E-WASTAGE: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

FOR

PRATHIBA-09
AT: TKR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

EMAIL: gopikrishna {tkrcet} ANUSHA {tkrcet}

[email protected] [email protected]

ABSTRACT
"E-waste" is a popular in!or"al na"e !or electronic pro#ucts nearing
the en# o! their "use!ul li!e$ "E-wastes are consi#ere# #angerous as certain co"ponents o! so"e electronic pro#ucts contain "aterials that are ha%ar#ous #epen#ing on their con#ition an# #ensit&$ 'he ha%ar#ous content o! these "aterials pose a threat to hu"an health

an# en(iron"ent$ )iscar#e# co"puters tele(isions *+,s stereos copiers !a- "achines electric la"ps cell phones au#io e.uip"ent an# /atteries i! i"properl& #ispose# can leach lea# an# other su/stances into soil an# groun#water$ Man& o! these pro#ucts can /e reuse# re!ur/ishe# or rec&cle# in an en(iron"entall& soun# "anner so that the& are less har"!ul to the ecos&ste"$ 'his paper also highlights wh& the e-wastage is growing an# the reasons !or its growth$ It also presents the (arious techni.ues to "ini"i%e the e-wastage that in#ustries nee# to /e consi#ere# or a#opt to "ini"i%e e-wastage like in(entor& "anage"ent sustaina/le pro#uct #esign (olu"e re#uction pro#uction process "o#i!ication which lea#s to re#uce e-wastage an# /ene!its !or the en(iron"ent$ It present how the e-wastage e!!ects on constituent health an# presents a ta/le o! how the che"icals o! e-waste causes particular health pro/le"s is cite# in ta/ular !or" in this paper$ It also e-plains the growth o! e-waste in countries rise# o(er the &ears$ 'his paper also pro(i#es an insight o! (arious challenges o! e-wastage in In#ia an# in #e(eloping countries$ It also cites the opportunities o! ewaste an# !inall& conclu#es how to re#uce e-waste$

E-WASTAGE MANAGEMENT: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Definition of e-waste: Electronic waste, popularly known as e-waste can !e de"ined as electronic e#uipments $ products connects with power plu%, !atteries which ha&e !ecome o!solete due to'

Ad&ancement in technolo%y chan%es in "ashion, style and status (earin% the end o" their use"ul li"e.

Why is e-waste !owin "

E-waste is %rowin% e)ponentially simply !ecause the market in which these products are produced is also %rowin% rapidly as many parts o" the world cross the so called di%ital

di&ide . *or e)ample, !etween 2000 and 200+, the ,r%ani-ation o" Economic and .ooperati&e /e&elopment 0,E./1 notes a 222 %rowth in 3n"ormation .ommunication 4echnolo%y 03.41 in .hina1. *urthermore, .hina was the 5th lar%est 3.4 market in 2005, a"ter the 67, 8apan, Germany, 69 and *rance.2. .omputers are only one part o" the ewaste stream thou%h, as we see that in the E6 in 200+, "rid%es and other coolin% and "ree-in% appliances, com!ined with lar%e household appliances, accounted "or ::2 o" total e-waste, accordin% to 6(6 s 7tudy supportin% the 200; <e&iew o" the =aste Electrical and Electronic E#uipment 0=EEE1 /irecti&e.: <apid product inno&ations and replacement, especially in 3.4 and o""ice e#uipment, com!ined with the mi%ration "rom analo%ue to di%ital technolo%ies and to "lat-screen 4>s and monitors, "or e)ample, are "uellin% the increase. Economies o" scale ha&e %i&en way to lower prices "or many electrical %oods, which has increased %lo!al demand "or many products that e&entually end up as e-waste. .Effe#ts of E-Waste #onstit$ent on hea%th /isposal o" e-wastes is a particular pro!lem "aced in many re%ions across the %lo!e. .omputer wastes that are land"illed produces contaminated leachates which e&entually pollute the %roundwater. Acids and slud%e o!tained "rom meltin% computer chips, i" disposed on the %round causes acidi"ication o" soil.

So$!#e of e-wastes Constit$ent 7older in printed circuit !oards, %lass panels and %askets ?ead 0@A1 in computer monitors

Hea%th effe#ts /ama%e to central and peripheral ner&ous systems, !lood systems and kidney dama%e.

.hip resistors and .admium 0./1 semiconductors

A""ects !rain de&elopment o" children. 4o)ic irre&ersi!le e""ects on human health. Accumulates in kidney and li&er. .auses neural dama%e. 4erato%enic. .hronic dama%e to the !rain. <espiratory and skin disorders due to !ioaccumulation in "ishes. Asthmatic !ronchitis. /(A dama%e.

<elays and switches, printed circuit !oards

Bercury 0C%1

.orrosion Ce)a&alent protection o" chromium 0.r1 untreated and >3 %al&ani-ed steel plates, decorator or

hardner "or steel housin%s Aurnin% produces dio)in. 3t causes

.a!lin% and @lastics computer housin% includin% @>.

<eproducti&e and de&elopmental pro!lemsD 3mmune system dama%eD 3nter"ere with re%ulatory hormones

@lastic housin% o" electronic e#uipments and circuit !oards.

Arominated "lame retardants 0A*<1

/isrupts endocrine system "unctions

7hort term e)posure causes' *ront panel o" .<4s Aarium 0Aa1

Buscle weaknessD /ama%e to heart, li&er and spleen. .arcino%enic 0lun% cancer1 3nhalation o" "umes and dust. .auses chronic !eryllium disease or !eryllicosis. 7kin diseases such as warts.

Bother!oard

Aeryllium 0Ae1

MANAGEMENT O& E-WASTE: 3t is estimated that E+2 o" electronic items are stored due to uncertainty o" how to mana%e it. 4hese electronic Funks lie unattended in houses, o""ices, warehouses etc. and normally mi)ed with household wastes, which are "inally disposed o"" at land"ills. 3n industries mana%ement o" e-waste should !e%in at the point o" %eneration. 4his can !e done !y waste minimi-ation techni#ues and !y sustaina!le product desi%n. =aste minimi-ation in industries in&ol&es adoptin%'

in&entory mana%ement, production-process modi"ication, &olume reduction, reco&ery and reuse.

In'ento!y (ana e(ent

@roper control o&er the materials used in the manu"acturin% process is an important way to reduce waste %eneration 0*reeman, 1G;G1. 4his can !e done in two ways i.e. esta!lishin% material-purchase re&iew and control procedures and in&entory trackin% system. /e&elopin% re&iew procedures "or all material purchased is the "irst step in esta!lishin% an in&entory mana%ement pro%ram. @rocedures should re#uire that all materials !e appro&ed prior to purchase. 3n the appro&al process all production materials are e&aluated to e)amine i" they contain ha-ardous constituents and whether alternati&e non-ha-ardous materials are a&aila!le. Another in&entory mana%ement procedure "or waste reduction is to ensure that only the needed #uantity o" a material is ordered. 4his will re#uire the esta!lishment o" a strict in&entory trackin% system.

P!o)$#tion-*!o#ess (o)ifi#ation
.han%es can !e made in the production process, which will reduce waste %eneration. 4his reduction can !e accomplished !y chan%in% the materials used to make the product or !y the more e""icient use o" input materials in the production process or !oth. @otential waste minimi-ation techni#ues can !e !roken down into three cate%ories' i1 3mpro&ed operatin% and maintenance procedures, ii1 Baterial chan%e and iii1@rocess-e#uipment modi"ication. 3mpro&ements in the operation and maintenance o" process e#uipment can result in si%ni"icant waste reduction. 4his can !e accomplished !y re&iewin% current operational procedures or lack o" procedures and e)amination o" the production process "or ways to impro&e its e""iciency. 3nstitutin% standard operation procedures can optimise the use o" raw materials in the production process and reduce the potential "or materials to !e lost throu%h leaks and spills. An employee-trainin% pro%ram is a key element o" any waste reduction pro%ram. 4rainin% should include correct operatin% and handlin% procedures, proper e#uipment use, recommended maintenance and inspection schedules, correct process control speci"ications and proper mana%ement o" waste materials. Ca-ardous materials used in either a product "ormulation or a production process may !e replaced with a less ha-ardous or non-ha-ardous material. *or e)ample, a circuit !oard manu"acturer can replace sol&ent-!ased product with water-!ased "lu) and simultaneously replace sol&ent&apor de%reaser with deter%ent parts washer.

3nstallin% more e""icient process e#uipment or modi"yin% e)istin% e#uipment to take ad&anta%e o" !etter production techni#ues can si%ni"icantly reduce waste %eneration. (ew or updated e#uipment can use process materials more e""iciently producin% less waste. Additionally such e""iciency reduces the num!er o" reFected or o""-speci"ication products, there!y reducin% the amount o" material which has to !e reworked or disposed o". Bodi"yin% e)istin% process e#uipment can !e a &ery cost-e""ecti&e method o" reducin% waste %eneration. 3n many cases the modi"ication can Fust !e relati&ely simple chan%es in the way the materials are handled within the process to ensure that they are not wasted. *or e)ample, in many electronic manu"acturin% operations, which in&ol&e coatin% a product, such as electroplatin% or paintin%, chemicals are used to strip o"" coatin% "rom reFected products so that they can !e recoated. 4hese chemicals, which can include acids, caustics, cyanides etc are o"ten a ha-ardous waste and must !e properly mana%ed. Ay reducin% the num!er o" parts that ha&e to !e reworked, the #uantity o" waste can !e si%ni"icantly reduced.

+o%$(e !e)$#tion
>olume reduction includes those techni#ues that remo&e the ha-ardous portion o" a waste "rom a non-ha-ardous portion. 4hese techni#ues are usually to reduce the &olume, and thus the cost o" disposin% o" a waste material. 4he techni#ues that can !e used to reduce waste-stream &olume can !e di&ided into 2 %eneral cate%ories' source se%re%ation and waste concentration. 7e%re%ation o" wastes is in many cases a simple and economical techni#ue "or waste reduction. =astes containin% di""erent types o" metals can !e treated separately so that the metal &alue in the slud%e can !e reco&ered. .oncentration o" a waste stream may increase the likelihood that the material can !e recycled or reused. Bethods include %ra&ity and &acuum "iltration, ultra "iltration, re&erse osmosis, "ree-e &apori-ation etc. *or e)ample, an electronic component manu"acturer can use compaction e#uipments to reduce &olume o" waste cathode ray-tu!e.

Re#o'e!y an) !e$se

4his techni#ue could eliminate waste disposal costs, reduce raw material costs and pro&ide income "rom a sala!le waste. =aste can !e reco&ered on-site, or at an o""-site reco&ery "acility, or throu%h inter industry e)chan%e. A num!er o" physical and chemical techni#ues are a&aila!le to reclaim a waste material such as re&erse osmosis, electrolysis, condensation, electrolytic reco&ery, "iltration, centri"u%ation etc. *or e)ample, a printed-circuit !oard manu"acturer can use electrolytic reco&ery to reclaim metals "rom copper and tin-lead platin% !ath. Cowe&er recyclin% o" ha-ardous products has little en&ironmental !ene"it i" it simply mo&es the ha-ards into secondary products that e&entually ha&e to !e disposed o". 6nless the %oal is to redesi%n the product to use non ha-ardous materials, such recyclin% is a "alse solution.

S$staina,%e *!o)$#t )esi n Binimi-ation o" ha-ardous wastes should !e at product desi%n sta%e itsel" keepin% in mind the "ollowin% "actorsH Rethink the product design: E""orts should !e made to desi%n a product with "ewer amounts o" ha-ardous materials. *or e)ample, the e""orts to reduce material use are re"lected in some new computer desi%ns that are "latter, li%hter and more inte%rated. ,ther companies propose centrali-ed networks similar to the telephone system. Use of renewable materials and energy: Aio-!ased plastics are plastics made with plant-!ased chemicals or plant-produced polymers rather than "rom petro chemicals. Aio-!ased toners, %lues and inks are used more "re#uently. 7olar computers also e)ist !ut they are currently &ery e)pensi&e. Use of non-renewable materials that are safer: Aecause many o" the materials used are non-renewa!le, desi%ners could ensure the product is !uilt "or re-use, repair and$or up%radea!ility. 7ome computer manu"acturers such as /ell and Gateway lease out their products there!y ensurin% they %et them !ack to "urther up%rade and lease out a%ain.

CHALLENGES- OPPOTIUNITIES: WEEE Mana e(ent Cha%%en es in In)ia 4he challen%es o" mana%in% e-waste in 3ndia are &ery di""erent "rom those in other countries, de&eloped or de&elopin%. =hile there can !e se&eral shared lessons, the comple)ity o" the e-waste issue in 3ndia, %i&en its &ast %eo%raphical and cultural di&ersity and economic disparities, makes =EEE mana%ement challen%es in 3ndia #uite uni#ue. A "ew o" these are'

<apidly increasin% e-waste &olumes, !oth domestically %enerated as well as throu%h imports. 3mports are o"ten dis%uised as second-hand comptuer donations towards !rid%in% the di%ital di&ide or simply as metal scrap. (o accurate estimates o" the #uantity o" e-waste %enerated and recycled. =idespread e-waste recyclin% in the in"ormal sector usin% rudimentary techni#ues such as acid leachin% and open air !urnin% resultin% in se&ere en&ironmental dama%e E-waste workers ha&e little or no knowled%e o" to)ins in e-waste and are e)posed to serious health ha-ards. 3ne""icient recyclin% processes result in su!stantial losses o" material &alue .herry-pickin% !y recyclers who reco&er precious metals and improperly dispose o" the rest.

The #ha%%en e of e%e#t!oni# waste .e-waste/ (ana e(ent in )e'e%o*in #o$nt!ies

3n"ormation and telecommunications technolo%y 03.41 and computer 3nternet networkin% has penetrated nearly e&ery aspect o" modern li"e, and is positi&ely a""ectin% human li"e e&en in the most remote areas o" the de&elopin% countries. 4he rapid %rowth in 3.4 has led to an impro&ement in the capacity o" computers !ut simultaneously to a decrease in the products li"etime as a result o" which increasin%ly lar%e #uantities o" waste electrical and electronic e#uipment 0e-waste1 are %enerated annually. 3.4 de&elopment in most de&elopin% countries, particularly in A"rica, depends more on secondhand or re"ur!ished EEEs most o" which are imported without con"irmatory testin% "or "unctionality. As a result lar%e #uantities o" e-waste are presently !ein% mana%ed in these countries. 4he challen%es "acin% the de&elopin% countries in e-waste mana%ement include' an a!sence o" in"rastructure "or appropriate waste mana%ement, an a!sence o" le%islation dealin% speci"ically with e-waste, an a!sence o" any "ramework "or end-o"-li"e 0Eo?1 product take-!ack or implementation o" e)tended producer responsi!ility 0E@<1. 4his study e)amines these issues as they relate to practices in de&elopin% countries with emphasis on the pre&ailin% situation in (i%eria. E""ecti&e mana%ement o" e-waste in the de&elopin% countries demands the implementation o" E@<, the esta!lishment o" product reuse throu%h remanu"acturin% and the introduction o" e""icient recyclin% "acilities. 4he implementation o" a %lo!al system "or the standardi-ation and certi"ication$la!ellin% o" secondhand appliances intended "or e)port to de&elopin% countries will !e re#uired to control the e)port o" electronic recycla!les 0e-scarp1 in the name o" secondhand appliances. E-WASTAGE AS OPPORTUNIT0: E-waste can be seen as a potent resource waiting for technology to find a way to convert millions of tonnes into reusable, recycled energy. <ecycled ener%y, is the ener%y sa&ed or con&erted into usa!le products !y simply handlin% the E-waste in the ri%ht manner. E&ery unused electrical item contains &alua!le resources and ener%y that you are unthinkin%ly throwin% away. /espite its common classi"ication as a waste, disposed o"" electronics are a considera!le cate%ory o" secondary resource due to their si%ni"icant suita!ility "or direct reuse 0 "or e)ample, many "ully "unctional computers and components are discarded durin% up%rades1, re"ur!ishin%, and material recyclin% o" its constituent raw materials.

E-waste processin% systems ha&e matured in the recent years "ollowin% increased re%ulatory, pu!lic and commercial scrutiny. @art o" this e&olution has in&ol&ed a %reater di&ersion o" e-waste "rom ener%y intensi&e, down-cyclin% processes 0e%. con&entional recyclin%1 where e#uipment is re&erted to a raw material "orm. 4his di&ersion is achie&ed throu%h reuse and re"ur!ishin%. 4he en&ironmental and social !ene"its o" reuse are se&eral' diminished demand "or new products and their commensurate re#uirement "or &ir%in raw materials 0with their own en&ironmental e)ternalities not "actored into the cost o" the raw materials1 and lar%er #uantities o" pure water and electricity "or associated manu"acturin%, less packa%in% per unit, a&aila!ility o" technolo%y to wider swaths o" society due to %reater a""orda!ility o" products, and diminished use o" land"ills. 3n a time o" %rowin% oil prices and climate chan%e concerns, recycla!le ener%y sources are an ade#uate solution and a compellin% opportunity. All the ener%y sa&ed helps reduce our .,2 emissions and stren%then a crum!lin% en&ironment. Con#%$sion E-waste represents a challen%in% recyclin% pro!lem "or se&eral reasons. *irst, the material comple)ity o" the product I a com!ination o" &alua!le metals with ha-ardous ones, such as @! and C%, and low &alue plastics I makes its di&ersion "rom land"ills an important consideration and one that will continue to dri&e the de&elopment o" en&ironmentally sound recyclin% processes. 7econd, it is a widely distri!uted and di&erse !asket o" consumer products with hi%hly &aria!le rates o" o!solescence and "ailure. 7o proper waste minimi-ation techni#ues should !e "ollowed !y industries. 7ustaina!le product desi%n, reco&ery and reuse techni#ues should !e used and awareness should !e created amon% the citi-ens to com!at with E-wasta%e.