Wednesday, July 30, 2008

E WASTE


Electronic Waste – or e-waste – is the term used to describe old, end-of-life electronic appliances such as computers, laptops, TVs, DVD players, mobile phones, mp3 players etc. which have been disposed of by their original users.


While there is no generally accepted definition of e-waste, in most cases, e-waste comprises of relatively expensive and essentially durable products used for data processing, telecommunications or entertainment in private households and businesses. Public perception of e-waste is often restricted to a narrower sense, comprising mainly of end-of-life information- & telecommunication equipment and consumer electronics. However, technically, electronic waste is only a subset of WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). According to the OECD any appliance using an electric power supply that has reached its end-of-life would come under WEEE.


WEEE Categories



  • Large household appliances

  • Small household appliances

  • IT and telecommunications equipmen

  • Consumer equipmentLighting equipment

  • Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools)

  • Toys, leisure and sports equipment

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

  • Monitoring and control instrumentsAutomatic dispensers.

Hazards of Ewaste
Electrical and electronic equipment are made up of a multitude of components, some containing toxic substances which can have an adverse impact on human health and the environment if not handled properly. Often, these hazards arise due to the improper recycling and disposal processes used.


Challenges Of Managing E-Waste

The challenges of managing e-waste in India are very different from those in other countries, developed or developing. While there can be several shared lessons, the complexity of the e-waste issue in India, given its vast geographical and cultural diversity and economic disparities, makes WEEE management challenges in India quite unique. A few of these are:
Rapidly increasing e-waste volumes, both domestically generated as well as through imports. Imports are often disguised as second-hand comptuer donations towards bridging the digital divide or simply as metal scrap.
No accurate estimates of the quantity of e-waste generated and recycled.
Low level of awareness amongst manufacturers and consumers of the hazards of incorrect e-waste disposal.
Widespread e-waste recycling in the informal sector using rudimentary techniques such as acid leaching and open air burning resulting in severe environmental damage
E-waste workers have little or no knowledge of toxins in e-waste and are exposed to serious health hazards.
Inefficient recycling processes result in substantial losses of material value
‘Cherry-picking’ by recyclers who recover precious metals and improperly dispose of the rest.


Bangalore, the undoubted center of the IT industry in India, was the first city in India to have sent a WEEE wake-up call by arranging awareness campaigns. Mumbai and New Delhi are the other cities where initiatives have been taken


Posted by: gayathri
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