PRESENTATION OUTLINE

BackgroundProblemsManagement and

disposal optionsThe

government’s responsibilities

Indian perspective

BACKGROUND

There is no generally accepted definition of e-waste

Unwanted, obsolete or unusable electronic products such as computers, computer peripherals, televisions,VCRs,DVD Players, stereo equipment, hand cell phones are commonly referred to as ‘electronic waste’

E-Waste

Electronic waste or e-waste is any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic appliance.

E-waste includes computers, entertainment electronics, mobile phones and other items that have been discarded by their original users.

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

Problems E-waste is the most rapidly growing

waste problem in the world. It is a crisis of not quantity alone but also a crisis

born from toxics ingredients, posing a threat to the occupational health as well as the environment.

Rapid technology change, low initial cost, high obsolescence rate have resulted in a fast growing problem around the globe.

Legal framework, proper collection system missing.

Imports regularly coming to the recycling markets.

Inhuman working conditions for recycling.

Problems

Management and disposal of e-waste has become a serious problem among states nationwide.

The problem of electronic waste (e-waste) is growing at an unsustainable rate.

E-waste is now the fastest growing, and most toxic, component of municipal garbage.

Local governments are facing huge costs to handle e-waste, and even greater costs if they do not capture this toxic stream and handle it in an appropriate manner.

Mobile phones; facts

Production today- 23 phones/sec Sales 2003- 515 million Sales 2004- 665 million Sales 2005- 870 million Subscribers-1.9 billion in 2005 Subscribers- 2.6 billion in 2009 Lifespan- 0.5- 1.5 (with 1st user) (estimates from the Basel convention

based study 2006)

E-waste accumulation in ChinaE WASTE 2004-2015

1.It is taking up valuable landfill space

A study by the USA showed that 1-2% of municipal waste is made up of e-waste

A further research estimates the growing of e-waste at 3 times the rate of other waste streams.

It is also estimated that between 1997 and 2007,500 million computers would become obsolete

2.e-waste contains hazardous material

The leaching of heavy material from e-waste may a pose a potential long term human health and environmental impacts

ground Water especially is more likely to be polluted (note, more half the country reliant on ground water resources)

Of particular concern is Lead in e-waste Lead is a toxic substances which

may cause lead poisoning and can be especially harmful young children.

A typical 17-inch computer monitor contains approximately 2.2 pounds of lead

the 500 million computers that became obsolete between 1997 and 2007 contain nearly 1.6 billion pounds of lead

Cathode ray tubes

Much of the focus of managing e-waste revolves around Cathode Ray Tubes-which converts an electronic signal into a visual image. Computer Monitors, televisions, camcorders and other electronic devices contain CRT.

A typical CRT contains between 2 and 5 pounds of lead.

Other problems

Illegal exporting especially to AsiaUncontrolled burning and disposal

are causing problemsThe toxicity of some of the

substance, eg mercury, cadmium may also pose an environmental and health challenge

Management and disposal options

Due to increased public,regulatory and commercial scrutiny and also a commensurate entrepreneur interest,there has been a diversion from energy intensive down cycling processes to more mature processing systems

This has been largely achieved through reuse and refurbishing

reuse

Preventing waste in the first place is the preferred management option

This can be achieved through repairing, upgrading used electrical equipment

Example- adding memory to a computer, upgrading software

recycle

Make use of take back programsThrough recycling units are either

reused or dismantled for recycling.The silver,gold,lead and other heavy

metal are recyclable

dispose

The least preferred option is to landfill electronic waste

This should only come as a last option but care to consult with state regulations on disposal of any hazardous waste

Benefits of reuse (social and environment)

Diminished demand for new products and their commensurate requirement for virgin raw material

There is lessened need for water and energy for the associated manufacturing

Less packaging per unitAvailability of tech to wider swaths of

society due to greater affordability of products

Saved landfill space

challenges

When materials cannot or will not be used, conventional recycling or disposal via landfill will follow

Each one of us has a role to play!

Need for a e-waste policy and legislation

Encourage and facilitate organized recycling systems

Should subsidies recycling and disposal industries

Collect fee from manufactured/consumers for the disposal of toxic material

Incentive schemes for garbage collectors and general public for collecting and handling over e-waste

Awareness programme on e-waste for school children and general public

continuation

Transparency and accountability to the public Handling large amounts of e-waste poses risks of toxic contamination to workers and surrounding communities if conducted carelessly.

Thus, the most basic criterion that employees and citizens should rightfully expect from any recycling operation is that it be open to public inspection.

General compliance with occupational health and safety standards Observance of health and safety standards in the workplace is important for protecting workers from exposure to toxics whilst handling e-waste

Well-trained workers, who are fully protected by the law to seek advice and take action to protect their health and the environment without fear of reprisal from their employer, are the most effective environmental protection

Conclusion

it is important that we create a national framework for the environmentally sound management of e-waste including wide public awareness and education

Conduct detailed inventories of e-waste Initiate pilot schemes on collection and

sorting of e-wastes,including take back schemes and schemes for repair refurbishment and recycling

E- Waste

An Indian Perspective

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

E-Waste: Growth

IT and telecom are two fastest growing industries in the country.

India, by 2008, should achieve a PC penetration of 65 per 1,000 from the existing 14 per 1,000 (MAIT)

At present, India has 15 million computers. The target being 75 million computers by 2010.#

Over 2 million old PCs ready for disposal in India.

Life of a computer reduced from 7 years to 3-5 years.

# Source:http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13910603,

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

E-Waste: Growth

Over 75 million current mobile users, expected to increase to 200 million by 2007 end.*

Memory devices, MP3 players, iPods etc. are the newer additions.

Preliminary estimates suggest that total WEEE generation in India is approximately 1,46,000 tonnes per year. #

# Source: http://www.e-waste.in/about_/* Source: Hindu

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

E-Waste: Growth

Three categories of WEEE account for almost 90% of the generation:

Large Household appliances:42.1%

Information and communications:33.9% technology equipment

Consumer Electronics:13.7%

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

E-Waste: Main Sources

Imports;

Govt., public and private sector discards (over 70%);

PC retailers, manufacturers;

Secondary market of old PCs; and

Individual Households.

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

E-Waste Hazards

Average PC of approx. 31.5 kg wt. contains:

7.24 kg - Plastics

1.98 kg - Lead

0.693g - Mercury

0.4095g - Arsenic

2.961g - Cadmium

1.98g - Chromium

9.92g - Barium 4.94g -

Beryllium

Two million Obsolete PCs would mean:

14,427,000 kg

3,962,700 kg

1,386 kg 819 kg 5,922 kg 3,969 kg 19,845 kg 9,891 kgE-Waste- An Indian Perspective

Existing Legislation

Trans boundary movement of E waste covered under the Basel convention.

India ratified the convention in 1992. Waste listed in list A and list B which

prohibits such movements. Waste importers exploit such gaps as

listed in the convention. Allowed to import against a license.

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

The Basel Convention

The Basel Convention on the Control of Tran boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was adopted in Basel, Switzerland on 22 March 1989. The Convention was initiated in response to numerous international scandals regarding hazardous waste trafficking that began to occur in the late 1980s. The Convention entered into force on 5 May 1992 and today has its Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. For an up-to-date list of Basel Convention Parties see the

Covered under the “Hazardous Waste Amended Rules, 2003” in List A and B of Schedule 3.

The Rule is inadequate to handle generation, transportation and disposal of this complex waste

Regulators unable to monitor and regulate the informal sector.

DGFT and Foreign Trade Policy 2002-07 trade and licensing – not under free imports. E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

Existing Legislation…

Need for Legal Framework

E-Waste- An Indian Perspective

• Ban on total imports of E waste.• Domestic legal framework to address these gaps in

import of E Waste• Need to address safe disposal of domestic waste.• Tie recycling in with take-back product

responsibility.• The Framework should address the issue of E waste

imports for reuse and recycling.• Attract investment in this sector• Link up activities of informal sector with formal

sector• Provide for appropriate framework for processes • Promote adequate ESM technologies for recycling• Incorporate precautionary principles and polluter

pays• Adopt Consultative process

PREPARED BY INDRANI FOR DP1 - ITGS