SEMINAR REPORT

ON

E-WASTE

BY
Deshmukh Priyanka

GUIDE
Mrs. Manisha Jadhav

Deparment of computer science and IT

MGM college,nanded.
 INTRODUCTION

Most consumers are unaware of the toxic

materials in the products they rely on for word
processing, data management, and access to the
internet, as well as for electronic games.

In general, computer equipment is a complicated assembly of

more than 1,000 materials, many of which are highly toxic, such
as chlorinated and brominated substances, toxic gases, toxic
metals, biologically active materials, acids, plastics and plastic
additives.

The health impacts of the mixtures and material combinations in

the products often are not known. The production of
semiconductors, printed circuit boards, disk drives and monitors
uses particularly hazardous chemicals, and workers involved in
chip manufacturing are now beginning to come forward and
reporting cancer clusters. In addition, new evidence is emerging
that computer recyclers have high levels of dangerous chemicals
in their blood.

The fundamental dynamism of computer manufacturing that has

transformed life in the second half of the 20th century --
especially the speed of innovation -- also leads to rapid product
obsolescence.. The average computer platform has a lifespan of
less than two years, and hardware and software companies –
especially Intel and Microsoft -- constantly generate new
programs that fuel the demand for more speed, memory and
power.

A May 1999 report -– "Electronic Product Recovery and

Recycling Baseline Report" --published by the well-respected
National Safety Council’s Environmental Health Center,
confirmed that computer recycling in the US is shockingly
inadequate:

• In 1998 only 6 percent of computers were recycled

compared to the numbers of new computers put on the
market that year.

By the year 2004, experts estimate that we will have over 315
million obsolete computers in the US, many of which will be
destined for landfills, incinerators or hazardous waste exports.

E-WASTE

2.1 Definition of electronic waste :

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

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for data processing, telecommunications, or entertainment in private
households and businesses that are now considered obsolete, broken, or
unrepairable. Despite its common classification as a waste, disposed
electronics are a considerable category of secondary resource due to their
significant suitability for direct reuse, refurbishing, and material recycling
of its constituent raw materials. Reconceptualization of electronic waste
as a resource thus preempts its potentially hazardous qualities.

In 1991 the first electronic waste recycling system was implemented in

Switzerland beginning with the collection of refrigerators. Over the years,
all other electric and electronic devices were gradually added to the
system. Legislation followed in 1998 and since January 2005 it has been
possible to return all electronic waste to the sales points and other
collection points free of charge. There are two established PROs
(Producer Responsibility Organizations): SWICO mainly handling
electronic waste and SENS mainly responsible for electrical appliances.
The total amount of recycled electronic waste exceeds 10 kg per capita
per year.
The European Union is implementing a similar system described in the
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE
2002/96/EC). The WEEE Directive has been transposed in national laws
and become effective. The manufacturers became financially responsible
for the compliance to the WEEE directive since 13 August 2005. By the
end of 2006 – and with one or two years' delay for the new EU members
– every country has to recycle at least 4 kg of e-waste per capita.

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Definition of electronic waste according to the WEEE directive :

• Large household appliances (ovens, refrigerators etc.)

• Small household appliances (toasters, vacuum cleaners etc.)
• Office & communication (PCs, printers, phones, faxes etc.)
• Entertainment electronics (TVs, HiFis, portable CD players etc.)
• Lighting equipment (mainly fluorescent tubes)
• E-tools (drilling machines, electric lawnmowers etc.)
• Sports & leisure equipment (electronic toys, training machines etc.)
• Medical appliances and instruments
• Surveillance equipment
• Automatic issuing systems (ticket issuing machines etc.)

3.2 Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers

Lead
Lead can cause damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems,
blood system and kidneys in humans. Effects on the endocrine system
have also been observed and its serious negative effects on children’s
brain development have been well documented. Lead accumulates in the
environment and has high acute and chronic toxic effects on plants,
animals and microorganisms.

Cadmium
Cadmium compounds are classified as toxic with a possible risk of
irreversible effects on human health. Cadmium and cadmium compounds
accumulate in the human body, in particular in kidneys. Cadmium is
adsorbed through respiration but is also taken up with food.

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Mercury
When inorganic mercury spreads out in the water, it is transformed to
methylated mercury in the bottom sediments. Methylated mercury easily
accumulates in living organisms and concentrates through the food chain
particularly via fish. Methylated mercury causes chronic damage to the
brain.

In addition, hexavalent chromium compounds are toxic for the

environment. It is well documented that contaminated wastes can leach
from landfills. Incineration results in the generation of fly ash from which
chromium is leachable, and there is widespread agreement among
scientists that wastes containing chromium should not be incinerated.

Of the more than 315 million computers destined to become obsolete

between 1997 and 2004, about 1.2 million pounds of hexavalent
chromium will be present.

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 Waste management concepts

5.1 Waste management concepts

The waste hierarchy

There are a number of concepts about waste management, which vary in
their usage between countries or regions.
The waste hierarchy:

• reduce
• reuse
• recycle

Classifies waste management strategies according to their desirability.

The waste hierarchy has taken many forms over the past decade, but the
basic concept has remained the cornerstone of most waste minimization
strategies. The aim of the waste hierarchy is to extract the maximum
practical benefits from products and to generate the minimum amount of
waste.

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5.1.1 Resource recovery
A relatively recent idea in waste management has been to treat the waste
material as a resource to be exploited, instead of simply a challenge to be
managed and disposed of. There are a number of different methods by
which resources may be extracted from waste: the materials may be
extracted and recycled, or the calorific content of the waste may be
converted to electricity.
The process of extracting resources or value from waste is variously
referred to as secondary resource recovery, recycling, and other terms.
The practice of treating waste materials as a resource is becoming more
common, especially in metropolitan areas where space for new landfills is
becoming scarcer. There is also a growing acknowledgement that simply
disposing of waste materials is unsustainable in the long term, as there is
a finite supply of most raw materials.
There are a number of methods of recovering resources from waste
materials, with new technologies and methods being developed
continuously.

5.1.2 Recycling

A materials recovery facility, where different materials are separated for

recycling
Recycling means to recover for other use a material that would otherwise
be considered waste. The popular meaning of ‘recycling’ in most

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 CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION-

"Electronic products should actually be considered chemical waste

products. Their number is increasing and their life is decreasing.
Electronic waste piles are growing, as is their pollution potential. Most of
these problems have their source in the development and ddesign of the
products concerned."

We have the need of “Clean Computers”. So that many companies have

shown they can ddesign cleaner products. Industry is making some
progress to ddesign cleaner products but we need to move beyond pilot
projects and ensure all products are upgradeable and non-toxic.

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 REFERENCES

REFERENCES-

• www.google.com

• www.enviornment.nsw.gov.au

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