ELECTRONIC WASTE MANAGEMENT DR D Y PATIL POLYTECHIC,KOLHAPUR

INTRODUCTION

"Electronic waste" may be defined as discarded computers, office electronic equipment,

entertainment device electronics, mobile phones, television sets and refrigerators. Because loads of
surplus electronics are frequently commingled (good, recyclable, and non-recyclable), several
public policy advocates apply the term "e-waste" broadly to all surplus electronics.

Management of solid waste has become critical issue for almost all the main cities in India Increase
in population coupled with the rapid urbanization of Indian cities, has lead to new consumption
patterns, which typically affect the waste stream through the successive addition of new kinds of
waste. Over the last twin decades, spectacular advances in technology and the changing lifestyle of
people has lead to an increasing rate of consumption of electronic products. A trend today is
dependence un information technology. The fast rate of technological change has lead to the rapid
obsolescence rate of IT products added to the hugs import of junk computers from abroad creating
dramatic scenario for sold wate management E-Waste is a collective name for discarded electronic
devices that emery the wad stream from various sources. It includes electronics appliances such as
Wie visions, personal computers, telephones, ait conditioners, cell phones, еlесtrоne, toys, the list
of e-waste items is very large and can be further widened if we inched other electronic waste
emanating from electrical appliances such as tiffs refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, and
kitchen utilities or even airplanes, Faster technological innovation and consequently a high obsolete
rate poses a direct challenge for its proper disposal de recycling. This problem has assumed a global
dimension, of which India is an integral and affected part. Electronic products contain hazardous
and toxic material that poses environmental risk if they are landfilled or incinerated. Television and
computer monitors one cathode ray tubes (CRTs) which contain significant amounts of lead. Printed
circuit boards contain primarily plastic, copper, small amounts of chromium, load solder, nickel and
zinc le addition, many electronic products have batteries that often contain nickel, cadmium and
other heavy metals. These toxic materials can contaminate soil, groundwater and air, as well as
affect the workers of the unit and the community living around it. Moreover, the workers in e-waste
recycling operations may face dangerous health and environmental problems. Hence there is a clear
reason to he concerned about the trade, the technology in practice and the existing poor disposal
practices of e waste in India.

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WEEE has been defined as any equipment that is dependent on electric current
electromagnetic fields in order to work properly, including equip men for the generation,
transfer, and measurements of currant.

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COURSE OUTCOME

1) Develop public awareness about environment.

2) Select alternative energy resources for engineering practices.
3) Conserve ecosystem and biodiversity.
4) Apply techniques to reduce environmental pollution.
5) Manage social issues and environmental ethics as lifelong learning.

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LITERATURE REVIEW

Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to discarded electronic devices, which contain hazardous
materials like lead and mercury, posing serious environmental and health risks. Effective e-waste
management involves recycling, reuse, and policies like Extended Producer Responsibility
(EPR), which hold manufacturers accountable for disposal. However, challenges such as lack of
awareness and informal sector involvement in recycling persist, particularly in developing
countries. Globally, regulations like the EU’s WEEE Directive and India’s E-Waste Management
Rules aim to improve outcomes. Technological innovations, including AI-driven recycling and
urban mining, offer promising solutions to manage the growing e-waste problem.

A comparison of electronic waste recycling in Switzerland and in India

Deepali Sinha-Khetriwal, Philipp Kraeuchi, Markus Schwaninger. Received 17 March 2005,
Acepted 22 April 2005 Journal of Environmental impact assessment.

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SOURCES OF E-WASTE

Electronic waste especially computer wade is growing exponentially in volume because of

increasing demand of information technology and its application in the national growth process.
Various government département’s, public as well a private sectors are fast feeding old electronic
appliances such as computer telephones, etc. into the waste stream

• Individual household and small business

• Large business, Institutions, government houses and Foreign Embassies
• PC manufacturers and retailers
• E waste from imports
• Secondary market of old PCs

E-waste from Individua Households-

As far as PCs emanating from individual households are concerned, it is difficult to know the exact
quantity, Individual households are not major contributors in India They account for 22% of total
computers in India. The rest of the share, that is 78% comes from the business sector.

E-waste form Business Sectors-

The business sectors (government departments, public or private sec, MNC offices, etc) wont the
earliest users of electronic products, today they account for 28 per cent of total installed PCs.
Hence, they are the major producers of obsolete technology in India. It is observed that the total
number of obsolete PCs mang from business as well as form individual households will be around
1.36 million

E-waste from Manufacturers & Retailer

PC manufacturer and retailers are next on the Tist of contributors to the waste segmen in India.
The waste form this sector comprises defective IC chips motherboards, cathode ray tubes (CRT)
and other peripheral items produced

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during the production process. It alus includes defective PCs under guarantee procured from
consumers as replacement items. It is estimated that around 1050 tonnes per year of waste comes
form the sector.

E waste from import-

The biggest sources of PC scrap are imports. Huge quantities of e-waste such as monitors, printers,
keyboards, CPUs, typewriters, projectors, mobile phones, PVC Wires, etc are imported. The
computers thus imported are of all ranges, models and sures, and ate functional as well as junk
materials

Secondary markets-

These are the waste coming from the secondary markets. It includes TV. computers, mobiles,
electric boards etc.

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CATEGORIES OF E-WASTE

• The electrical and electronic equipment can be broadly categorized into following categories

• Large household appliances refrigerator, freezer, washing machine, cooking appliances, etc.)

• Small household appliances (vacuum cleaners, watches, grinders,

• IT and telecommunication equipment (PCs, printers, telephones, etc.)

• Соnsumer equipment (TV, radio, video camera, amplifiers, etc

• Lighting equipment (CFL, high intensity sodium lamp, etc.)

• Electrical and electronic tools (drills, saws, sewing machine, etc.)

• Toys, leisure, and sport equipment (computer video games, electric mams,

• Medical devices with the exception of all implanted and infected products radiotherapy

equipment, cardiology, dialysis, nuclear medicine, etc)

• Monitoring and control instruments (snoke detector, heating regulators, thermostat, esc)

• Automatic dispensers(for bot drinks, money hot and cold bottles, etc.)

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GENERATION OF E-WASTE-

International scenario-

In Europe, the production of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is one of the fastest growing
business sectors In Europe the expected growth rate of WERE in at least 3 to 5% per year.

In USA, accounts 1% to 3% of the total municipal waste generation.

Indian scenario

The preliminary estimates suggest that total WEEE generation in India is approximately 1, 46, 180
tonnes/year which is expected to exceed 50,000 tonnes by 2012

In India to date, e-waste generation is estimated to be around 0.1-0.2%, of

The sop states, in order of highest contribution to WEEE, include Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Dells, Karnataka Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab

The cay-wise ranking of largest WEER generators is Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore. Chennai, Kolkata,
Ahmadabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Surat, und Nagpur

This is due to the presence of a large number of Info Tech Parks & electronic products manufacturing
companies situated in these areas, which plays the main role in e-waste generation

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WEEE WASTE GENERATION IN STATES IN INDIA IN 2005

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COMPOSITION OF E-WASTE

MAJORS HAZARDOUS COMPONENTS IN WEEE

Mercury Thermostats, sensors, relays in switches

And discharge lamps. LCD.

Lead Soldering of printed circuit boards, Cath-

De ray tubes and light bulbs, batteries,
LCD.

Cadmium Switches, spings, connectors, housings

and printed circuit bounds batteries.

Hexavalent chromium Metal coatings for contusion protection

and wear resistance

Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) Flame retardants in printed circuit boards

And Polybrominated diphenylethe- , connectors and plastic covers.
Rs (PBDE).

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HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH E-WASTE-

WEEE should not be combined with unsorted municipal waste destined e landfills because
electronic waste can contain more than 1000 different substances many of which are toxic, such
lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium, and hexavalent chromium. Some of the toxic effects of
the heavy metals are given below.

Lead-
Lead causes damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems, kidney and
reproductive system in humans. The main applications of lead in computers are: glass panels and
gasket (frit) in computer monitors, and solder in printed circuit boards and other components

Cadmium-
Cadmium compounds are toxic, they can bioaccumulate, and they pose a risk of irreversible effects
on human heath, Cadmium occurs in certain components such surface mount devices (MD) chip
resistors, infra-red detectors, and semiconductor chips

Mercury-
Mercury con cause damage to various organs including the brain and kidneys. Most importantly, the
developing fetus is highly susceptible through maternal exposure to mercury mercury is used in
thermostats, sensors, relays, switches (e.g. on printed circuit boards and in measuring equipment),
medical equipment lamps, mobile phones and in batteries.

Hexavalent chromium/chromium VI-

Chromium VI is still used for corrosion protection of untreated and galvanized steel plates and as a
decorative or hardener for steel housings. It easily passes through cell membranes and is then
absorbed producing various toxic effects in contaminated cells.

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Plastic including PVC-

It is used in the cabling & computer lasing. It contains dioxins. Reproductive and developmental
problems, Immune system damage, Interfere with regulatory hormones

Hazards due to Incineration

The incineration of brominated flame-retardants as a low temperature of 600-300 "C may lead to
the generation of extremely toxic polybrominated dioxins (PBOC) and polybrominated furans
(PHD) Significant quantity of PVC is contained in e waste, which makes the flue gas residues and
air emissions particularly dangerous.

Hazards due to Landfilling

It has become common knowledge that all landfills leak. Even the best state-of the art" landfills are
not completely tight throughout their lifetimes and a certain amount of chemical and metal leaching
will occur. The situation is worse for older or less stringent damp sites. Mercury will leach when
certain electronic device such as circuit breakers are destroyed. The same is true for PCBs a
condenser. When brominated flame retarded plastics or cadmium containing plastics are landfilled,
both PBDE and the cadmium may leach into the soil and groundwater. It has been found that
significant amounts of lead ions are dissolved from broken lead containing glass, such as the cone
glass of cathode ray tuber when mixed with acid waters which commonly occur in landfills.

Hands due to Recycling

Recycling of hazardous products has little environmental benefit. It simply simply moves the hazard
into secondary products that will have to be disposed of eventually. Unless the goal is to redesign
the product to use non-hazardous materials, such recycling is an ineffective solation. Halogenated
substances contained in e-waste, in particular brominated flame-retardants are also of concern
during the extrusion of plastics, which is a part of plastic recycling. Environmental problems during
the recycling of e-waste are not only linked to halogenated substances. A hazardous emission into
the air abo results from recycling of e-wase containing heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium.
These emissions could be significantly reduced by means of pretreatment operation.

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METHODS OF TREATMENT & DISPOSAL -

• Landfilling
• Incineration
• Pyrolysis
• Recycle & Reuse

EWASTE EXISTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN INDIA-

• Plastic waste

Products made from plastics such as like casing, front panel, rear panel Miscellaneous parts
encased in plastics Management practice- The shredding & melting

• Printed circuit bound waste

Used in the fire inhibitors & in some electronic parts Management practice Desoldering & open
barning to remove metals.

• Miscellaneous waste -

Chips, electronic wires, broken glass waste, copper containing waste. Management practice-
Chemical stripping & open burning A some of the waste in mixed with the municipal sold wate

• Liquid waste

It contains internal chemicals, general waste, acid stripping waste Management

practice Sewerage system

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RECYCLING OF E-WASTE -

WEEE recycling is in in infancy, and consumer recognition of the need fie recycling is a critical
factor in the farther expansion of this industry. More than 00% of WERE is land filled, and in other
countries a large fraction of WEEE waste from households ends up in waste incinerators Many
consumers do no immediately discard or recycle unused electronics, since they think that the
products retain value. More than 70% of retired CEDs are kept in storage for 3 yours. However,
with the rapid development of electronic technologies, the residual value of outdated electronic
devices decreases rapidly, both the recovery value of parts and the machine resale value drop rapidly
as machines and devices age. Consumers also need to be educated about the effects of such waste
on the environment and health, and learn the significance of the recycling symbol that must appear
on the packaging of such equipment

Recycling of WEEE can be divided into three major stages

Disassembly dismantling.
Disassembly is the systematic removal of components, parts, a group of parts or a subassembly from
a product (i.e., partial disassembly) or the complete disassembly of a product for a given purpose.
This is often necessary to isolate hazardous or valuable materials

Upgrading
WEEE can be regarded as a resource of metals, such as copper, aluminium and gold, and non-metals.
Upgrading typically includes two stages communication and separation of materials using
mechanical physical and/or metallurgical processing to prepare the materials for refining processes
Precious metal oriented recovery techniques, such as hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy, are
becoming less popular whereas mechanical physical separations of WEEE, which are easier to
operate and more environmentally sound, are becoming more prevalent. Oth methods to recover
materials include incineration and refining, in which metal can be recovered after the more
combustible material has been incinerated; and chemical recycling, in which chemical processes are
used to remove precious metals such as gold and silver from printed circuit bounds. A mechanical
process in ideal for upgrading recycling WEER because it can yield full material recovery including
plastics.

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Many of the traditional recycling separation processes, much as screening, shape separation and
magnetic separation can be used for particle separation

Materials recovery

The major materials in TV and computer are metals, plastics, and glass, and the rate at which these
materials can be recovered at a given materials recycling facility (MRF) will depend on various
parameters such as the sire of the facility and the target electronic products

PRODUCT REUSE-

Reuse is the environmentally preferable option for managing older electronics equipment By
extending the useful life of old products, reuse conserves the energy and raw materials needed so
manufacture new products and doing so reduces the pollution associated with energy use and
manufacturing. Reuse also gives people who cannot afford new products access to electronic
equipment at reduced or at low cost. Almost all domestic and part of imported e-waste are reused in
following ways

• Direct second-hand use

• Use after repair or slight modification
• Use of some parts like monitor cabinet, main board for making new appliances

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RECYCLING & DISPOSAL OF ELECTRONIC APPIENCES

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CASE STUDY-

A COMPARISON OF ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING IN SWITZERLAND & INDIA

Switzerland is one of the very few countries with over a decade of experience in managing e-waste.
India, on the other hand, is only now experiencing the problems that e-waste poses. The paper aims
to give the reader insight into the disposal of end-of-life appliances in both countries, including
appliance collection and the financing of recycling systems as well as the social and environmental
aspects of the current practices .electronic waste recycling is gaining currency around the world as
larger quantities of electronics are coming into the waste stream. Managing the increasing volumes
of e-waste effectively and efficiently-in cost and environmental impact-is a complex task. Firstly,
special logistic requirements are necessary for collecting the e-waste. Secondly, e-waste contains
many hazardous substances which are extremely dangerous to human health and the environment,
and therefore disposal requires special treatment to prevent the leakage and dissipation of toxics
into the environment. At the same time, it is a rich source of metals such as gold, silver and copper,
which can be recovered and brought back into the production cycle. This particular characteristic of
e-waste has made e-waste recycling a lucrative business in both developed as well as developing
countries. While some countries have organised systems for the collection, recycling, disposal and
monitoring, other countries are still to find a solution that ensures jobs while minimizing the
negative environmental impacts of e-waste recycling. Switzerland was chosen because it was the
first country to implement an industry- wide organised system for the collection and recycling of
electronic waste. India was chosen as the other country for study because it is not only among the
fastest growing markets for the consumption of electronic appliance.,

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E-waste recycling in Switzerland-

Background-

Switzerland, with one of the highest per capita incomes in the world,2 is also among its most
technologically advanced countries. The total installed PC base in Switzerland is 3.15 million PCs,
which translates into one PC for almost every two persons, over 99% of the households have
refrigerators and over 96% have TVs. Even though market penetration of electrical and electronic
goods is high, the market for new appliances remains strong, with annual per capita spending on
ICT products topping US$3600, the highest in the world.

Switzerland also ranks among the top countries in the world regarding environment protection.
Ranked 7th on the 2005 Environmental Sustainability Index. Switzerland is the first country in the
world to have established a formal system to manage e-waste. Even though the 68,000 tonnes of e-
waste collected in Switzerland in 2003. Legislation on e-waste management was introduced into
Switzerland only in 1998.

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SYSTEM OVERVIEW -

The collection and recycling of e-waste in Switzerland is an intentionally developed and organised
system. As mentioned before, the Swiss system is based on EPR-both legally and operationally. This
places both the physical as well as the financial responsibility of an environmentally sound disposal
of end-of-life electronics with the manufacturers and importers of these products. The entire
operative responsibility is however with the two PROS-SWICO and S.EN.S-who manage and
operate the system on behalf of their member producers.

One of the pillars of the system is secured financing of the collection and recycling by way of the
Advance Recycling Fee (ARF) charged on all new appliances. The ARF is used to pay for the
collection, the transport and the recycling of the disposed appliances. The ARF can range from a
minimum CHF (Swiss franc) 1 on small items, such as hair dryers and electric shavers, to up to CHF
20 for TVs or CHF 40 for refrigerators. The total ARF collected in 2003 was CHF 71.66 million.

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Another key feature of the system is its comprehensive scope and nationwide acceptance. SWICO
and S.EN.S had 500 official collection points (in 2003) around Switzerland in addition to the
thousands of retail locations which have to take back old equipment free of charge, irrespective of
the brand or year of manufacture, thereby making it easier for consumers to dispose of their e-waste
at appropriate locations.

One of the pillars that facilitates the smooth functioning of the system is the multiple levels of
independent controls which are able to check free riding and pilferage as well as to ensure that the
recyclers maintain quality and environmental standards. Both material and financial flows are
controlled at every stage. The independent controls not only deter free riders, but also give
credibility to the entire system, thereby also ensuring the participation of retailers and consumers.

E waste recycling in India-

Background-
India, with over 1 billion people, is the second most populous country in the world. Although the
penetration of India's market for consumer durables is substantially lower than that of developed
countries, the size of India's market in absolute terms is larger than that of many high-income
countries. Moreover, India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world and the domestic
demand for consumer durables in India has been skyrocketing. From 1998 to 2002, there was a
53.1% increase in the sales of domestic household appliances, both large and small. The growth in
PC ownership per capita in India between 1993 and 2000 was 604% compared to a world
average of 181%.

Unfortunately, economic growth and environmental protection indicators are as odds with one
another. India ranks an abysmal 101th on the 2005 Environmental Sustainability Index.

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In contrast to Switzerland, where consumers pay a recycling fee, in India it is the waste collectors
who pay consumers a positive price for their obsolete appliances, as can be seen in Fig.. The small
collectors in turn sell their collections to traders who aggregate and sort different kinds of waste and
then sell it to recyclers, who recover the metals.

The entire industry is based on a network existing among collectors, traders and recyclers, each
adding value, and creating jobs, at every point in the chain. As the volume of e-waste has grown, a
noticeable degree of specialisation has emerged, with some waste processors focussing only on e-
waste. Given the low level of initial investment required to start a collection, dismantling, sorting
or recovery business, it is attractive for small entrepreneurs to join the industry. This recycling
network is substantiated by similar results of fieldwork by on solid waste management in Chennai,
India, which found a series of private-private relationships among waste pickers, itinerant buyers,
dealers, wholesalers and recycling enterprises. The main incentive for the players is financial profit,
not environmental or social awareness. Nevertheless, these trade and recycling alliances provide
employment to many groups of people. E-waste recycling has become a profitable business,
flourishing as an unorganised sector, mainly as backyard workshops. For Delhi, study estimates the
number of unskilled workers in recycling and recovering operations to be at least 10,000 people.

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Comparison of the two systems –

From the two case studies above, it is clear that the e-waste management systems in the two
countries are very different. Based on observations of both systems, a qualitative comparison
is done using four criteria:

• E-waste per capita

• Employment Potential Occupational Hazards
• Emissions of Toxics

A higher value in either factor leads to a higher annual accrual of e-waste per capita. Compared to
India, Switzerland shows a higher value for per capita waste with its more widespread use of
appliances and shorter product service lives, given the lower rate of repair and reuse.

Switzerland has a much higher annual accrual of e-waste per capita. In the year 2003, more than 9
kg of e-waste per resident were taken back in Switzerland by the SWICO and S.EN.S recycling

Using the Employment Potential offered by the system as one criterion to judge the social impact
of the system, it can be seen that the Indian system generates far more jobs than the Swiss system
per tonne of e-waste processed. Collection, dismantling, sorting and segregation and even metal
recovery are done manually in India. Therefore, the e-waste recycling sector, albeit informal,
employs many unskilled or semi-skilled workers.

Study show that at least 10,000 people are involved in the recycling and recovery operations in
Delhi alone. The figure would be much higher if the entire value chain of collectors, transporters
and traders were included.

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Comparatively, e-waste management in Switzerland is highly mechanised, and employs far fewer
people. For example, the S.EN.S recycling system, which manages discarded household appliances
aces totalling over 34,000 tonnes (for all of Switzerland), engages 470 persons in all-including
collection, transportation, recycling, administration and controlling. The main reason for this large
difference in the number of people employed, is the availability of cheap manpower in India as
compared to the high labour costs in Switzerland.

However, when considered from the perspective of Occupational Hazard, e-waste handlers in India
are at a much higher risk than in Switzerland. One reason for this is the low level of awareness
among workers regarding the hazards of the chemicals and process they are exposed to and the
minimum protection and safety measures they are obliged to take. The other reason is the lack of
formal guidelines as well as a lax enforcement of existing environmental laws.

The Emissions of Toxics into the environment is another aspect to consider. Due to the manual
processes used for materials recovery, the level of toxics such as dioxins and acids released has been
found to be much higher in India than in Switzerland. Culpable for the high levels of these
externalities are backyard processing techniques such as open burning of cables, which is conducted
in the open without any controls or precautions. The material flow in and out of the system is totally
unmonitored at present. In contrast, the Swiss system imposes high safety and emission standards
and emphasises the implementation of regular controls and monitoring at every stage of the material
and financial flow through the system. External auditors mandated by the PRO's carry out at least
one annual audit at each recycler, and unless standards are complied with, the recycler's licence is
revoked. This monitoring has the effect that the e-waste recyclers stay within the strict Swiss
emission limits.

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CONCLUSION-

Electronic equipment is one of the largest known sources of heavy metals and organic pollutants in
the waste stream. Without effective collection, reuse, and recycling systems, highly toxic chemicals
are found in electronic appliances like, lead, beryllium, mercury, cadmium, chromium, brominated
flame retardant, etc will continue to contaminate soil and groundwater as well as pollute the air,
posing a threat to wildlife and people.

In India, domestic generation and imports are the two main sources of e-waste. It is impossible to
determine how much e-waste is generated in India and how much is imported. But the growing
quantities at a disastrous proportion and uncontrolled disposal practices are alarming the situation
from an environmental point of view.

Reuse and recycling of electronic equipment is a beneficial alternative than disposal as it reduces
the amount of toxic and hazardous substances that may enter the environment through disposal.

Thus, it is opined that e-waste management is a new challenge for waste management in India and
for its proper management, various measures for improvement in product design by using safe and
environmentally friendly raw materials and most emerging technologies have been suggested.
Adoption of all those measures will minimize the environmental pollution due to toxic constituents
present in electronic products and help in achieving a clean environment.

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REFERENCES

www.worldhealthorganization.com

www.ecsenvironment.com

www.nationalpollutioncontrol.com

www.centralpollutioncontrolboard.com

www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.com

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