1. Department of Civil Engineering
Jawaharlal Darda Institute of Engineering
And Technology, Yavatmal
By
Aniket R. Ingole
Seminar Guide
Prof. R. N. Pantawane
E-waste
Management
2. INTRODUCTION TO E-WASTE?
a) E-waste is defined as “waste electrical and electronic equipment, whole or in part
or rejects from their manufacturing and repair process, which are intended to be
discarded” whereas electrical and electronic equipment has been defined as
‘equipment which is dependent on electrical currents or electro-magnetic fields to
be fully functional’.
b) The rapid growth of ICT, frequent innovations and technological changes are
resulting in shorter life span of ICT equipment. Moreover in developing countries
the quantity of imported disused Electrical and Electronic equipment (EEE) is
uncontrolled
3.
4. AN ESTIMATION OF E-WASTE:
a) Personal computer sales has significantly increased from 2000 to 2010, from
about 170 million units sold globally in 2000 to about 370 million units sold in
2010. It is projected that sales in 2014 will reach an estimated 470 million units
which is more than double in the last 10 years. In India, it is estimated that
approximately 1.42 million PCs are getting obsolete every year.
b) It was also estimated that by 2020 in India the amount of e-waste from mobile
phones would be 18 times higher than the 2007 figures and 7 times higher in
China. Basel Action Network stated that 50- 80% of e-waste generated in USA is
exported to India, China, Pakistan, Taiwan and African countries.
5. EFFECTS OF E-WASTE ON HUMAN HEALTH
AND ENVIRONMENT:
a) Basel Convention characterizes e-waste as hazardous when they contain and are
contaminated with mercury, lead, cadmium, polychlorinated biphenyl etc. Wastes
containing insulation or metal cables coated with plastics contaminated with or
containing lead, coal tar, cadmium, Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) etc. are also
characterized as hazardous wastes. Also precious metal ash from printed circuit
boards, glass waste from cathode-ray tubes, LCD screens and other activated
glasses are classified as hazardous wastes.
6.
7.
8. MANAGEMENT OF E-WASTE
a) Environmentally sound management of WEEE recognizes three Rs i.e. reduce,
reuse and recycle. The aim would be to reduce the generation of e-waste through
smart manufacturing and maintenance, reuse till functioning of electronic
equipment by someone else and recycle those components that cannot be repaired.
9. METHODS OF E-WASTE MANAGEMENT
a) LANDFILLING
b) ACID BATH
c) INCINERATION
d) REUSE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES
e) RECYCLER
10.
11.
12.
13. CONCLUSIONS
a) Tax incentive may be considered to telecom product manufacturing companies which institute
environmentally safe production systems and products, to offset any incremental cost involved
in the process.
b) There is an urgent need of generating awareness among the people
c) Advertisement regarding awareness of safe disposal of e-waste
d) Collection and maintenance of data on e-waste is extremely important to start corrective actions
on policy and implementation.
Finally, Case studies in different areas depending on socio economic conditions may be started for
sustainable decisions in respect of e-waste management.
