SEMINAR REPORTON

E-WASTE

BYDeshmukh Priyanka

GUIDEMrs. Manisha Jadhav

Deparment of computer science and IT

MGM college,nanded.

INTRODUCTION

Most consumers are unaware of the toxic

materials in the products they rely on for word

processing, data management, and access to the

internet, as well as for electronic games.

In general, computer equipment is a complicated assembly of

more than 1,000 materials, many of which are highly toxic, such

as chlorinated and brominated substances, toxic gases, toxic

metals, biologically active materials, acids, plastics and plastic

additives.

The health impacts of the mixtures and material combinations in

the products often are not known. The production of

semiconductors, printed circuit boards, disk drives and monitors

uses particularly hazardous chemicals, and workers involved in

chip manufacturing are now beginning to come forward and

reporting cancer clusters. In addition, new evidence is emerging

that computer recyclers have high levels of dangerous chemicals

in their blood.

The fundamental dynamism of computer manufacturing that has

transformed life in the second half of the 20th century --

especially the speed of innovation -- also leads to rapid product

obsolescence.. The average computer platform has a lifespan of

less than two years, and hardware and software companies –

especially Intel and Microsoft -- constantly generate new

programs that fuel the demand for more speed, memory and

power.

A May 1999 report -– "Electronic Product Recovery and

Recycling Baseline Report" --published by the well-respected

National Safety Council’s Environmental Health Center,

confirmed that computer recycling in the US is shockingly

inadequate:

• In 1998 only 6 percent of computers were recycled

compared to the numbers of new computers put on the

market that year.

By the year 2004, experts estimate that we will have over 315

million obsolete computers in the US, many of which will be

destined for landfills, incinerators or hazardous waste exports.

E-WASTE

2.1 Definition of electronic waste :

Electronic waste includes computers, entertainment electronics, mobile

phones and other items that have been discarded by their original users.

While there is no generally accepted definition of electronic waste, in

most cases electronic waste consists of electronic products that were used

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for data processing, telecommunications, or entertainment in private

households and businesses that are now considered obsolete, broken, or

unrepairable. Despite its common classification as a waste, disposed

electronics are a considerable category of secondary resource due to their

significant suitability for direct reuse, refurbishing, and material recycling

of its constituent raw materials. Reconceptualization of electronic waste

as a resource thus preempts its potentially hazardous qualities.

In 1991 the first electronic waste recycling system was implemented in

Switzerland beginning with the collection of refrigerators. Over the years,

all other electric and electronic devices were gradually added to the

system. Legislation followed in 1998 and since January 2005 it has been

possible to return all electronic waste to the sales points and other

collection points free of charge. There are two established PROs

(Producer Responsibility Organizations): SWICO mainly handling

electronic waste and SENS mainly responsible for electrical appliances.

The total amount of recycled electronic waste exceeds 10 kg per capita

per year.

The European Union is implementing a similar system described in the

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE

2002/96/EC). The WEEE Directive has been transposed in national laws

and become effective. The manufacturers became financially responsible

for the compliance to the WEEE directive since 13 August 2005. By the

end of 2006 – and with one or two years' delay for the new EU members

– every country has to recycle at least 4 kg of e-waste per capita.

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Definition of electronic waste according to the WEEE directive :

• Large household appliances (ovens, refrigerators etc.)

• Small household appliances (toasters, vacuum cleaners etc.)

• Office & communication (PCs, printers, phones, faxes etc.)

• Entertainment electronics (TVs, HiFis, portable CD players etc.)

• Lighting equipment (mainly fluorescent tubes)

• E-tools (drilling machines, electric lawnmowers etc.)

• Sports & leisure equipment (electronic toys, training machines etc.)

• Medical appliances and instruments

• Surveillance equipment

• Automatic issuing systems (ticket issuing machines etc.)

3.2 Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers

Lead

Lead can cause damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems,

blood system and kidneys in humans. Effects on the endocrine system

have also been observed and its serious negative effects on children’s

brain development have been well documented. Lead accumulates in the

environment and has high acute and chronic toxic effects on plants,

animals and microorganisms.

Cadmium

Cadmium compounds are classified as toxic with a possible risk of

irreversible effects on human health. Cadmium and cadmium compounds

accumulate in the human body, in particular in kidneys. Cadmium is

adsorbed through respiration but is also taken up with food.

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Mercury

When inorganic mercury spreads out in the water, it is transformed to

methylated mercury in the bottom sediments. Methylated mercury easily

accumulates in living organisms and concentrates through the food chain

particularly via fish. Methylated mercury causes chronic damage to the

brain.

In addition, hexavalent chromium compounds are toxic for the

environment. It is well documented that contaminated wastes can leach

from landfills. Incineration results in the generation of fly ash from which

chromium is leachable, and there is widespread agreement among

scientists that wastes containing chromium should not be incinerated.

Of the more than 315 million computers destined to become obsolete

between 1997 and 2004, about 1.2 million pounds of hexavalent

chromium will be present.

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Waste management concepts

5.1 Waste management concepts

The waste hierarchy

There are a number of concepts about waste management, which vary in

their usage between countries or regions.

The waste hierarchy:

• reduce

• reuse

• recycle

Classifies waste management strategies according to their desirability.

The waste hierarchy has taken many forms over the past decade, but the

basic concept has remained the cornerstone of most waste minimization

strategies. The aim of the waste hierarchy is to extract the maximum

practical benefits from products and to generate the minimum amount of

waste.

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5.1.1 Resource recovery

A relatively recent idea in waste management has been to treat the waste

material as a resource to be exploited, instead of simply a challenge to be

managed and disposed of. There are a number of different methods by

which resources may be extracted from waste: the materials may be

extracted and recycled, or the calorific content of the waste may be

converted to electricity.

The process of extracting resources or value from waste is variously

referred to as secondary resource recovery, recycling, and other terms.

The practice of treating waste materials as a resource is becoming more

common, especially in metropolitan areas where space for new landfills is

becoming scarcer. There is also a growing acknowledgement that simply

disposing of waste materials is unsustainable in the long term, as there is

a finite supply of most raw materials.

There are a number of methods of recovering resources from waste

materials, with new technologies and methods being developed

continuously.

5.1.2 Recycling

Recycling means to recover for other use a material that would otherwise

be considered waste. The popular meaning of ‘recycling’ in most

A materials recovery facility, where different materials are separated for

recycling

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CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION-

"Electronic products should actually be considered chemical waste products. Their number is increasing and their life is decreasing. Electronic waste piles are growing, as is their pollution potential. Most of these problems have their source in the development and ddesign of the products concerned."

We have the need of “Clean Computers”. So that many companies have shown they can ddesign cleaner products. Industry is making some progress to ddesign cleaner products but we need to move beyond pilot projects and ensure all products are upgradeable and non-toxic.

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REFERENCES

REFERENCES-

• www.goo gle.com

• www.enviornment.nsw.gov.au

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