Why Recycle

E-WASTE

About Toxics Link

Toxics Link, an environmental NGO, is dedicated to bring toxics related information into the public domain.

•Key focus- Research and Policy advocacy

•Engages in areas of Municipal, Hazardous, Bio-medical waste management and Chemical and health issues

•Has been working on the issue of E-waste for more than a decade.

•Work at state and central level

•Able to create strong awareness among public and stakeholders on toxicity issues.

•International waste trade, emerging issues of pesticides and POPs

India fifth biggest producer in the world, discarding 1.7 million tonnes (Mt) in 2014, 1.3 kg per inhabitant

Volumes and Toxicity

Why should we be worried?

Electronics contain hazardous material like lead, mercury, cadmium and BFRs.

When the gadgets are dismantled or recycled without precaution these toxic elements are released and pose a threat to health and Environment.

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Current Practices

E-waste processing in India is mostly managed by a very well networked informal sector

Research has shown that some steps of the recycling chain, especially

related to material recovery, are highly dangerous and risky.

Some of the processes include open burning of Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) wires, acid bath, use of toxic chemicals such as Mercury , heating of lead solders, etc. These processes are highly toxic impacting both environment and human health.

Environmental Hazards

Emissions of dioxins/ heavy metals –lead, cadmium, mercury

Other contaminants like BFRs

Spent fluids/chemicals in soil

Groundwater contamination

Non-recyclables diverted to landfills hence risk of leachate

Exposure to toxics due to release in air, water and soil

Soil pollution

Air pollution

Water pollution

E-Waste : Resource

Contains:

Valuable materials: plastic, copper, iron

Precious and Rare Metal: Gold, Platinum, Gallium, Indium

Increased pressure on natural resources

If recycling efficiency is not improved, we might lose out on this metals

Average Composition of E&E equipment

Flame retarded plastics 5%

Printed circuit boards 5%

Iron and Steel 48%

Copper 7%

Aluminium 5%

Other non-ferrous metals 1%

Concrete and ceramics 2%

Wood and plywood 3%

Glass 5%

Other 5%

Rubber 1%

Non flame retarded plastics 15%

Equipment

Category

Ferrous m

etals

Non-ferrous

metals

Glass Plastics Other

Large household

Appliances

61% 7% 3% 9% 21%

Small household

appliances

19% 1% 0% 48% 32%

IT equipment 43% 0% 4% 30% 20%

Telecom 13% 7% 0% 74% 6%

TV, Radio, etc. 11% 2% 35% 31% 22%

Critical Metals

• Tellur• Indium • Gallium• Lithium• Tantal• Palladium• Platin• Ruthenium• Germanium• Cobalt

Challenges

•Collection network

•Appropriate technology

•Regulatory Drivers

•Mind set

E-Waste: Economic Opportunity

The growing e-waste economic opportunity is driven by:

• Over 150 start ups exist in E waste

• Apple

– Collection, Refurbishment Market and Material recovery markets, Asset management

– Valuable components and materials contained in electronic waste

– Creates Jobs

– Regulatory approaches such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes that can

ensure additional financing for collection and recycling activities

E-waste Rules

Notified under the Environment (P) Act, 1986

Non-compliance – punishable under E(P)Act, 1986

•Bulk consumers

E-waste generators (including all consumers and bulk consumers) must channelize their e-waste only to authorised units for collection, dismantling, and recycling or to take-back or pick up facilities of their producers

All Bulk consumers have to submit the annual records of e-waste generated and disposed by them

Action Points

Procurement and Disposal policy in the organisation

Demand a take back: Consumers can play an important role in influencing and pressuring producers/brands to ta

ke back their end-of-life products.

Encourage 3R principle:

Reduce e-waste generation by extending the life of gadgets, by going in for upgrades and repair.

Reuse – If possible, donate old and usable items

Recycle– Make recycling a habit. But recycle responsibly. Don’t throw away e-waste items with other waste or hand

them to an informal recycler

Dispose your e-waste properly: Dispose or sell your e-waste to authorized agency.

Demand Scenario of scarce metals

Critical Metals