E- WASTE

MANAGEMENT
What is E – Waste?
E- Waste or Electronic Waste is electronic
products that are unwanted, not working,
and nearing or at the end of their “useful
life.” Computers, televisions, VCRs,
stereos, copiers, and fax machines are
everyday electronic products. E-waste is
any electrical or electronic equipment
that’s been discarded. This also include
used electronics which are destined for
reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or
disposal.
COMPONENTS OF E-WASTE
 NEED FOR E-WASTE
MANAGEMENT
• E-Waste is more hazardous because electronic gadgets contains thousands
of components made of deadly chemicals and metals like Lead, Mercury,
Chromium, Cadmium, Polyvinyl chlorides (PVCs) etc.
• Long term exposure of these substances damages nervous system,
kidneys, reproductive systems, bones and many more.
• Recycling and disposal of e-waste may involve significant risk to health
of workers and their communities.[1]
 Methods
Landfilling

Reused E-Waste Acid Bath

Disposa
l
Method

Recycling Incineration
 E-Waste Disposal Method
• LANDFILING - It is the most common method for E-Waste disposal.
Soil is excavated and trenches are made for burying e-waste in it.
Although this method is not environmentally sound process as the
hazardous chemical are extracted in the earth.
• ACID BATH - It involves soaking of electronic circuits in the powerful
chemicals like sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid solutions
which free the metals from electronic pathways.
• INCINERATION – It is a controlled way of disposing the electronic
waste by combusting the electronics at high temperature. From this the
waste volume is decreased and the energy released is also utilized
separately.
• RECYCLING OF E-WASTE - Mobile phones, monitors, CPUs, cables,
laptops, drives, etc., can be reutilized with the help of recycling process.
• REUSE OF E-WASTE – this is the most desirable method where with
slight modification the mobile phones, laptops, computers, etc. can be
reused or given as a second hand product to the other person.
 E-Waste Management in India
• India is the only country in Southern Asia with e-waste legislation,
with laws to manage e-waste in place since 2011, mandating that
only authorised dismantlers and recyclers collect e-waste.
• There are now 312 authorised recyclers in the country.
• About 95 per cent of India’s e-waste is recycled in the informal sector and
in a crude manner