Juniors Make-a-Thon 2020

By – Ekashman Tiwari (et.ekashmantiwari@gmail.com)

(Team: Ethyl Astatide)

Innovative solutions suggesting a system that will help in

reducing the impact created by e-waste generated in
households in India.

I have chosen this problem because it is one of the most important issues about
our environmental degradation and the accumulation of useless wastes. As the
growing demand of electronic devices and mobile phones is on a rise, this
problem becomes especially important to be addressed soon.
The solution will pave way to a cleaner and healthier environment, which is
particularly important for the development of the humankind.
I have summarised the different points as under:
➢ Use of e-Waste in Construction:
o It can be used in construction of roads (by using it as a filler). It can
also be used in construction of buildings (as a filler in their
foundation). In these ways they will not contaminate open grounds
or landfills, taking up space that could be utilised for something
else.
o E-Bricks: Another innovative way is to make the e-waste into bricks
that can be used to construct buildings etc. IIT M can collaborate
with the dumping sites and think of ways to make the process
easier and large scale.
I got an idea about the standard process that could be used for making the e-
bricks from the web. I have tried to make the necessary changes to make the
process affordable. The process is illustrated as under:
 Take 6 parts of Press with a
This becomes handle so that Dry it in sun for
sand, 2 parts of
our required excess of water few days &
Break the e- cement & 1 part
mixture. Pour comes out. Let it sprinkle water
waste into tiny of the e-waste &
the mix into the dry for 4 hours. peridiocally so
pieces add sufficient
mould for our that it gains
water to the Transfer it in
brick strength.
mixture fine sand.

➢ Awareness about Recycling: Statistics show that only 20% of the total e-
waste produced gets recycled.
o Android apps can be made for people which tells them about the
awareness of recycling and hazards of e-waste.
o The apps can also be used to contact and obtain household e-
wastes directly from the homes and give it to the poor if they are
in working condition.
o The apps can also inform people of the nearby pick-up centres for
e-waste disposal.
o The app can also educate people about the ways they can use
their old phones (like a GPS Device or a Sound System controller
etc) IIT M students can easily develop such an app, so it is cost
effective also.

➢ Trapping the Gases released: Just like the biogas plants trap and make
use of the methane and other gases released by the cow dung, recent
studies have shown that the piles of e-wastes also release some gases like
methane which can be used to generate electricity. We can set up power-
plants for this. Although this process would require some capital, but it
would become a huge benefit in reducing the e-waste…

➢ Soluble Circuit Boards: Studies have shown that the circuit boards can be
made of biodegradable materials like silicone. Similarly, we can think of
making the circuit boards of natural polymers/fibres like sturdy
cardboards… we can evolve the design to make them affordable for the
mass production. This would be a unique as well as a better option.
 A heap of e-waste that has a huge potential to be converted into a good cause (by the methods
mentioned above)

• Measuring the success: We can measure the success of this solution by

conducting surveys, talking to people, visiting the dumping sites and
noting the amount of waste decreasing gradually there.

• Drawbacks of my solutions:
▪ Some of the solutions of mine may require time for necessary research
and refine the process involved, thus they may not be implemented
just as of now. (In context of making e-bricks, Soluble Circuit Boards
and making use of methane gas).
▪ Solutions like making mobile apps would take time to become popular
among the smartphone users and we may have to organise awareness
programs.

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Thanks for reading