1

Project Report

ON

“E-WASTE MANAGEMENT”

SUBMITTED BY

GAYATRI RAJESH BODADE (Roll no:135)

PRATIKSHA KIRAN BHERE (Roll no:132)

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

ASST. PROF. NEHA SINGH

Department of

B.Sc. Information Technology

KERALEEYA SAMAJAM (REGD.) DOMBIVLI’S

MODEL COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS)

(Affiliated to University of Mumbai)

YEAR 2020-2021

SEMESTER – II
 2

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that GAYATRI RAJESH BODADE Of first year B. Sc.

Information Technology has successfully completed her project titled “E-Waste
Management” and submitted the project in partial fulfillment of

the

B.Sc IT during the academic year 2020-2021.

Prof. Divyapremchandran Asst. Prof. Neha Singh

(H.O.D) (Guide)

(Dept. B.Sc. IT & CS) (Dept. B.Sc. IT & CS)

Department of

B.Sc. Information Technology

KERALEEYA SAMAJAM (REGD.) DOMBIVLI’S

MODEL COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS)

(Affiliated to University of Mumbai)

YEAR 2020-2021

SEMESTER – II
 3

INDEX

Sr No. Index Page No.

1. Introduction 5

2. Initiative & Research taken by different countries 10

3. Methodology 40

4. Advantages & Disadvantages 33

5. Case study 35

6. Conclusion 40

7. References 43

INTRODUCTION:

E-waste is any electrical or electronic equipment that’s been discarded. This includes
working and broken items that are thrown in the garbage or donated to a charity reseller like
Goodwill. Often, if the item goes unsold in the store, it will be thrown away. E-waste is
 4

particularly dangerous due to toxic chemicals that naturally leach from the metals inside
when buried.

The definition of e-waste is likely to keep expanding. In an era of rapid technological

advancement, more and more highly sophisticated electronic goods are being invented and
manufactured. Just think of the concept of the “smart home”. It’s easy to recognize how
many electronic devices can now do everything from offer security to turning lights on and
off, to having fresh coffee ready before we wake up.

Unfortunately, a skyrocketing amount of e-waste is being written off by owners as junk.

There’s no more significant example of that than computers, laptops, and smartphones.

New models arrive even as the current one appears to be working just fine. Despite that, the
latest version always provides additional features that make it seem too enticing to resist.

The technology innovators continue to create electric devices designed to make our lives
easier and more convenient in every conceivable way. Still, we seem all too susceptible to
quickly pitching the machines we already have. It doesn’t matter how satisfied we’ve been.
The term “e-waste” usually applies to consumer and business electronic equipment that’s no
longer wanted, but that contains material that renders them hazardous when placed in
landfills.

But we know that every year, the list of e-waste items gets longer – and longer. In January,
when the Consumer Electronics Show opened in Las Vegas, there was a steady stream of new
product announcements, like the one by Audio Technica. A Japanese company that unveiled
two new wood-based, belt-drive turntables, the AT-LPW40TN, and AT-LPW30TK, created
to deliver high-fidelity audio performances.

At the same show, TCL Communication debuted a brand new Alcatel smartphone with a Full
View Display.

Other new devices on the market today include FXD, which can instantly diagnose car
problems when your “Check Engine Light” comes on. Or, the KeySmart Pro, which is an
organizer providing a better way to organize and carry your keys. And HeatBuddy, an
energy-efficient plug-in heater for any room in the house, that’s small and compact.
 5

And new ideas keep coming. And each one likely means something else that we’ve relied on
in the past will become “obsolete.”

Electronic waste, sometimes referred to as e-waste or waste electrical and electronic

equipment (WEEE), is a highly varied stream of hazardous waste. This waste stream consists
of any electronic items that a consumer or business intends to dispose of, or is no longer
useful for its original purpose. E-waste has generated a considerable amount of public and
political interest due to a confluence of factors, including: the exponential rise in the
generation of e-waste, the potential value of recycling the waste in order to recover precious
metals and other elements, and the environmental and human health risks associated with
improperly storing, disposing of, and recycling e-waste. Some of the major responses to the
rising generation of e-waste (and growing demand for secondary raw materials that it
contains) have included the development of producer “take-back” legislation, technological
innovations in recycling processes, and the formation of partnerships to facilitate the transfer
of e-waste between the informal and formal recycling sectors.

E-waste is an incredibly complex waste stream, as it encompasses a wide range of items and
the exact composition of many electronic components are considered to be trade secrets,
meaning they are the confidential information of the manufacturer. Generally speaking,
“modern electronics can contain up to 60 different elements; many are valuable , some are
hazardous and some are both. The most complex mix of substances is usually present in the
printed writing boards (PWBs)”. To use a specific example, the material content of a mobile
phone includes “over 40 elements in the periodic table including base metals like copper (Cu)
and tin (Sn), special metals such as cobalt (Co), indium (In) and antimony (Sb), and precious
metals including silver (Ag), gold (Au), and platinum (Pd)”.

Electronics that have been used in industrial or business applications, such as medical
equipment, have been recycled in the format recycling industry for more than 40 years. These
larger items have frequently been exported within industrialized countries in the OECD to
specialized facilities where they are processed for the purpose of extracting secondary raw
materials. Consumer electronic waste from smaller items such as cell phones and televisions
have not historically been profitable to recycle in countries with higher labor costs, since the
quantity of recoverable valuable materials is relatively low. Hence, these items have typically
either been disposed of, stored in consumers’ homes, or exported (often illegally) to less
developed countries such as China, India, Ghana and Nigeria, where they are recycled by
 6

informal recyclers using low-tech methods such as manual dismantling, open burning and
acid leaching in order to recover gold, copper and other valuable metals. These methods
generate subsistence livelihoods for workers but also result in significant hazards to human
health and the environment as a result of the toxic materials that are also embedded in
consumer electronics.

The e-waste recycling process consists of five basic stages: collection, toxics removal,
processing, end processing and disposal . There are wide degrees of variation in how these
stages are managed worldwide. For much of the global waste stream, e-waste may be
collected informally via “waste pickers” or more formally through voluntary or mandatory
producer “take-back” programs. In terms of consumer electronics, regions where e-waste is
picked up by informal collectors have historically achieved significantly higher recycling
rates than those where waste is dropped off through formal channels. After reaching the
recycling site, dangerous components that require special treatment (e.g., batteries, Freon) are
removed. The units are then separated into more homogenous groups based on material. This
can be done manually, mechanically or a combination of both. Manual dismantling involves
tools such as screwdrivers, hammers and labeled containers, while mechanical dismantling
may involve conveyor belts, giant shredders and magnets

List of Common E-waste Items

Home Appliances:

● Microwaves
● Home Entertainment Devices
● Electric cookers
● Heaters
● Fans

Communications and Information Technology Devices:

● Cell phones
● Smartphones
● Desktop Computers
● Computer Monitors
● Laptops
● Circuit boards
 7

● Hard Drives

Home Entertainment Devices:

● DVDs
● Blu Ray Players
● Stereos
● Televisions
● Video Game Systems
● Fax machines
● Copiers
● Printers

Electronic Utilities:

● Television Remotes
● Electrical Cords
● Lamps
● Smart Lights
● Night Lights
● Smart Watches
● Heart Monitor
Office and Medical Equipment:

● Copiers/Printers
● IT Server Racks
● IT Servers
● Cords and Cables
● Network Hardware (i.e. servers, switches, hubs, etc.)
● Uninterrupted Power Supplies (UPS Systems)
 8

INITIATIVE AND RESEARCH TAKEN BY DIFFERENT

COUNTRIES:-

The first step taken towards organizing e-waste was the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act(RCRA), which was enacted in 1976 by the US government. This act led to the
illegal dumping of e-waste in less developed countries. ... The first episode was the Khian
Sea waste disposal incident

The Global E-waste Monitor 2020 report found that the world dumped a record 53.6 million
tonnes of e-waste last year. Just 17.4 percent was recycled.

China, with 10.1 million tonnes, was the biggest contributor to e-waste, and the United States
was second with 6.9 million tonnes. India, with 3.2 million tonnes, was third. Together these
three countries accounted for nearly 38 percent of the world's e-waste last year.
 9

How is e-waste classified?

E-waste can be classified on the basis of its composition and components. Ferrous and
nonferrous metals, glass, plastics, pollutants, and other are the six categories of materials
reported for e-waste composition.

Topmost countries produces most e waste

● China
● USA
● Japan
● India
 10

E-Waste management in China:

China is the largest importer of e-waste and is home to most of the world's largest
dumpsites. Cheaper labor and lax environmental standards attracted e-waste from developed
countries that could save much of the cost of processing the waste domestically. Although the
Chinese government enacted a ban on the import of waste in 2002, much of the world's e-
waste is still smuggled in via illegal channels, often through Hong kong or Southeast Asia

The Chinese government and the international community have taken action to regulate e-
waste management, ineffective enforcement has been an obstacle to mitigating the
consequences of e-waste.

China is now the second largest e-waste producer in the world after the US, creating up to 6.1
million tons per year. The amount is expected to continue rising with China's economic
development, technical innovation, and urbanization as more electronics are created and
consumed, and disposed of.

The major sources of e-waste processed in China are households, domestic institutions, such
as schools, hospitals, and government agencies and businesses, and equipment manufacturers.

This e-waste is usually channeled through: second-hand markets where reusable devices can
be re-sold at reasonable prices, (illegal) donation systems that send used home appliances to
poorer rural areas of western China, or through peddlers who resell e-wastes to dealers. The
third channel is the most common form of e-waste management in China, which creates a
massive informal sector.

The vast majority of Chinese e-waste is collected, processed and recycled in the informal
sector. In 2007, about 700,000 people were working in the e-waste industry, only about two
per cent of which were employed by formal companies.
 11

Guiyu

Guiyu, in Guangdong Province, China, is widely perceived as the largest electronic waste (e-
waste) site in the world. In 2005, there were 60,000 e-waste workers in Guiyu who processed
the more than 100 truckloads that were transported to the 52-square-kilometer area every
day.The constant movement into and processing of e-wastes in the area leading to the
harmful and toxic environment and living conditions, coupled with inadequate facilities, have
led to the Guiyu town being nicknamed the "electronic graveyard of the world".The waste is
imported from developed countries.

The residents of Guiyu are known to have the highest reported level of lead and dioxin found
in people globally. These high dioxin levels also result in much higher miscarriage rates for
women that are pregnant and reports show that over 70 percent of children have high lead
levels in their bloodsteam.

Taizhou

The Taizhou region of Zhejiang province is also a major e-waste recycling center. Taizhou’s
residents are especially vulnerable to the contamination of their large agricultural sector
caused by the e-waste. Taizhou has been major site for soil and sediment pollution by toxins
generated from e-waste disposal. Residents of Taizhou also have a high dietary intake of
heavy metals through rice, vegetable and water consumption. In 2012, their average intake of
heavy metals was 3.7mg, exceeding the FAO tolerable daily intake of 3.6mg day $kg bw.

Environmental And Health Impact In China

Most e-waste recycling sites in China lack the appropriate facilities to safeguard
environmental and human health. This results in the leaking of massive amounts of toxic
chemicals, such as mercury, lead, and cadmium. Without the proper methods and necessary
 12

safety precautions, e-waste is directly responsible for deteriorating health and environment in
China's e-waste hotspots.

Residents in major e-waste recycling sites face a potential higher daily intake of heavy metal.
Residents are exposed to the hazardous e-waste remnants through inhalation from air, dietary
intake, soil/dust ingestion and skin contact. This has created serious health risks for people in
these regions. Studies have also found greater soil and groundwater contamination in e-waste
processing sites, as well as a higher cancer incidence. Special concern has arisen for children,
as their potential health risk was measured to be 8 times that for adult e-waste workers due to
their smaller size and higher ingestion rate.

E-Waste management in USA:

e-waste in the United States refers to electronic products that have reached the end of their
operable lives, and the United States is beginning to address its waste problems with
regulations at a state and federal level. Used electronics are the quickest-growing source of
waste and can have serious health impacts. The United States is the world leader in producing
the most e-waste, followed closely by China; both countries domestically recycle and export
e-waste. Only recently has the United States begun to make an effort to start regulating where
e-waste goes and how it is disposed of. There is also an economic factor that has an effect on
where and how e-waste is disposed of. Electronics are the primary users of precious and
special metals, retrieving those metals from electronics can be viewed as important as raw
metals may become more scarce
 13

The United States does not have an official federal e-waste regulation system, yet certain
states have implemented state regulatory systems. The National Strategy for Electronic
Stewardship was co-founded by the Environmental (EPA)Protection Agency , the Council on
Environmental Quality, and the General Services Administration (GSA), and was introduced
in 2011 to focus on federal action to establish electronic stewardship in the United States. E-
waste management is critical due to the toxic chemicals present in electronic devices.
According to the United States EPA, toxic substances such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and
cadmium are often released into the environment and endanger whole communities; these
toxic contaminants can have detrimental effects on the health of ecosystems and living
organisms. United States e-waste management includes recycling and reuse programs,
domestic landfill dumping, and international shipments of domestically produced e-waste.
The EPA estimates that in 2009, the United States disposed of 2.37 million tons of e-waste,
25% of which was recycled domestically. Lack of awareness for e-waste issues is also a
problem in the U.S., especially among young people. In a 2020 survey of people between the
ages of 18 and 38, 60% did not know what the term "e-waste" is, and 57% did not consider
electronic waste to be "a significant contributor to toxic waste.” With electronic recycling
options readily available in most states, the issue seems to be awareness, not availability. In
2018, an association of European electronic recyclers based in Brussels called the WEEE
Forum, created International E-Waste Day on October 13, with the support of 19 e-waste
companies globally, in order to raise awareness about how large of an issue e-waste has
become.
 14

E-Waste management in Japan:

Japan has one of the highest recycling rates in Asia, according to OECD data. However, this
mainly applies to plastic, paper and glass. Japan initiated the home electrical appliance
recycling system in 2001 to provide for the proper

disposal of e-waste and the more effective use of resources. Under this law retailers must take
back,
and manufactures (including importers) must recycle four specific types of consumer
appliance: air
conditioners, TV sets, refrigerators, and washing machines. Consumers (waste generators) are
required to pay a fee for collection, transport and recycling when discarding any one of these
four
types. Now that 10 years have passed, the results of the home electrical appliance-recycling
program
have become clearer, and we would therefore like to analyze and evaluate the system
performance in
 15

terms of both its environmental and economic aspects.

About 650,000 tons of small electronics and home appliances are discarded in Japan every
year, the Nikkei newspaper said. However, it is estimated that less than 100,000 tonnes is
collected for recycling
Japanese e-waste management are always:
● Clear and specific identification of what should be covered under the new system.
● No excessive intervention to the current market mechanism.
● Clear description of roles and responsibilities (obligations) of stakeholders (Who does
what, who pays what, and so forth).
● Transparency and fairness of the system (Consensus building process is the key to
address this.).
● Prevention of free-riders.
● Collection efficiency (One important key) determining the recycling cost is the most
difficult part in designing a workable and feasible system.

Japan is exploring the feasibility of forging the Olympic 2020 medals using precious
metals salvaged from electronic waste.

The utilization of electronic waste resources is around 50% currently and is growing. The
LRHA states that consumers are responsible for the cost of recycling most home appliances.
This includes transportation costs and recycling fees. The consumers pay the retailers to pick
 16

up the waste. They then recycle it and the consumers pay the related fees. In order to make
the system more balanced, if a consumer asks a retailer to take the used home appliance for
any reason (most likely because they purchased a new appliance), the retailer is obligated to
pick it up. The retailers usually take it back to the manufacturer. The manufacturer is required
to have a system in place to recycle the electronic waste, and this system must also maintain a
certain percentage of utilization from these resources. Part of this process is not regulated by
the government, and that is the process of acquiring a recycling facility and/or how the
recycling is currently done. Manufacturers can hire anyone they want to build the facility and
they can also recycle electronic waste in any way they deem fit. The only thing it must
maintain is the amount of utilization from each material that comes into the facility. The
manufacturers often want to recycle the products in the cheapest way possible and this leaves
a lot of room for improvement.
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E-Waste management in India:

Electronic waste is emerging as a serious public health and environmental issue in India.
India is one of the top five largest electronic waste producers in the world; approximately 2
million tons of e-waste are generated annually and an undisclosed amount of e-waste is
imported from other countries around the world. The growing economy and increasing
consumption is estimated to be generating approximately 4, 00,000 tons of waste annually
(computers, mobile phone and television only) and is expected to grow at a much higher rate
of 10-15%.
 18

While e-waste recycling is a source of income for many people in India, it also poses
numerous health and environmental risks. More than 95% of India's e-waste is illegally
recycled by informal waste pickers called kabadiwalas or raddiwale. These workers operate
independently, outside of any formal organization which makes enforcing e-waste regulations
difficult-to-impossible. Recyclers often rely on rudimentary recycling techniques that can
release toxic pollutants into the surrounding area. The release of toxic pollutants associated
with crude e-waste recycling can have far reaching, irreversible consequences
 19

In India, the amount of e-waste generated differs by state. The states that produce the most e-
waste are as follows

● Maharashtra, (11,000 tons)

● Tamil Nadu, (Chennai 5000-6000 tons)
● Andhra Pradesh, (Bangalore 8000 tons)
● Uttar Pradesh
● West Bengal
● Delhi

Environmental impact

The processes used to recycle and dispose of e-waste in India have led to a number of
detrimental environmental impacts. As a result, improper recycling and disposal techniques,
air, water and soil throughout much of India is now contaminated with toxic e-waste
byproducts.

Air:-

Air pollution is a widespread problem in India—nine out of the ten most polluted cities on
earth are in India. An important contributor to India's air pollution problem is widespread,
improper recycling and disposal of e-waste.
 20

For example, dismantling and shredding of e-waste releases dust and particulates into the
surrounding air. Low value e-waste products like plastics are often burned—this releases fine
particles into the air that can travel hundreds-to-thousands of miles. Desoldering is a
technique used to extract higher-value materials like gold and silver which can release
chemicals and damaging fumes when done improperly.

In addition to contributing to air pollution, these toxic e-waste particulates can contaminate
water and soil. When it rains, particulates in the air are deposited back into the water and soil.
Toxic e-waste air particulates easily spread throughout the environment by contaminating
water and soil which can have damaging effects on the ecosystem.

Water:

India's sacred Yamuna river and Ganges river are considered to be among the most polluted
rivers in the world. It is estimated that nearly 80% of India's surface water is polluted.
Sewage, pesticide runoff and industrial waste, including e-waste, all contribute to India’s
water pollution problem
 21

.E-waste contaminates water in two major ways:

1. Landfills: Dumping e-waste into landfills that are not designed to contain e-waste can
lead to contamination of surface and groundwater because the toxic chemicals can
leach from landfills into the water supply.
2. Improper recycling: Improper recycling produces toxic byproducts that may be
disposed of using existing drainage such as city sewers and street drains. Once these
products have been introduced into the local water supply, they can cause further
pollution by entering surface water such as streams, ponds, and rivers.

Soil:
It is found that average concentration PCBs in Indian soil to be two times higher than the
average amount globally. In India, PCB compounds are most prevalent in urban areas with
the highest rate of soil-contamination found in Chennai (a city that imports e-waste),
followed by Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai.

Disposal technique:

The current e-waste disposal techniques in India have operated mostly in an informal manner
due to the lack of enforcement laws and regulations. This has created a new area of economic
gain for the country, especially among the urban and rural poor. Though it helps many make
a living, those that are disposing of e-waste are usually not aware of the risks and health
hazards that result from certain disposal techniques.
 22

Secondary raw materials recovered in electronic waste recycling:

Element Main applications Total tons/year [2006]

Silver Contacts, switches, soldiers 6000

Bonding wire, contacts,

Gold 300
integrated circuits

Multilayer capacitors,
Palladium 33
connectors

Hard disk thermocouple,

Platinum 13
fuel cell

Ruthenium Hard disk, plasma displays 27

Copper Cable, wire connector 4,500,000

Tin Solders 90,000

Antimony Flame retardant; CRT glass 65,000

Cobalt Rechargeable batteries 11,000

Bismuth Solders, capacitor 900

Electro-optic copier, solar

Selenium 240
cell

LCD glass, solder,

Indium 380
semiconductor

E waste PCB circuit board recycling machine is used to recycle all kinds of Printed Circuit
boards, such as the computer boards, cell phone boards, TV boards, copper-clad laminate,
and other household appliances, and the separation of leftover material of the mixed metal
and nonmetal materials. Because of the high value of the metals, fiber and resin, there is no
doubt that this plant not only help to change waste into treasure, but also bring great
economic benefits. Through years of practice and theoretical analysis, we obtain the best
separation result, the separating purity can be reached to 99%.
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APPLICATION
 24

Final Product

Top E-waste managing countries

● Switzerland
● Norway

E-Waste recycling in Switzerland:

Switzerland is a good example of how to deal with the growing environmental issue. Despite
being one of the biggest global producers of e-waste – producing 184 kilotons in 2016 – the
country collects and recycles roughly 75 percent of this discarded material.

The Swiss system can be considered a role model for e-waste recycling management, but it
faces the same global challenges as every nation.

Manual dismantling is the first, more traditional way to separate hazardous materials from
recyclable materials, and to generate recyclable materials from electronic waste. In a pre-
sorting process, the incoming electronic waste first is separated into the different categories,
which are to be handled separately in the following dismantling and sorting process. The
dismantling process itself is performed with simple tools such as screwdrivers, hammers and
tongs.
 25

Mechanical dismantling is the second, more modern way to separate hazardous materials and
to generate recyclable materials from electronic waste. In a presorting process, the incoming
electronic waste first is separated into the different categories, which are to be handled
separately in the following dismantling and sorting process. The dismantling process itself is
performed mechanically. Typical components of a mechanical dismantling plant are crushing
units, shredders, magnetic separators and air separators. The exhaust gasses are cleaned up in
waste gas purification plants and the dust generated collected with dust filters. Indoor
exposure is monitored and assessed relative to the Swiss Maximum Allowable Concentration
(MAC)-values.

Refining and Conditioning Most of the fractions need to be refined or conditioned in order to
be sold as secondary raw materials or to be disposed of in a final disposal site, respectively.
Refining includes mechanical, thermal and chemical processes. It is typically performed for
fractions such as batteries, CRT's, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, recyclable plastics and
printed boards. Many refining processes take place outside Switzerland, entailing greater
transport distances. Conditioning includes Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) of
fractions such as plastics waste in one of the 36 Swiss MSWI plants and Hazardous Waste
The final disposal of materials from dismantling, refining and conditioning processes takes
place in landfills. Swiss landfills are subject to relatively strict emission controls and are
comparatively restrictive regarding the materials accepted: since the year 2000 combustive
materials have no longer been admitted for final disposal in landfills. ncineration (HWI) of
fractions such as condensers in one of the 7 Swiss HWI plants

E-Waste recycling in Norway:

 26

The Ministry of Environment in Norway signed an agreement to set up take back companies
with the producers and importers of electronic waste as early as 1998. It was a voluntary
agreement and was later followed by an e-waste regulation in 1999. Like the rules in India,
management of e-waste in Norway is also a producer responsibility and producers are defined
as Norwegian manufacturers and importers of EEE.

“EPR implementation in Norway mandates the domestic producers and importers to finance
the e-waste collection and treatment systems. The financing can happen individually or
collectively,” says Silje Johanssen, an advisor with the Section for Waste and Biocides,
Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA). Silje explains that producers/importers of e-waste
in Norway are obliged to be members of a take-back company and have to pay a fee for their
membership to the take-back companies. This is how it provides the funding for collection
and treatment of the waste. The price for membership differs according to product type.
Currently, there are five approved take back companies in Norway with 5000 member
producers/importers.”

The process, however, is not a simple one. Before starting off, the take back companies in
Norway need to get an approval from the NEA. The approval process includes a verification
of nearly 50 criterions besides third parties having to certify them. The process includes
providing a plan detailing how they will collect e-waste and treat it in an environmentally
sound way.

They also need to ensure that they will collect all e-waste from their market share which is
determined by how much of electronics is put into the market by their members. The take
back companies report back to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
register and also finance WEEE register. The WEEE register, however, is managed by the
government and maintains all records regarding e-waste in the country.

Since 1999, when reporting on the collection of e-waste was initiated in Norway, the
collection rate has risen continuously. More than 143,790 tonnes of e-waste was collected in
Norway in 2012. In 2013, the collection increased to 146,018 tonnes.
 27

“According to reports from the take back companies, the material recovery rate of collected
e-waste was an astounding 82 per cent in 2012, and the energy recovery (waste to energy)
rate was about 13 per cent. In Oslo, around 25 per cent of the district heating comes from
waste incineration. Only about 5 percent of e-waste was reported to be land-filled in 2012,”
tells Silje.

Huge amount of recycling and recovery of e-waste in Norway has only been possible due to
the presence of an efficient take back system and the collective interest of the producers to
comply with the legislation. In stark contrast, the formal collection mechanisms in India are
able to capture only five per cent of the end of life EEE and a huge chunk lands in the
informal sector putting a question mark on the recycling and recovery of e-waste. In the
absence of stringent regulatory framework producers are having a free ride. It is also true that
it is difficult for individual producers to fulfill all the parameters prescribed in the legislation,
but they can do it at ease as a collective organization. Priti agrees that a Producer
Responsibility Organizations (PROs) which could comprise producers/industries that work
together to comply with the rules, enforce EPR and take back or an independent company
taking charge of collection in the lines of Norwegian system will work in India. The process,
however, needs to be tweaked according to Indian requirements.

NGT has given a deadline of May 26, 2015 to three states (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
and Rajasthan) to comply with the order. It is now to be seen how the stakeholders who
turned a blind eye to the rules, conform to this order.
 28

METHODOLOGY:

Recycling is an essential element of e-waste management. Properly carried out, it should

greatly reduce the leakage of toxic materials into the environment and militate against the
exhaustion of natural resources. However, it does need to be encouraged by local authorities
and through community education. Less than 20% of e-waste is formally recycled, with 80%
 29

either ending up in landfill or being informally recycled – much of it by hand in developing

countries, exposing workers to hazardous and carcinogenic substances such as mercury, lead
and cadmium.
One of the major challenges is recycling the printed circuit boards from electronic waste. The
circuit boards contain such precious metals as gold, silver, platinum, etc. and such base
metals as copper, iron, aluminum, etc. One way e-waste is processed is by melting circuit
boards, burning cable sheathing to recover copper wire and open- pit acid leaching for
separating metals of value. Conventional methods employed are mechanical shredding and
separation but the recycling efficiency is low. Alternative methods such as cryogenic
decomposition have been studied for printed circuit board recycling, and some other methods
are still under investigation. Properly disposing of or reusing electronics can help prevent
health problems, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, and create jobs.
The market supply method was used to estimate the theoretical amount of e-waste for each
item. Sensitivity analysis on the average life also factored in elements of active usage, reuse,
and storage of electronic items and consumer behavior into assumptions about the
obsolescence rate in market supply method.

Products structure:

The E waste PCB circuit board recycling machine consists of a shredding system, milling
system, sorting system and dust collection system. The whole process is controlled by PLC.
Through shredding, grinding, vibration screening, (the incompletely separated metal and
nonmetal will reentry into the grinding machine to be grinded again) gravity separating,
electrostatic separating and pulse dust collecting, the metal and nonmetal will reach about
99% of separation, eventually get metal and non-metallic collective, and the valuable
components after dismantling machine can also be recycled refined.
 30

Process description:
The first crushing machine we choose the double shafts shredder, and the second crushing
machine we use the hammer crusher, and the third crushing machine we use the high speed
turbine grinding machine, the material after shredding, crushing and grinding will be
separated by the air separator and the electrostatic separator. It has the advantages of unique
structure, large output and power saving. Several machines cooperate after single loading of
materials. Controlled by PLC This machine has good performance in copper recycling and
comes with a device to prevent secondary pollution The metal recycling rate is up to 99%
which is the only in china.
 31

Product features:

1. Suitable structure and layout, stable performance and recycling water is used to control
temperature and reduce noise in the grinder.

2. The PLC system makes it easier to control the whole line, the negative pressure feeding
system prevents the dust from running out.

3. Feedback system makes the grind much more effective.

4. The separation rate of air separators can reach 97% and the separation rate of pulse dust
cleaning devices can reach 99%.

5. Electrostatic separator makes higher and quicker separation, moreover gets more non-
ferrous metal.

6. With the magnetic separator ,the iron can be separated from other metals.

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF E-WASTE:-

Advantages:
● It can save natural resources.

Most of the natural resources happen to be non-renewable in nature. With e waste recycling,
the valuable components can easily be separated and allowed to recover. This allows the
production of new items with the use of the same components. This allows reducing
pollution, saving resources and also saving energy.

● It can minimize pollution

E wastes have a lot of toxic chemicals which are harmful for the health of human beings, as
well as the environment. Those around electronic wastes are always at risk of suffering from
some serious ailments and health disorders, due to breathing of toxic chemicals in these
materials. Once e-wastes are allowed to remain on the land in an unprocessed form, they can
 32

contaminate ground resources. By recycling e waste matters, you can reduce the amount of
pollution in soil, water and air.

● It can lower landfill space

By opting for electronic waste recycling Adelaide, you can lower the amount of space
required for landfills which are the areas that are needed to cover waste materials. By
reducing space needed for landfill purposes, you can ensure that these areas can be used for
housing or agricultural purposes.

● It can create employment

With recycling, more and more employment opportunities can be created. With more e-waste
recycling facilities being set up and the existing agencies hiring more employees for the
reprocessing, you will be able to save nature and support the economy.

Disadvantages:

● It can prevent long-term damage

Exposure to nickel, cadmium, lithium, mercury, glass and various other components
contained within electronic materials can cause long-term damage to health and the
environment. There can also be cancerous developments in some cases, which is not
uncommon. Other than humans, domesticated animals and pets may also suffer from cancers
and other conditions. This can affect livestock and meat products, and affect the health of
grown-ups as well as kids.

● Many people poisoned by e-waste,can cause death

Improper e-waste management is the cause. This is a rising issue that many countries do not
recognize yet as a health problem, electronic waste contains toxic components that are
dangerous to human health, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, polybrominated flame
retardants, barium and lithium. The negative health effects of these toxins on humans include
brain, heart, liver, kidney and skeletal system damage.

children live, go to school and play near e-waste recycling centers where high levels of toxic
chemicals, mostly lead and mercury, can damage their intellectual abilities

● Most e-waste is shipped to other countries .

 33

The world has rallied to protect the seas and their ecosystems from plastic and microplastic
pollution.The larger and more valuable the shipment, the bigger the risk—and solutions are
much harder to implement when the issue is halfway around the globe.

● Takes lots of space

the problem of e-waste continues to grow bigger, the need to evolve clean means of disposal
becomes more urgent.

May increase government expenditure

CASE STUDY:-

Economic Growth and Digital Revolution: 1980 was the year when the great digital
revolution started and has not ceased till date. The digital revolution provided a variety of
products which were not only economical but also easy to use therefore they invaded our
households completely. They are now easier and convenient to replace rather than getting
them repaired.

Due to their affordable prizes and easy usage these products have a huge market even in
smaller towns. In the last five years the sale of desktop PC and laptops has shown tremendous
growth in smaller cities and towns. India, with around 500 million mobile users, is now the
second largest market in the world after China and in 2008-09 rural India outpaced urban
India in mobile growth rate. According to data available with the Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India, 48 million rural consumers took a new mobile connection in the first six
months of calendar 2009 compared with just 32 million in the cities, thus taking the mobile
penetration in rural India to around 17 % . There is a rapid increase in the number of desktop
sales in the period of 1994 to 2007 and the value reaches up-to 5.52 million5 . The mobile
subscriber in India increased from 90 million to 433 million during the period 2006-11 and
expected to touch 900 million in 2015-16.
 34

International E- Waste Scenario: According to studies about 4000 tons per hour of E-waste
is generated worldwide .

The use of electronic devices, such as PCs has proliferated in recent decades and the quantity
of electronics disposed of is growing rapidly throughout the world .

Note: The table gives only an overview of the quantities of e waste generated in different
countries. It is difficult to make direct country-to-country comparisons regarding e-waste
quantities, because each country has different categories of appliances counted in e-waste and
different methodologies of estimation.

This is the quantity of e-waste generated in Switzerland that is physically weighed and
accounted for. It is a much more accurate measure of e-waste quantities than for other
countries for which only estimates exist.

E- Waste Scenario in India: In present times if we study closely e-waste is one of the fastest
growing pollution problems which is increasing almost three times than that of municipal
waste globally. With the increase in consumption of electronic goods and also with their
usage pattern the generation of e-waste also increases. As there is no separate collection of e-
waste in India, no reliable figures are available as yet to quantify the e-waste generation. The
current data shows that by 2012 global e-waste will reach 53 million tons from 42 million
tons in 2008 thus growing at a CAGR( Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 6 percent .
EWaste is continuously growing in developed countries by 2010 it has grown to 2% in
comparison to previous 1%. While in developing countries e-plastic waste contributes 0.01%
-1% of total solid waste generation.

India with a population of over 1 billion17, is one of the fastest growing economies of the
world . The growing economy and increasing consumption is estimated to be generating
approximately 4, 00,000 tons of waste annually (computers, mobile phone and television
only) and is expected to grow at a much higher rate of 10-15%.

The situation is alarming as India generates about 1.5 lakh tonnes of e-waste annually and
almost all of it finds its way into the informal sector as there is no organized alternative
available at present 19 . E-waste generated in a few cities across the nation shows an
alarming picture. Mumbai generates 11,000 tons of E-waste, Delhi 9000 tons, Bangalore
8000 tons and Chennai 5000-6000 tons each year. Maharashtra State (including Mumbai city)
 35

alone produces 20270 tons of E-waste annually. These figures have been shown through table
3.

Table-3

E- Waste / WEEE Generation in Top Ten States

S.No States WEEE(Tones)

1. Maharashtra 20270.59

2. Tamil Nadu 13486.24

3. Andhra Pradesh 12780.33

4. Uttar Pradesh 10381.11

5. West Bengal 10059.36

6. Delhi 9729.15

7. Karnataka 9118.74

8. Gujarat 8994.33

9. Madhya Pradesh 7800.62

10. Punjab 6958.46

Toxics link, a Delhi-based non-government organization (NGO), says that India annually
generates 1.5 billion worth of e-waste. As per a study done by Bangalore-based NGO,
Saahas, the city generates around 8,000 tons of e-waste every year. It is true that the e-waste
spectrum is broad, but IT companies are the single largest contributors to the growing
mountains of it. This is because 30% of their equipment is rendered obsolete every year.
Reason being is that the life cycle of some electronic goods is as short as about 15-20 months.
This average age of computer is only 3 years and is progressively decreasing because of the
demand for ever accelerating speeds in the processing capability of the telecommunication
infrastructure.

According to the Manufacturer's Association for Information Technology (MAIT) report

India in 2007 generated 3, 80,000 tons of e-waste from discarded Computers, Televisions and
Mobile Phones. This is projected to grow to more than 8, 00,000 tons by 2012 with a growth
rate of 15 %. According to this estimate about 50, 000 tons of such e-waste which is imported
 36

from developed countries as a gesture of charity for reuse is basically recycled informally
either immediately or after discarding the reused product. It has become difficult for the
customs department to put a stop to illegal inflow of e waste because of no availability of
specific measures and policies . Based on the logistic model, it is revealed that around 41-152
million units of computers will become obsolete by the end of 20205 . However, a total of 2.5
million tonnes of WEEE comprising PC, television, washing machine and refrigerators are
expected to be generated during the period of 2007-1122 .

Take back policy in India: Some of the well renowned companies like Apple, Sony, PCS,
Philips, Microsoft, Panasonic, Sony Ericsson and Toshiba, HCL have adopted take back
policy options at their production plant. HCL and WIPRO have the best take back policy in
India. Even Nokia, Acer, Motorola are following the policy at a good pace. But with such a
large population, only one collection center is not sufficient. Even a big company like
Samsung claims to have a take back service but only one collection center in India .

Sources of e-waste

Manufacturer: According to surveys conducted about 50% of PCs which are sold all over
the country are basically from the secondary market and are reassembled on the old
components. The rest of market share is covered by MNCs (30%) and Indian brands (20%)24
. Besides, manufacturers are major contributors of e-waste. The waste consists of defective IC
chips, motherboards, CRTs and other peripheral items produced during the production
process. It also includes defective PCs under guarantee procured from consumers as
replacement items.

Consumer: About 22% of junk computers are generated from Indian households . The
routine process of getting rid of obsolete computers includes exchanging from retailers or
passing on the same to friends or relatives. The business sector accounts for 78% of all
installed PCs in India25. The junk computers from the business sector are often sold during
auction or sometimes donated to educational institutes or charitable institutions for reuse.

Import of e-waste: Import of e-waste is legally prohibited. No doubt the reports prove that
lots of e-waste is imported from abroad. The ministry of environment has no data related to
import of e-waste but above says that 100% control of the borders is not possible.

India a dumping ground: A large producer of e-waste is U.S. About 315 million obsolete
computers were dumped by the US in between 1997 – 2004. A smaller amount of e-waste
 37

comes from Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Europe. Additionally considerable quantities
of e-waste are reported to be imported.26. But exact figures on the amount of e-waste and
their sources has not been confirmed as most of it is imported on the pretext that it is reusable
or it is being donated to developing countries.

End-of-life products find their way to recycling yards in countries such as India and China,
where poorly-protected workers dismantle them, often by hand, in appalling conditions.
About 25,000 workers are employed at scrap yards in Delhi alone, where 10,000 to 20,000
tons of e-waste is handled every year, with computers accounting for 25 percent of it. Other
e-waste scrap-yards exist in Meerut, Firozabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai.

"Trade in e-waste, like that in other scrap, is dominated by the 'informal' sector. Although the
waste trade sector in India is known as part of the 'informal' sector, it has a system that is
highly organized with extensive coordination in an established network," says K.K. Shajahan,
principal consultant for Bangalore's Indian Institute of Material Management.

Only 3% of total WEEE-waste generated is recycled properly in India. The rest of it is

handled by workers who work with bare hands, without masks under unhygienic conditions,
informally recycling tons of e-waste for about 12-14 hours a day. The workers which are
involved in collection and recycling come from socially and economically poor families.
Most of them are landless or small farmers. None of the labor laws or environmental laws is
implemented while using this rudimentary tech. As a result it causes health hazards to the
workers and pollutes the environment.

About 80 percent of the e-waste generated in the US is exported to India, China and Pakistan,
and unorganized recycling and backyard scrap-trading forms close to 100 percent of total e-
waste processing activity.

Many of India’s corporations burn e-waste such as PC monitors, PCBs, CDs, motherboards,
cables, toner cartridges, light bulbs and tube-lights in the open along with garbage, releasing
large amounts of mercury and lead into the atmosphere

There is an urgent need for improvement in e-waste management covering technological

improvement, institutional arrangement, operational plan, protective protocol for workers
working in e-waste disposal and last but not the least education of the general population
about this emerging issue posing a threat to the environment as well as public health .
Developed countries like the USA, Europe and Japan have adopted fully automated, high cost
 38

technology for E-waste recycling. E-waste is crushed, shredded in total, followed by

separation of metals and non-metals by adopting unit operations/metallurgical principles .

CONCLUSION:-

The challenges of managing E-waste in India are very different from those in other countries,
both the developed and developing. No doubt, there can be several shared lessons; the
complexity of the E-waste issue in India, given its vast geographical and cultural diversity
and economic disparities, makes WEEE management challenges quite unique. A few of these
are:

Rapidly increasing E-waste volumes, both domestically generated as well as through imports.
Imports are often disguised as second-hand computer donations towards bridging the digital
divide or simply as metal scrap.

No accurate estimates of the quantity of E-waste generated and recycled. Low level of
awareness amongst manufacturers and consumers of the hazards of incorrect E-waste
disposal. Widespread E-waste recycling in the informal sector using rudimentary techniques
such as acid. E-waste workers have little or no knowledge of toxins in E-waste, and are
exposed to serious health hazards. Inefficient recycling processes result in substantial losses
of material value. The major problem we face in India is there is no such technology or clear
policy/guidelines to check the disposal of e-waste. E-waste is mostly recycled by backyard
practitioners.

Recycling of e-waste: Recycling WEEE is an important subject not only from the viewpoint
of waste treatment but also in terms of recovery of valuable waste materials.
Mechanical/physical processing provides an alternative means of recovering valuable
materials but several difficulties exist. The main difficulty industries have to afford is the
separation of the different materials in WEEE. This problem leads to several approaches to
optimize the process.
 39

One of the most successful is the definition of separation systems based on the physical –
chemical properties of materials to make recycling of material constituting WEEE
economically profitable.

Amount of plastics in e-waste obtained from computers: The data available shows that the
major portion of WEEE comes from computer bodies and computer monitors.

Five hundred million PCs contain approximately 2,872,000 t of plastics, 718,000 t of lead,
1363 t of cadmium and 287 t of mercury. This may also contain 861 t of hexavalent
chromium37. E-plastics account for about 15-22% of the weight of WEEE out of which one
third is suitable for mechanical recycling and 2/3rd needs to be disposed of by other means .

The recycling of this plastic waste generally involves low level processing such as
granulation or pelletization followed by melt or partial melt and extrusion to form the end
product. E-plastic waste is rather difficult to recycle: Because of the diversity of polymeric
materials used. E. g thermoplastics as well as thermosets and relatively high levels of flame
retardants (halogen containing compounds) added during production. When we try to recover
the plastic material from discarded electronic devices, we have to take into account the usual
high halogen contents resulting from the addition of flame retardants. Thermoset polymer
cannot be remolded or reprocessed by remelting. Thermoset composite contains high
amounts of inorganic glass reinforcement or mineral filler. Fire retardants are used with-
plastic material in order to increase fire safety when generating toxic substance during
combustion. The miniaturization of electronic equipment reduces the volume of waste and
makes collection, repair and recycling more difficult.

E-waste recycling is necessary but it should be conducted in a safe and standardized manner.
When possible, e-waste should be refurbished and reused as a complete product instead of
dismantled. When refurbishment is not possible, e-waste should be dismantled by trained,
protected, and well-compensated workers in technologically advanced e-waste recycling
facilities in both developed and developing countries. There are several fundamental
principles from which all e-waste regulation should be based on. First, acceptable risk
thresholds for hazardous, secondary e-waste substances should not be different for
developing and developed countries. However, the acceptable thresholds should be different
for children and adults given the physical differences and pronounced vulnerabilities of
children. Completely eliminating the presence of toxic components in EEE, although
efficient, is not realistic. Although there are research needs, educational and awareness
 40

programs on the potential risks of e-waste recycling also should be developed and
implemented. These programs are of vital importance in developing countries. Improving
occupational conditions for all e-waste workers and striving for the eradication of child labor
is non-negotiable. Interventions should be specific to the local culture, the geography, and the
limitations of the particularly vulnerable communities. Policies that would provide incentives
to promote safe, regulated, and recompensed recycling for e-waste should be universal.
 41

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