E-waste is a generic term comprising all electrical and
electronic equipment (EEE) that have been disposed of by their
original users, and includes everything from large household
appliances, such as refrigerators, microwave ovens, television
sets, and computers, to hand-held digital apparatuses, cell phones
and toys. E-waste is today the fastest growing component of the
municipal solid waste stream and currently comprises more than 5%
of its total flow, which is equivalent to 20-50 million tonnes a
year worldwide.
Generation of e-waste is a result of constant desire for newer
and more efficient technology, as well as the intense marketing by
producers, that make consumers replace electronic devices more and
more frequently. Electrical and electronic equipment which are in
abundance in the environment contain various hazardous materials
that are harmful to human health and the environment.
Regulation at Global level
The Basel Convention identifies wastes as substances or objects,
which are disposed or intended to be disposed, or required to be
disposed by the provisions of national laws. The Basel Convention
on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and
their Disposal came into being after it was ratified by 173 nations
in the year 1989. It is the most comprehensive global environmental
agreement regulating movements of hazardous wastes, including Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), between nations, and
specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous e-waste from
developed to less developed countries. It has placed certain
obligations on the countries that have ratified this
convention.
A few other international initiatives include the Mobile Phone
Partnership Initiative (MPPI), The StEP initiative, Silicon Valley
Toxic Coalition (hereafter SVTC) and computer take back campaign
National Electronics Product Stewardship Initiative (NEPSI). The
International Labour Organization reports that the flow of e-waste
from developed economies such as Europe and the US to Asia, in
particular to China and India, is a regular practice.
Within the European Union (EU), it is estimated that only 25% of
the e-waste generated is collected and treated, while the remaining
75% is lost in a “hidden flow”.
Indian Perspective
The problem of handling and disposal of e-waste surfaced due to the boom in the
electronic and the information technology industry. In the year
2005, a bill was introduced in the upper house (i.e., Rajya Sabha)
of the Indian Parliament with intent to tackle the same. It however
lapsed due to certain reasons and India has still not got a
legislation to tackle the menace. Although the Municipal Solid
Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000 have provisions
relating to e-waste management, its implementation remains dismal.
The Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2003 were
notified in 2002 contained e-waste within its purview and gave them
a hazardous tag. According to rule 3(k), “e-waste means waste
electrical and electronic equipment, whole or in part, or rejects
from their manufacturing and repair process which are intended to
be discarded.”
The Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary
Movement) Rules were amended twice in 2008 and 2011 following
India’s need to conform to the Basel Convention. As per these
rules, every person desirous of recycling or reprocessing hazardous
waste including electronics and electrical waste is required to
register with the Central Pollution Control Board. There are
certain categories of waste the importing of which are
prohibited.
The need of the hour is innovative technology and novel methods that deal with
e-waste. From a technical point of view, e-waste patents can be divided into two components:
(1) material recovery from sources of e-waste- materials such as
plastics and metals, batteries, displays, cables, PCBs, logistics
involved in e-waste treatment or recycling, such as magnetic
sorting, IT related management of recycling systems and similar
items and (2) methods, apparatus and process involved in e-waste
treatment.
Instances of such patents
The patent application, 01842/KOLNP/2004 (Indian patent application number), discloses an
apparatus for processing thermoplastic synthetic plastic material
using heating, segregation and treatment via various tools.
1137/MUMNP/2009 generally speaks of a method for the recycling
of all types of waste plastic, in particular mixed plastic
streams.
1540/MUMNP/2007 is an invention which relates to a method for
cleaning waste plastic, particularly mixed plastic, basically,
compacted material produced from film scraps or film remnants.
1791/MUM/2011 is a domestic invention that relates to a process for
recycling of plastic waste comprising: segregating plastic waste
collected from various sources followed by cleaning of the
segregated plastic waste to obtain segregated cleaned waste;
grinding of the segregated cleaned waste to obtain ground
waste.
Conclusion
E-waste management seems to be an inevitable task with new
electronic products coming up almost every day. The only solution
seems to be the utilization of new technology, for only a
technology can replace a technology. India definitely needs a
strong legislation on e-waste management which can levy penalties
and ensure e-waste is managed properly. Despite its economic
importance, research on e-waste recycling has never gained priority
and gets little respect within companies in India.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
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