E-Waste characteristic and its disposal

Asian journal of multidisciplinary studies, 2016

The discarded electronic items and gadgets which possesses no use are describes as electronic waste or e-waste. Exposure to these is disastrous due to the presence of hazardous and non – biodegradable substances present in them. The rate of generation of e-waste is not only a problem of both developing and developed countries. The exposure of e-waste causes various diseases such as hard metal lung diseases, berylliosis, Minamata disease, itai-itai disease etc. The hazardous components of e-waste not only affect human lives but also result in environmental degradation causing air, water and soil pollution. These consequences can be attributed to the dangerous discharges of lead, mercury, cadmium, etc. from the waste. Landfilling, incineration, recycling and bioremediation are some of the techniques used to treat e-waste. This review article overviews the scenario of e-waste generation, the health and environmental consequences caused and mechanisms to treat the e-waste production.

The discarded electronic items and gadgets which possesses no use are describes as electronic waste or e-waste. Exposure to these is disastrous due to the presence of hazardous and non – biodegradable substances present in them. The rate of generation of e-waste is not only a problem of both developing and developed countries. The exposure of e-waste causes various diseases such as hard metal lung diseases, berylliosis, Minamata disease, itai-itai disease etc. The hazardous components of e-waste not only affect human lives but also result in environmental degradation causing air, water and soil pollution. These consequences can be attributed to the dangerous discharges of lead, mercury, cadmium, etc. from the waste. Landfilling, incineration, recycling and bioremediation are some of the techniques used to treat e-waste. This review article overviews the scenario of e-waste generation, the health and environmental consequences caused and mechanisms to treat the e-waste production.

IJIREEICE, 2020

Electronic waste or e-waste describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. The composition of e-waste may be electronic components of computer, cell phones, battery, metals and plastic used in cables and in circuit boards. Etc. Electronic gadgets contain thousands of components made of deadly chemicals and metals like lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, polyvinyl chlorides (PVC). These substances can damage the nervous systems, kidney, bones, reproductive and endocrine systems. The inhalation of toxic fumes, as well as from accumulation of chemicals in soil, water and food. Atmospheric pollution due to burning and dismantling activities seems to be the main cause of occupational and secondary exposure. It effects the environment-to food-chain contamination, as contaminants may accumulate in agricultural lands. The most chemicals of concern have a slow metabolic rate in animals, and may bio accumulate in tissues and be excreted in edible products such as eggs and milk. This paper includes some study of sources of e-waste and its impact on environment. Some of disposal techniques and steps taken by Govt. of India to manage & utilize the e-waste have been discussed.

International Journal of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, 2020

Increase of population, purchasing power, and development of technology give consequence to Waste of Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) or e-waste generation. Increasing rate of e-waste production and its hazardous content raise the concern regarding e-waste. This paper aims to describe the research development on e-waste in various countries and propose the perspective of future research. The study based on literature survey in open access journals using ‘e-waste’ as the keyword. Article selection was done by considering the reputability of the source and cited frequency. From the articles reviewed, China contributed to most of the researches. Some of most studied topic namely e-waste management, e-waste impact to human health and environment and current status of e-waste treatment in specific country. Brief explanation on each topic and insight on future research are also provided.

E-Waste is an abbreviation for electronic waste. It is also called WEEE i.e. waste electrical and electronic equipment. As the global market for electrical and electronic equipment's is expanding, the life span of such products becomes lesser and thus e-waste increases. This e-waste if not properly managed, proves to be hazardous, in fact it contains many non-hazardous substances also which are valuable and useful. The e-waste is around 50 million tons each year. The improper de-manufacturing of e-waste is very dangerous as it is handled by human beings. Many laws and legislation are made for management of e-waste but are not followed properly. The developed countries are sending their e-waste to developing countries legally and sometimes illegally also, thus making these developing countries as the dumping grounds of e-waste. We have given the adverse health impacts of the materials extracted from e-waste and their effect on community and environment. The hazardous chemicals given out by e-waste are brominated flame retardants (BFR), plastics, CFCs and many metals which seriously affect the hormonal system. The several ways to minimize e-waste are modifications in production process, reduction in manufacturing volume, recovery and reuse, sustainable product design, use of renewable material and energy, creating components of biodegradable materials, green packaging material etc. We also have mentioned the worthy elements which can be extracted from e-waste to prove it as e-wealth. The responsibilities of different sectors like government, Industry and human being are also mentioned for the awareness of society.

2013

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is becoming major thread to the whole world. Its toxic emissions mixed with virgin soil and air and causing harmful effects to the entire biota either directly or indirectly. Direct impacts include release of acids, toxic compounds including heavy metals, carcinogenic chemicals and indirect effects such as bio magnification of heavy metals. Many private firms are involved in collecting, dismantling, separation and exporting e-wastes for recyclers. However, strict regulations are currently being followed as on approval of such firms such as e-steward certification by Basel action network in US, they also involved in public awareness programs; this review is based on collected information from various journal articles, websites including the technical note by Greenpeace international. Further, it analyzes the current progress on e-waste management worldwide.

International Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2012

E-waste can be defined as electronic equipments / products which have become obsolete due to advancement in technology, changes in fashion, style and status, nearing the end of their useful life. E-wastes are considered dangerous, as certain components of some electronic products contain materials that are hazardous, depending on their condition and density. Discarded computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, fax machines, electric lamps, cell phones, audio equipment and batteries if improperly disposed can leach lead and other substances into soil and groundwater. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled in an environmentally sound manner so that they are less harmful to the ecosystem. The Waste minimization in industries involves adopting inventory management, production-process modification, volume reduction, recovery and reuse. This paper highlights the hazards of e-wastes, the need for its appropriate management and options that can be implemented.

Electronic waste or E-waste of a product is scrap or discarded electronic devices or electrical devices which has come to an end of their usage or life span. These E-waste contains lot of hazardous substances and contents which are harmful for humans as well as environment. In the recent years our nation is driving towards digitization there by leading in the generation of huge amount E-waste materials every year. Informal processing of E-waste in the developed countries like India will possess great threat to environment and there by leading to the environmental pollution. To address potential environmental problems that could stem from improper management of WEEE, many countries and organizations have drafted national legislation to improve the reuse, recycling and other forms of material recovery from WEEE to reduce the amount and types of materials disposed in landfills. Although most EEE waste is associated with the developing countries " living standards ". One theory is that increased regulation of electronic waste and concern over the environmental harm in nature economies creates an economic disincentive to remove residues prior to export. Critics of trade in used electronics maintain that it is still too easy for brokers calling themselves recyclers to export unscreened electronic waste to developing countries, such as China, India and parts of Africa, thus avoiding the expense of removing items like bad cathode ray tubes. The developing countries have become toxic dump yards of e-waste.This paper relates the issue regarding the E-waste and methods & mechanism that can be deployed to assess E-waste in the region of concern.

Open Access Journal of Waste Management & Xenobiotics, 2018

Electronic waste or e-waste is one of the quickly developing Problems of the world. E- Waste includes a huge number of parts, some containing toxic substances that can adversely affect human wellbeing and the earth, if not handled appropriately. In India, E-Waste management accepts more noteworthy criticalness not only due to the generation of its own E-Waste yet in addition on account of the dumping of E- Waste from developed nations. This is combined with India's absence of proper framework and techniques for its disposal and recycling. This review article gives a compact overview of India's present E- Waste situation, specifically magnitude of the ecological issue and wellbeing hazards, current disposal and recycling tasks.

Journal of Engineering …, 2010

In this paper the environmental problems related with the discarded electronic appliances, known as e-waste, are reviewed. Moreover, the current and the future production of e-waste, the potential environmental problems associated with their disposal and management practices are discussed whereas the existing e-waste management schemes in Greece and other countries (Japan, Switzerland) are also quoted.

Magazine Article, 2021

Transforming the world from the industrial era to the technological era, the generation of electrical and electronic waste (E-waste) has become a major environmental concern in the world . E-waste includes all the assemblies, subassemblies, consumables of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) (Ranasinghe & Athapattu, 2020). The advancement of technology, introduction of "smart concepts and designs", marketing strategies, changing lifestyle, compatibility issues, and end-of-life have caused rapid obsolescence of many electrical and electronic devices . Thus, the annual generation of E-waste keeps growing, and according to the United Nations Global E-waste Monitor 2020, approximately 53.6 million metric tons of E-waste was generated worldwide by 2019. Further, the report predicts that this annual generation will be doubled by 2030 and will reach 74 million metric tons . However, an extensive generation of Ewaste in developing countries compared to developed countries is due to the importation of discarded electronic devices or second-use devices from the western countries . Statistics showed that a massive quantity of E-waste is generated in Asian countries (China, India) followed by America and Europe . Recycling, incineration, and landfill disposal are the widely practicing treatment techniques in the world. Therefore, recycling and management policies and regulations are formulated at a country and on a regional and global scale. However, due to the lack of awareness on the toxicity of E-waste and lack of E-waste collection infrastructure, improper handling, disposal, and burning of domestic and industrial WEEE are still practiced globally . This accounts for the unregulated release of E-waste and its associated hazardous material, which can cause contamination of the environment (air, water, soil). Once released, they can be transported from the terrestrial environment to the aquatic environment and atmosphere. Since E-waste consists of both inorganic and organic pollutants, which are hazardous, it will cause adverse effects on all the ecological receptors. Many research findings have highlighted the environmental and human health risk associated with the improper handling of E-waste.

Electronic waste or e-waste is one of the quickly developing Problems of the world. E-waste comprises of a multitude of components, some containing toxic substances that can have an adverse effect on human health and the environment if not handled properly. In India, e-waste management assumes greater significance not just due to the generation of its own e-waste yet in addition because of the dumping of e-waste from developed countries. This is coupled with India's absence of appropriate infrastructure and procedures for its disposal and recycling. This review article provides a concise overview of India's current e-waste scenario, namely magnitude of the problem environmental and health hazards, current disposal and recycling operations, existing legal framework associations taking a shot at this issue and recommendations for activity.

International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, 2014

The mammoth generation of e-waste has created a new e-waste stream in the country containing obsolete, End of life Electrical and Electronics Equipments discarded after their intended use. The innovation, dynamism in product design and globalization replacing these equipments in very duration and made it fast growing waste in the world. E-waste is being generated by both indigenous and outsourced electrical and electronics equipments besides Basel Convention. The knowhow and compatible infrastructure for e-waste treatment is limited in India and informal recycling survived under the ambit of flexible legislative framework. The presence of toxic and hazardous substances in e-wasted equipments attracted the attention of the waste managing agencies in the country because these substances endanger the human health, environment, wherever present in uncontrolled conditions. The existence and implementation of Environmentally Sound Management is partial and progressing very slowly due to obvious reasons. The formal recyclers have commissioned comprehensive e-waste treatment facilities; but inadequate in proportion to the e-waste generation in the country since the informal recyclers are treating 95% of the e-waste generated with hazardous practices. The formal e-waste collection from all sources is ambiguous. E-waste contains a good amount of valuable recyclable materials also and has potential to become lucrative business in the country.

IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 2012

The electronic industry is the world's largest and fastest growing manufacturing industry in the world. Discarded electronic and electrical equipment with all of their peripherals at the end of life is termed ewaste. The quantity of c-waste generated in developed countries equals 1% of total solid waste on an average and is expected to grow to 2% by 2011 and is one of the fastest growing waste streams.E-waste consists of ferrous and non ferrous metals, plastic, glass, ceramics, rubber etc. E-waste is valuable source for secondary raw material but harmful if treated and discarded improperly as it contains many toxic components such as lead, cadmium, mercury, polychiorinated biphenlys etc. The presence of lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium and hexavalent chromium and flame retardants beyond threshold quantities in e-waste classifies them as hazardous wastes. Rather than recycle the c-waste generated, the developed countries are finding easy way out of the problem by exporting them to developing economies. Recycling c-waste in a crude manner, as is done now will lead environmental pollution. A review of the study conducted of uncontrolled dumping and crude recycling of cwaste reveals the gravity of the problem. Technologies are suggested for environmentally sound management of c-waste. Legislation is the need of the hour for enforcing environmentally sound management. " Today's gadgets are tomorrows E-waste." 95 percent of electronic waste is recyclable. However, unregulated recycling can cause more harm to the environment than landfilling. While many companies, have safe and effective recycling programs, the majority of recycling companies export some percentage of their electronic waste to China or poor countries in Africa, where the waste is "recycled," or destroyed and stripped of its valuable metals. Though this seems like a good thing on the surface, because components are being repurposed, unregulated recycling centers burn or dissolve the plastic components to release the precious metals: a process that releases environmental contaminants into the air, land, and water that would otherwise remain trapped and inert in landfills. The major portion of the c-waste generated domestically as well as illegally imported are recycled in crude manner leading to pollution of the environment. Lack of legislation in our country at present is aiding this hazardous form of recycling. Therefore there is urgent need to frame and implement rules for regulating this waste and to find environmentally sound, economically viable methods for recycling and disposing of this necessary evil. The necessity of environmentally sound management of c-waste is brought out with the help of a case study of uncontrolled dumping of c-waste. we have collected data of disposed materials percentage in Mahbubnagar and which is causing harm to environment and for reducing this we have explained some techniques from which it can be controlled without causing any effects to environment.

2012

The electronic industry is the world’s largest and fastest growing manufacturing industry in the world. Discarded electronic and electrical equipment with all of their peripherals at the end of life is termed ewaste. The quantity of c-waste generated in developed countries equals 1% of total solid waste on an average and is expected to grow to 2% by 2011 and is one of the fastest growing waste streams.E-waste consists of ferrous and non ferrous metals, plastic, glass, ceramics, rubber etc. E-waste is valuable source for secondary raw material but harmful if treated and discarded improperly as it contains many toxic components such as lead, cadmium, mercury, polychiorinated biphenlys etc. The presence of lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium and hexavalent chromium and flame retardants beyond threshold quantities in e-waste classifies them as hazardous wastes. Rather than recycle the c-waste generated, the developed countries are finding easy way out of the problem by exporting t...