E-WASTE

MANAGEMENT

E-Waste Topics of Importance

What exactly is e-waste?

Categories and Components of E-Waste
Dangers of E-Waste
The sensitive nature of e-waste
Laws and regulations.
Stakeholders in E-Waste
What can be done with E-Waste?
E-Waste management initiatives (International)
The de-manufacture and recycle process

What exactly is e-waste?

E-Waste Items

All types of computers and accessories.

Cell, smart, and home phones.
Answering machines, tapes and accessories.
Office equipment (faxes, printers, & copiers).
Digital Cameras & associated storage devices.
TVs, DVRs, cable boxes, & video equipment.
Audio equipment and accessories.
Navigation devices.
All other electronic devices & storage media.

E-Waste Generators

Homes & Residences.

Commercial Businesses.
Professional Offices.
Financial Institutions.
Health Care Industry.
Large Manufacturing Industry.
Utilities & Public Services.
Local, State, & Federal Government.

E-Waste in the Office and Home

Office
Hospital
PC
Monitors
ECG Device
Microscope
Incubator, etc

Government
PC

Private Sectors (e.g.

Manufacturers, Restaurants)

CPU

PC

Fax Machine

Boiler

Xerox Machine

Mixer

Scanner, etc

Signal Generator, etc

Home: Microwave, Television, Radio, Fan, Cell Phones, etc

Background

Estimated that technology today will be outdated within 18

months.
Upcoming analog to digital television broadcast
conversion.
Electronic Waste (E-Waste, Waste EEE) one of the fastest
growing waste streams all over the world
Electric and electronic equipment contain over 1,000
different substances including toxic heavy metals and
organics which can pose serious environmental pollution
problem upon irresponsible disposal;
Averages 1-3% of total solid waste in developed countries
Increases by 16-28% every 5 years

Background

E-waste as source hazardous wastes.

E-waste has been identified as the fastest growing
waste stream in the world; forecast to soon reach 40
million tonnes a year.
The European Environment Agency has calculated
that the volume of e-waste is rising about three times
faster than any other form of municipal waste.
E-waste can be an overland mine for specific metals.
E-WASTE is A GLOBAL CRISIS to be challenged

Source World Bank

2002

In 2009 Egypt
jumped to 500-1060
mobile phones per

source: www.etoxics.org

INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES
in E-waste Management

GeSI (Global e-Sustainability Initiative): a global partnership of

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies that
promotes technologies for a sustainable development.
StEP an initiative of various UN organizations with the overall aim to
solve the e-waste problem. Together with prominent members from
industry, governments, international organizations, NGOs and the
science sector actively participating in StEP,
UNESCO Computer equipment recycling guidelines for Africa
Basel Convention
Partnership on used and end of life Mobile Phones (MPPI)
Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE)
G8 3Rs Initiative; GTZ; UNEP/DTIE (IETC); SECO, etc.
Many other initiatives by manufacturers for recycling end of life
products belong to them (corporate responsibilities; e.g HP, Canon, ..)

Two Main Aspects of

E-Waste Management

Recycling and/or Reuse

Keeping hazardous materials found in electronics
from disposal into landfills.
Data Security
Insuring all electronic data storage devices and
media are cleaned.
Insuring all data storage devices and media in all
electronics are completely sanitized.
Insuring all data sanitation is fully documented and
auditable.

COMPONENTS OF E-WASTE

Fe and steel
Non-ferrous metals (Pb, Cu, Al, Au, )
Glass
Plastic
Electronic components (R, C, L, ICs)
Others (rubber, wood, ceramics, )

COMPONENTS OF E-WASTE

COMPONENTS OF E-WASTE
(Hazardous Materials)
Component

Hazardous Materials

CRT

Pb, As, Hg, P

LCD

Hg

Fluorescent lamp Hg, P, flame retardants (FR)

Cooling system

Ozone depleting substance (ODS)

Others

Se, AsO3, Cd, Cr, Co, Mn, Br, Ba

COMPONENTS OF E-WASTE
(Hazardous Materials Inside a PC)

Plastics in cables

Lead in solder joints

Cadmium in
batteries

E Waste Facts
E-waste (Computers)
Manufacturing takes at least 240 kg of fossil
fuels, 22 kg of chemicals and 1.5 tonnes of
water more than the weight of a car
Life span changed from 4-6 years in 1997 to 2
years in 2005 and further decreasing
One billion in use by the end of 2008 - two
billion by 2015

E Waste Facts
E-waste (Mobile Phones)
700 million obsolete phones discarded in
2005 contained 560,000 kg of lead in the
form of solder
Average working life - 7 years but
Worldwide average
- 11 months
Over one billion handsets in use in 2006

DANGERS OF E-WASTE
Material

Occurrence in E-waste

Health and Environmental Impact

Beryllium
(OECD 2003,
Taylor et al. 2003)

copper-beryllium alloys,
springs, relays and
connections;

Cadmium

Lead

Contacts, switches, nickelcadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries,

printer inks and toners

Circuit boards/ cathode ray

tubes CTR (1 3 kg per
CRT);

beryllium sensitization/chronic
beryllium disease
human carcinogens
released as beryllium oxide dust or
fume during high temperature metal
processing
persistent and mobile in aquatic
environments (ATSDR 2000)
damage to the kidneys and bone
toxicity, released if plastic is
burned or during high temperature
metal processing
Risk for small children and fetuses
Damage to the nervous system,
red blood cells, kidneys and
potential increases in high blood
pressure;
Incineration can result in release to
the air

DANGERS OF E-WASTE
Material

Occurrence in E-waste

Health and Environmental Impact

Mercury

Lighting devices that

illuminate flat screen
displays, switches and
relays

Insulating fluids for

transformers and capacitors,
flame-retardant plasticizers

PCBs
(polychlorinated
biphenyls)

Impacts the central nervous

system
Land filling and incineration of flat
panel displays results in the release
to the environment
Suppression of the immune
system, liver damage, cancer
promotion, damage to the nervous
system
Damage to reproductive systems

Common Health effects associated

with E-waste dumping and burning

Pollution of ground water with heavy and poisonous metals.

Damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, blood
systems and kidney damage.
Affects brain development of children.
Bioaccumulation of Hg in fishes, causes respiratory and skin
disorders.
Hexavalent Chromium [Cr(VI)] causes asthmatic bronchitis
and DNA damage.
Burning plastic components and cables produces dioxin
which is known to cause:

Reproductive and developmental problems;

Immune system damage;
Interfere with regulatory hormones

EFFECTS OF E-WASTE TOXINS

ON SOIL
Effects on soil:
Toxic leachates: Hg, Cd, Pb, P
Uncontrolled fire risk toxic fumes
Biologically non-degradable: Cd, HG, BFR

EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT AND

HUMAN HEALTH

When exposed to fire, metals and

other chemical substances, such
as the extremely toxic dioxins and
furans from halogenated flame
retardant products and PCB
containing condensers can be
emitted.
The most dangerous form of
burning e-waste is the open-air
burning of plastics in order to
recover copper and other metals.

The sensitive nature of e-waste.

Electronic Data
Storage
Contains critical personal, financial,
legal, technical, operational, and
classified information.

Almost every sector of society has a

stake in secure data destruction.

Financial Industry
Government Agencies
Legal Profession
Utilities and Public Services
Educational Institutions
Health Care Industry
Insurance Industry

Stored Data Laws and

Regulations

STAKEHOLDERS IN E-WASTE
MANAGEMENT
Almost everyone is a stakeholder
Manufacturers

Recyclers

Suppliers
EWaste

Resellers

End-users

Aggregators

Collectors

Policies & Regulations

37

E-waste recycling is presently concentrated in the

informal (unorganized) sector

No organized collection system prevails

Operations are mostly illegal

Processes are highly polluting

Recycling operations engage in:

dismantling
sale of dismantled parts
valuable resource recovery
export of processed waste for precious metal
recovery

38

High-risk backyard operation

Non- efficient and Nonenvironmentally sound technologies

Occupational and environmental

hazards

Loss of resources due to inefficient

processes

Impacts vulnerable social groupsWomen, children and mmigrant

labourers

Various legislations cover different aspects of e-waste

The hazardous waste (management and handling ) rules, 1998 as amended

in 2008 for Toxic content registration mandatory for recyclers

Municipal Solid Waste Management & Handling Rules for non-Toxic

content

Basel convention for regulating transboundary movement

Foreign Trade policy restricts import of second-hand computers and does

not permit import of e-waste

Guidelines by Central Pollution Control Board ( 2008)

What are the national policies & regulations?

Policies, laws and regulations applicable for the
management of e-waste are :
The National Environmental Policy 2006
The Environment (Protection) Act 1986
The Hazardous Wastes (Management and
Handling) Rules 1989 as amended in 2003 & 2008
The E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules,
2011

41

What is NEP and how does it help in e-waste management?

A comprehensive policy published by the Ministry of
Environment & Forests that was approved by the Union
Cabinet on 18 May 2006.
NEP lays stress on:
encourage reuse and recycling
strengthening informal sector and providing them a legal
status
establish system for collection and recycling of materials to
recover resources
environmentally safe disposal of residues
new rules for ESM
42

Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Management of E-waste

published in March 2008 by GOI [MoEF & CPCB]

Main Features of e-waste Guidelines

basic guidance document recognizing fundamental principles:

Producer Responsibility (EPR)

RoHS (Restriction on Hazardous Substances)

Best practices

Insight into technologies for various levels of recycling

Need for a separate legislation mentioned in the guidelines for effective

implementation of the principles governing the e-waste management

43

MoEF & CPCB to publish

Implementation Guidelines to facilitate
compliance
Guidelines only for guidance
Not mandatory
Rules will prevail

44

Rules entrust responsibilities on each stakeholder in the

e-waste Value Chain:
Producers Producer Responsibility, Extended (EPR)
& Individual (IPR) to ensure environmentally sound
management of end of use electrical and electronic
equipments.
Collection Centres - organized agencies for e-waste
collection.
Consumer and bulk consumers responsible to return
post consumer e- waste.
Dismantler de-manufacturing 1st step in recycling to
separate the parts for recovery
Recycler - recycling to recover valuable resources using
EST.

distinct role and responsibility for each

stakeholde.
45

E-waste is post consumer waste according to the e-waste rules

Producer responsible for collection of e-waste generated from the
end of life of their products to ensure that e-wastes are
channelized to registered dismantler or recycler.
Producer to facilitate establishment collection centres for e-waste
individually or collectively
Take back system for their end of life product
Recyclers/other stake holders/ an agency can set up collection
centres
Collection centres to ensure safe storage of e-waste
Collection centres should obtain authorization form SPCBs,
maintain records in Form 2 and file annual returns in Form 3
46

Producer of E&E equipments is responsible for:

Collection and channelization
e-waste from manufacture &end of life of product
Establishment of collection centres
- individually or collectively
Take back system
-end of life equipments individually
Financing and organizing system
- for collection and channelization to registered recyclers.
Create awareness
- publications & information dissemination.
Obtain Authorization - from SPCB/CC
Maintain Records & File Annual Returns

47

What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) who is producer?

as defined in the rules
extended producer responsibility (EPR) means responsibility of any
producer of electrical or electronic equipments, for their products
beyond the place of manufacture to other phases of its life cycle, in
particular, the collection and end of life management of such products
in an environmentally sound manner.

producer means any person who irrespective of the selling techniques

(i) manufactures and offers to sell E&E equip under his own brand;
or
(ii) offers to sell under his own brand, assembled E&E equip
produced by other manufacturers/suppliers; or
(iii) offers to sell imported E&E equip
48

What is Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR)?

Individual producer responsibility (IPR) means the responsibility of
producer for its own products through the products entire life cycle including
the collection and end-of-life management for its own branded electrical or
electronic equipments and its own branded historical waste.[Take-back
system]
What is Collective Producer Responsibility (CPR)?
Collective Producer Responsibility (CPR) means the responsibility of
producer, manufacturer, importer and other stakeholders come together as a
consortium and establish an organization to take the responsibility of the endof-life disposal of products manufactured, imported or assembled by them.
This organization, may called the designated as Producer Responsibility
Organization (PRO) and will be responsible for collection and channelization
of e-waste for environmentally sound recycling.

49

The De-Manufacture and Recycle

Process

Electronic Waste Life Cycle

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 mngt 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 programs

Through 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 env)

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 unit
Availability 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
The complexity of the items to be disposed of
cost of env sound recycling systems

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.

continuation

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.

Key stakeholders in e-waste MGT

Industry-manufacturers, Producers
Product supply chain Links
Corporate/Bulk Users
Recyclers Informal & Formal
Government & Regulatory Agencies
Municipalities
Industry Associations
Research Institutions & Experts
General Public/Consumers/Users
NGOs
Financial Institutions

E-waste recycling-informal sector

According to MAIT-GTZ study, 2007 95% of the e-waste recycling
in India takes place in the Informal sector

Informal sector widespread

Have active and efficient network
Labour intensive - cheap labour, child labour
Manual dismantling no machines required
Material recovery by crude methods
Operations in small congested unsafe areas
No personal protection equipments used
Occupational health & safety neglected
Adverse impact on environment and health

Dismantling e-waste (manual)

Informal sector

Copper extraction
Using Acids

Burning PCBs/wires

Informal sector

E-Waste and the Informal Sector

Preciousmetalrecovery

Hazardous work environment

Informal sector

E-waste recycling-formal sector

Present scenario
E-waste recycling units essentially dismantle, segregate, shred
Send sorted/shredded e-waste to refineries and units in the
developed nations for metal extraction recovery
Few formal recyclers are setting up end to end recycling units in
India and one such unit is in operation
Changing scenario
Formal Recycling units being set up in India which are like any
other industrial operation
Formal recyclers are responsible for environmental compliance
seeking authorizations and permissions
E-waste recycling in the formal sector are committed to corporate
social responsibility (CSR)
Formal recyclers responsible for ESM and use of EST

E-waste dismantling & shredding

(mechanical)

Formal sector

Copper extraction & recovery

Electrolytic process

Formal sector

Integration of informal & formal

model for e- waste management
The model for e-waste management in India ideally requires
integration of the activities between the informal and formal sectors
and bring them into the mainstream of e-waste recycling activity.
Steps involved in Integration
Agreements/MOU between the stakeholders
Maintain entrepreneurship
Specify activities for informal sector
Identify activities for formal sector
Dovetail activities of informal & formal
Establish linkages and support systems
Formation of associations

Management of E-Waste
In industries management of e-waste should begin at the point
of generation.
This can be done by waste minimization techniques and by
sustainable product design. Waste minimization in industries
involves adopting:

inventory management,
production-process modification,
volume reduction,
recovery and reuse.

Four Basic Principles Reduce,

Reuse, Recycle & Respond

Waste Prevention: Minimize the

Volume

Reduce waste and pollution

Reuse as many things as
possible
Recycle and compost as much
waste as possible
Chemically or biologically treat
or incinerate
Bury what is left

Re-use: Reuse is the environmentally preferable option for managing

older electronic equipment. Extending the life of old products minimizes
the pollution and resource consumption associated with making new
products. ( MAXIMIZE RE-USE)

Electronic equipments which are too old and commercially & practically
not viable for reuse or is broken beyond repair, may be sent for
disassembly i.e. salvaging parts, and selling reclaimed materials.

Several electronic equipment, such as computers, monitors, printers, and

scanners, contain materials suitable for reclamation and use in new
products. These may include plastic, glass, copper, gold, silver, and other
metals.

E-Waste Recycling

Equipment refurbishment and resale

De-manufacturing and disassembly
Recovering valuable components
Hazardous and base metal recovery
Hazardous component management

e-waste Recycling
P ro d u c t
c o lle c t io n

T e s t/S o rt

D is a s s e m b ly

R e s a le / R e u s e
(P ro d u c t)

R e s a le /R e u s e
(P a rts )

C a th o d e R a y tu b e s
S iz e R e d u c tio n

S e p a r a t io n b y
m a t e r ia ls

M a rk e t

D is p o s a l

Precious Metal Recovery (Gold)

In p u ts

P ro c e ss
G o ld P la te d C o n n e c to rs
R e p e a te d 2 o r 3 tim e s

N itric A c id
F uel
( C o k e , C o a l e tc )

Im m e rs io n

H e a t in g &
S t r ip p in g
G o ld F la k e s

N itric A c id

W a s h in g &
F ilt e r in g

M e ta l
C o m p o n e n ts
U s e d N itric a c id
W a te r
F u rn a c e S m o k e

Precious Metal Recovery (With Mercury)

In p u ts

P ro c e ss
G o ld F la k e s
R e u s e d 2 o r 3 tim e s

M e rc u ry

A m a lg a m

S q u e e z in g

M e rc u ry

G o ld
N itric A c id

P u rify in g
G o ld (7 0 % )

U s e d N itric a c id &
V a p o u rs
W a te r

E-Waste is Stored on Pallets

E-Waste Waiting for Processing

Copy Machine Being DeManufactured

De-Manufactured Components

Light Scrap Metal for Recycling

Recovered Power Supplies

Recovered Circuit Boards

A Hard Drive Before Destruction

Hard Drive in 20 Ton Press

Hard Drive Positioned for

Destruction of Platters

Fatal Destruction of Hard drive

Physically Destroyed Hard

Drives

Implement Proper E-waste Disposal

One Mans Junk is Another Mans Treasure (Anon.)

E-waste Management Programme

Step 1: Rapid Assessment of E-waste in the Country

Step 2: Establish Multi-stakeholder Partnership for Ewaste Management
Step 3: Implement Awareness Campaign about E-waste
Threats and Opportunities
Step 4: Develop and Enhance capacities for
Environmental Friendly E-waste management System
Step 5: Establish E-waste Recycle Trading System

MANAGEMENT OF E-WASTES
Inventory
Management

Production
-Process
Modificatio
n

Method
s

Volume
Reductio
n

Recovery
and
Reuse

y
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R

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 ewastes,including take back schemes and schemes for
repair refurbishment and recycling