E-Waste Management

India is known to be the largest producer of e-waste after China and the United States. As of April 2022, over 56% of smartphone users in India changed their smartphones after at least two years of use. Reports show that 10% of smartphone users changed their smartphones within the first six months of use. This statistic highlights the dominance of technology in our lives.

The question that arises now is- Where does all the E-waste go?

E-waste consists of all electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) items discarded without any intent of re-use. The informal sector recycles more than 95% of this waste and only 5% is recycled by the formal sector, adding to the problem of improper disposal of e-waste as scrap dealers dispose of the e-waste in unscientific ways such as burning or dissolving in acid. Rule 15(I) of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 provides the provision for a waste deposition centre for domestic E-waste. However, illegal recycling of e-waste is still prevalent in many areas.

?E-waste contains many valuable materials such as metals, plastics, and glass, which can be recovered and recycled. However, e-waste also contains many hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and brominated flame retardants, which can pose serious risks to human health and the environment if not handled properly.?

E-waste can have negative impacts on the environment in various ways. Some of the common environmental issues caused by e-waste are:

Landfilling: When e-waste is dumped in landfills, it can leach toxic chemicals into the soil and groundwater, contaminating them and affecting the flora and fauna. Landfilling also wastes valuable resources that could be reused or recycled.?

Incineration: When e-waste is burned, it can release harmful gases and particles into the air, contributing to air pollution and climate change. Incineration also destroys valuable materials that could be recovered or recycled.?

Informal recycling: When e-waste is recycled by unorganized and unregulated sectors, it can expose workers and communities to hazardous substances and processes. Informal recyclers often use primitive and unsafe methods such as open burning, acid leaching, and manual dismantling, which can cause occupational injuries, respiratory diseases, skin problems, neurological disorders, and cancers. Informal recycling also causes environmental pollution by releasing toxic emissions and effluents into the air, water, and soil.??

The proper disposal of e-waste in India is a challenge that requires the participation and cooperation of various stakeholders such as consumers, manufacturers, government agencies, NGOs, and formal recyclers. Some of the ways to dispose of e-waste in India are:

Extended producer responsibility (EPR): This is a policy that makes manufacturers responsible for collecting and managing their end-of-life products in an environmentally sound manner. EPR encourages manufacturers to design products that are durable, repairable, upgradable, and recyclable. EPR also incentivizes manufacturers to set up collection centers or take-back schemes for their customers to return their old products for recycling or disposal.

Formal recycling: This is a process that involves authorized and certified recyclers who use scientific and safe methods to recover valuable materials from e-waste and dispose of hazardous waste in an environmentally friendly way. Formal recyclers follow the standards and guidelines set by the government and adhere to the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover (4Rs). Formal recycling reduces the environmental impact of e-waste and creates employment opportunities for skilled workers.

Public awareness: This is a strategy that aims to educate and inform consumers about the importance of proper e-waste disposal and the options available to them. Public awareness campaigns can use various media such as posters, flyers, brochures, websites, social media platforms etc., to spread the message about e-waste management. Public awareness can also involve organizing workshops or activities in schools colleges or communities or RWAs to sensitize people about the environmental hazards of e-waste and plastic waste. Public awareness can motivate consumers to adopt responsible behaviour towards e-waste disposals such as donating or selling their old devices to formal recyclers or dropping them off at designated collection points or bins run by NGOs or CSR initiatives.?

By following the best practices of EPR, formal recycling, and public awareness, we can ensure that e-waste is managed in a sustainable way that protects our planet and our future.

?