste Topics of Importance

What exactly is E-waste?

Categories and components of E-waste

Dangers of E-waste

The sensitive nature of E-waste

Laws and regulations

Stakeholders in E-waste

What can be done with E-waste?

E-Waste management initiatives (International)

The de-manufacturing and recycle processes

What exactly is E-waste?

E-Waste Items

All types of computers and accessories

Cell, smart, and home phones

Answering machines, tapes and accessories

Office equipment (fax machines, printers, & copiers)

Digital cameras & associated storage devices

TVs, DVRs, cable boxes & video equipment

Audio equipment and accessories

Navigation devices

All other electronic devices & storage media

E-Waste Generators

Homes & Residences

Commercial Businesses

Professional Offices

Financial Institutions

Health Care Industries

Large Manufacturing Industries

Utilities & Public Services

Local, State & Central Governments

Background

Obsolescence of technology: outdated within 18months

Upcoming analog to digital conversion

Electronic Waste [Waste EEE (Electric, ElectronicEquipment)] one of the fast growing waste streamsall over the world

E-waste has been identified as the fastest growingwaste stream in the world; forecast to soon reach 40million tonnes a year.

The European Environment Agency has calculatedthat the volume of e-waste is rising about three timesfaster than any other form of municipal waste.

Background

Average 1-3% of total solid waste in developedcountries

Increases by 16-28% every 5 years

Electric and electronic equipment contain over 1,000different substances including toxic heavy metals andorganics which can pose serious environmentalpollution problem upon irresponsible disposal

E-waste as source hazardous wastes

E-waste can be an overland mine for specific metals

E-waste is a GLOBAL CRISIS to be challenged

In 2009 Egypt jumped to 500-1060 mobile phones per 1000 people category.

Source World Bank 2002

E – Waste Facts

E-waste (Mobile Phones)

700 million obsolete phones discarded in

2005 contained 560,000 kg of lead in the

form of solder

Average working life - 7 years but

Worldwide average - 11 months

Over one billion handsets in use in 2006

E – Waste Facts

E-waste (Computers)

Manufacturing takes at least 240 kg of fossil

fuels, 22 kg of chemicals and 1.5 tonnes of

water – more than the weight of a car

Life span changed from 4-6 years in 1997 to 2

years in 2005 and further decreasing

One billion in use by the end of 2008 - two

billion by 2015

COMPONENTS OF E-WASTE

Fe and steel

Non-ferrous metals (Pb, Cu, Al, Au, …)

Glass

Plastic

Electronic components (R, C, L, ICs…)

Others (rubber, wood, ceramics, …)

COMPONENTS OF E-WASTE

(Hazardous Materials)

Component Hazardous Materials

CRT Pb, As, Hg, P

LCD Hg

Fluorescent lamp Hg, P, flame retardants (FR)

Cooling system Ozone depleting substance (ODS)

Others Se, AsO3, Cd, Cr, Co, Mn, Br, Ba

COMPONENTS OF E-WASTE

(Hazardous Materials Inside a PC)

Material Occurrence in E-waste Health and Environmental Impact

Beryllium Copper-beryllium alloys,

springs, relays and

connections

beryllium sensitization/chronic

beryllium disease

human carcinogens

released as beryllium oxide dust or

fume during high temperature metal

processing

Cadmium Contacts, switches, nickel-

cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries,

printer inks and toners

persistent and mobile in aquatic

environments (ATSDR 2000)

damage to the kidneys and bone

toxicity, released if plastic is burned

or during high temperature metal

processing

Lead Circuit boards/ cathode ray

tubes CTR

Risk for small children and fetuses

Damage to the nervous system,

red blood cells, kidneys and

potential increases in high blood

pressure;

Incineration can result in release to

the air

DANGERS OF E-WASTE

Material Occurrence in E-waste Health and Environmental Impact

Mercury Lighting devices that

illuminate flat screen

displays, switches and

relays

Impacts the central nervous

system

Land filling and incineration of flat

panel displays results in the release

to the environment

PCBs

(polychlorinated

biphenyls)

Insulating fluids for

transformers and capacitors,

flame-retardant plasticizers

Suppression of the immune

system, liver damage, cancer

promotion, damage to the nervous

system

Damage to reproductive systems

DANGERS OF E-WASTE

EFFECTS OF E-WASTE TOXINS

ON SOIL

Effects on soil:

Toxic leachates: Hg, Cd, Pb, P

Uncontrolled fire risk →toxic fumes

Biologically non-degradable: Cd, Hg, FR

Policies & Regulations

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INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES

in E-waste Management

GeSI (Global e-Sustainability Initiative): a global partnership ofInformation and Communication Technology (ICT) companies thatpromotes technologies for a sustainable development.

StEP – an initiative of various UN organizations with the overall aimto solve the e-waste problem. Together with prominent membersfrom industry, governments, international organizations, NGOs andthe science sector actively participating in StEP,

UNESCO Computer equipment recycling guidelines for Africa

Basel Convention

Partnership on used and end of life Mobile Phones (MPPI)

Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE)

G8 3Rs Initiative; GTZ; UNEP/DTIE (IETC); SECO, etc.

Many other initiatives by manufacturers for recycling end of lifeproducts belong to them (corporate responsibilities; e.g HP, Canon,…..)

POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

IN INDIAPolicies, laws and regulations applicable for the

management of E-waste are :

The National Environmental Policy 2006

E-Waste Guidelines – 2008

The Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling)

Rules 1989 as amended in 2003 & 2008

Foreign Trade Policy restricts import of second-hand

computers and does not permit import of E-waste

The E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules,

2011

POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

The National Environmental Policy 2006

encourage reuse and recycling

strengthening informal sector and providing them a

legal status

establish system for collection and recycling of

materials to recover resources

environmentally safe disposal of residues

POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

E-Waste Guidelines - 2008

Basic guidance document recognizing fundamental

principles:

Producer Responsibility (EPR)

RoHS (Restriction on Hazardous Substances)

Best practices

Insight into technologies for various levels of

recycling

Need for a separate legislation mentioned in the

guidelines for effective implementation of the

principles governing the E-waste management

POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

The E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011

Rules entrusts responsibilities on each stakeholder in the e-wastevalue chain:

Producers: Producer Responsibility, Extended (EPR) &Individual (IPR) to ensure environmentally sound managementof end of use electrical and electronic equipments.

Collection Centres: organized agencies for e-waste collection.

Consumer and bulk consumers: responsible to return postconsumer e- waste.

Dismantler: de-manufacturing 1st step in recycling to separatethe parts for recovery

Recycler: recycling to recover valuable resources using EST.

distinct role and responsibility for each stakeholder

E-Waste Management

25

STAKEHOLDERS IN E-WASTE

MANAGEMENT

Industry-manufacturers, Producers

Product supply chain Links

Corporate/Bulk Users

Recyclers – Informal & Formal

Government & Regulatory Agencies

Municipalities

Industry Associations

Research Institutions & Experts

General Public/Consumers/Users

NGOs

Financial Institutions

E-Waste Management:

Two Main Aspects

Recycling and/or Reuse

Keeping hazardous materials found in electronicsfrom disposal into landfills.

Data Security

Insuring all electronic data storage devices andmedia are cleaned.

Insuring all data storage devices and media in allelectronics are completely sanitized.

Insuring all data sanitation is fully documented andauditable.

E-Waste Management

In industries management of e-waste should begin 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: Purchase procedures, Inventory

tracking system

Production-process modification: Operation change, Material

change, Process equipment modification

Volume reduction: Source segregation, waste concentration

Recovery and reuse: Inter-industry exchange, on-site and off-

site recovery

Four Basic Principles – Reduce,

Reuse, Recycle & Respond

Waste Prevention: Minimize the

Volume

Reduce waste and pollution

Reuse as many things as

possible

Recycle as much waste as

possible

Chemically or biologically

treat or incinerate

Bury what is left

Re-use: Reuse is the environmentally preferable option for

managing older electronic equipment. Extending the life of old

products minimizes the pollution and resource consumption

associated with making new products. ( MAXIMIZE RE-USE)

Electronic equipments which are too old and commercially &

practically not viable for reuse or is broken beyond repair,

may be sent for disassembly i.e. salvaging parts, and selling

reclaimed materials.

Several electronic equipment, such as computers, monitors,

printers, and scanners, contain materials suitable for

reclamation and use in new products. These may include

plastic, glass, copper, gold, silver, and other metals.

E-Waste Recycling

Equipment refurbishment and resale

De-manufacturing and disassembly

Recovering valuable components

Hazardous and base metal recovery

Hazardous component management

Issues in E-waste

recycling

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Recycling scenario in India

E-waste recycling is presently concentrated in the informal (unorganized) sector

No organized collection system prevails

Operations are mostly illegal

Processes are highly polluting

Recycling operations engage in:

dismantling

sale of dismantled parts

valuable resource recovery

export of processed waste for precious metal recovery

Concerns in Informal Recycling

High-risk backyard operation

Non- efficient and Non-

environmentally sound

technologies

Occupational and environmental

hazards

Loss of resources due to inefficient

processes

Impacts vulnerable social groups-

Women, children and immigrant

labourers

E-waste recycling - Informal sector

More than 90% of the E-waste recycling in India

takes place in the Informal sector

Informal sector widespread

Have active and efficient network

Labour intensive - cheap labour, child labour

Manual dismantling no machines required

Material recovery by crude methods

Operations in small congested unsafe areas

No personal protection equipment used

Occupational health & safety neglected

Adverse impact on environment and health

Dismantling e-waste (manual)

Informal sector

Copper extraction

Using Acids Burning PCBs/wires

Informal sector

E-Waste and the Informal Sector

Precious metal recovery

E-waste recycling - Formal sector

PRESENT SCENARIO

E-waste recycling units essentially dismantle, segregate, shred

Send sorted/shredded e-waste to refineries and units in thedeveloped nations for metal extraction recovery

Few formal recyclers are setting up end to end recycling units inIndia and one such unit is in operation near Roorkee

CHANGING SCENARIO

Formal Recycling units being set up in India which are like anyother industrial operation

Formal recyclers are responsible for environmental complianceseeking authorizations and permissions

E-waste recycling in the formal sector are committed tocorporate social responsibility (CSR)

E-waste dismantling & shredding (mechanical)

Formal sector

Copper Extraction & Recovery

Electrolytic Process

Formal sector

Integration of informal & formal –

model for E- waste management

The model for e-waste management in India ideally requires integration of the activities between the informal and formal sectors and bring them into the mainstream of e-waste recycling activity.

Steps involved in Integration

Agreements/MOU between the stakeholders

Maintain entrepreneurship

Specify activities for informal sector

Identify activities for formal sector

Dovetail activities of informal & formal

Establish linkages and support systems

Formation of associations

E-waste Management Programme

Step 1: Rapid Assessment of E-waste in the Country

Step 2: Establish Multi-stakeholder Partnership for E-waste Management

Step 3: Implement Awareness Campaign about E-waste Threats and Opportunities

Step 4: Develop and Enhance capacities for Environmental Friendly E-waste management System

Step 5: Establish E-waste Recycle Trading System

Conclusion Need for a e-waste policy and legislation

Create a national framework for the environmentally soundmanagement of e-waste

Conduct detailed inventories of e-waste

Initiate pilot schemes on collection and sorting of e-wastes,including take back schemes and schemes for repairrefurbishment and recycling

Encourage and facilitate organized recycling systems

Should subsidies recycling and disposal industries

Collect fee from manufactured/consumers for the disposal oftoxic material

Incentive schemes for garbage collectors and general publicfor collecting and handling over e-waste

Awareness programme on e-waste for school children andgeneral public