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Electronic waste popularly termed e-waste is rejected or discarded electronic/electrical devices. E-waste counts devices containing circuitry or electrical components with either power or battery supply. Most of the e-waste can be further used till it is environmentally friendly.
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Key Terms: Environment, Pollution, Health Issue, Metals, Hazardous Machinery, Recycling, Reuse, Circuitry Device, Recycle, Ground water, Crops
What Is E-Waste?
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Electronic waste or e-waste refers to those electronic or electrical products that cannot be used any further. The circuitry devices are completely exhausted and are generating waste. But if the device is in the condition of reuse, resale, refurbishment, destruction, or salvage recycling then people in need go for the latter with the device as long as it is carried out in an environmentally friendly manner.
Electronic Waste
Impact Of E-Waste On The Environment
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Electronic products has become an important and irreplaceable part of our daily life however their negative impact on the environment can not be left unseen. Few impacts are discussed below:
- Impact on the air- Informal disposal like dismantling, shredding, or melting of materials causes impurity in the air. The occurrence of impurity damages the respiratory health of living beings. The negative impact of informal e-waste recycling is dangerous for both, those who handle this waste, and people residing miles apart as pollution can extend thousands of miles away from recycling sites.
- Impact on the soil- The improper disposal of e-waste in regular landfills can seep directly into the soil. This pollutes both groundwater, soil, and crops. The soil polluted with heavy metals losses it's fertility and crops become vulnerable which causes illness.
- Impact on the water- The harmful metals like mercury, lithium, barium, etc, lead to groundwater. After reaching groundwater they head toward ponds, rivers, and dams. Throughout the journey acidification and toxification are created which can kill aquatic animals and risk the life of humans.
Disposing of e-Waste
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Impact Of E-Waste On Human Health
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Human health can also be affected by e-waste because of its complicated nature and improper treatment. An increasing amount of clinical evidence has raised concerns about human health. E-waste contains toxic components such as mercury, lithium, cadmium, barium, and polybrominated flame retardants which are hazardous to human health.
The improper or illegal disposal of e-waste is dangerous to the global environment which leads to affecting the human brain, skeleton system, liver, heart, respiratory system, and kidney. Adding to this, it can affect the nervous and reproductive systems. These harmful metals and chemical reaction is harmful to the environment beyond human thought.
Common Examples Of E-Waste
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The most common example of e-wastes from our daily life are as follows:
- Refrigerators/freezers, washing machines, and dishwashers are examples of large household appliances.
- Telecommunications and information technology (IT) equipment such as personal computers, telephones, mobile phones, printers, and scanners.
- Consumer electronics such as televisions, stereo equipment, and electric toothbrushes.
- Toys, recreational, and sporting goods.
- Systems for medical equipment.
Situation Of E-Waste In India
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India holds the fifth position for the production of electronic waste worldwide. In India, over 62 million tonnes of waste are created each year, of which only 11.9 million are treated and roughly half, and 31 million tonnes, are disposed of in landfills.
Electronic waste like Lead, beryllium, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants can be found in CPUs. The recycling and disposal of such electronic waste pose a significant risk to developing-country workers and communities. Proper care needs to be taken especially for heavy metals during recycling activities to avoid dangerous exposure.
E-Waste Management Rule In India
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The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has released the 2016 e-Waste Management Rules. The previous e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules from 2011 were replaced by these new rules. These rules are government initiatives to show commitment toward environmental governance.
The rules are stricter than the previous ones. The ministry of the environment has made rules, particularly for large groups like hotels, residential colonies, bulk producers of consumer goods, ports, railway stations, airports, and pilgrimage spots. This also makes sure that the solid waste generated at their facilities is properly processed and recycled.
E-Waste Management Rules 2016 Highlights
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- After 16 years, the solid waste management rules were changed.
- All local governments that have a population of one lakh or more were supposed to produce solid waste processing facilities. In the time frame of two years.
- Census towns where the population is below one lakh were given three years to produce waste processing facilities.
- Within five years, old and abandoned dump sites would have to be closed or bio-remedied.
- Municipal bodies will be responsible for the management of garbage. They would be able to impose user fees and fines for littering and non-segregation on the spot.
- According to the country's Environment Minister, a transition period of two to five years will be in place after which fines will be enforced.
Things To Remember
- Electronic waste, often known as e-waste, refers to electrical or electronic devices that have been disposed of.
- Used electronics that are intended for refurbishment, reuse, resale, salvage recycling through material recovery, or destruction are classified as e-waste.
- Recycling is considered the way of processing e-waste, as long as it is carried out in an environmentally friendly manner.
- If electronic waste is not processed properly it can be harmful to human health as well as the environment.
- India is the fifth-largest producer of electronic waste in the world.
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Sample Questions
Ques. What percentage of e-waste is made up of iron and steel? (2 marks)
(a) 20
(b) 30
(c) 40
(d) 50
Ans. d. 50
Explanation: Iron and steel make up roughly half of all e-waste, with plastics (21 percent), non-ferrous metals (13 percent), and miscellaneous materials making up the rest.
Ques. Which of the following elements makes e-waste environmentally hazardous? (2 marks)
(a) Lead
(b) Glass
(c) Plastic
(d) Iron
Ans. a. Lead
Explanation: E-waste is dangerous because it contains metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium, hexavalent chromium, and flame retardants above threshold levels.
Ques. What is the harmful pollutant that LEDs emit? (2 marks)
(a) Arsenic
(b) Barium
(c) Cobalt
(d) Cadmium
Ans. a. Arsenic
Explanation: Arsenic is released into the atmosphere through semiconductors, diodes, microwaves, LEDs (light-emitting diodes), and solar cells.
Ques. What is the harmful pollutant that circuit boards release? (2 marks)
(a) Arsenic
(b) Barium
(c) Lead
(d) Copper
Ans. c.lead
Explanation: Lead pollution is released into the atmosphere by lead rechargeable batteries, solar panels, transistors, lithium batteries, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) stabilizers, lasers, LEDs, thermoelectric elements, and circuit boards.
Ques. What is the annual amount of e-waste generated, according to the Comptroller and Auditor-(CAG) General's report? (2 marks)
(a) 4LT
(b) 5LT
(c) 6LT
(d) 7LT
Ans. a. 4LT
Explanation: According to the CAG report, the country generates about 4 lakh tonnes of electronic garbage, 1.5 million tonnes of plastic waste, 1.7 million tonnes of medical waste, and 48 million tonnes of municipal waste per year.
Ques. Discuss how contaminated soil affects water? (3 marks)
Ans. The improper disposal of e-waste in regular landfills can seep directly into the soil. This pollutes both groundwater, soil, and crops. The soil polluted with heavy metals losses it's fertility and crops become vulnerable which causes illness.
The harmful metals like mercury, lithium, barium, etc, lead to groundwater. After reaching groundwater they head toward ponds, rivers, and dams. Throughout the journey acidification and toxification are created which can kill aquatic animals and risk the life of humans.
Ques. Discuss the latest e-waste management rules? (4 marks)
Ans. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has released the 2016 e-Waste Management Rules. Highlights from e-Waste management rules are as follows:-
- After 16 years, the solid waste management rules were changed.
- All local governments that have a population of one lakh or more were supposed to produce solid waste processing facilities. In the time frame of two years.
- Census towns where the population is below one lakh were given three years to produce waste processing facilities.
- Within five years, old and abandoned dump sites would have to be closed or bio-remedied.
- Municipal bodies will be responsible for the management of garbage, They would be able to impose user fees and fines for littering and non-segregation on the spot.
- According to the country's Environment Minister, a transition period of two to five years will be in place after which fines will be enforced.
Ques. What is the situation of e-waste in India? (3 marks)
Ans. India holds the fifth position for the production of electronic waste worldwide. In India, over 62 million tonnes of waste are created each year, of which only 11.9 million are treated and roughly half, and 31 million tonnes, are disposed of in landfills.
The recycling and disposal of such electronic waste pose a significant risk to developing-country workers and communities. Proper care needs to be taken especially for heavy metals during recycling activities to avoid dangerous exposure.
Ques. How does e-waste affect human health? (3 marks)
Ans. E-waste affects human health by its complicated nature and improper treatment. E-waste contains toxic components such as mercury, lithium, cadmium, barium, and polybrominated flame retardants which are hazardous to human health.
The improper or illegal disposal of e-waste is dangerous to the global environment which leads to affecting the human brain, skeleton system, liver, heart, respiratory system, and kidney. Adding to this, it can affect the nervous and reproductive systems. These harmful metals and chemical reaction is harmful to the environment beyond human thought.
Ques. What is e-waste? (2 marks)
Ans. Electronic waste popularly termed e-waste is rejected or discarded electronic/ electrical devices. Under e-waste come devices containing circuitry or electrical components with either power or battery supply.
The completely exhausted circuitry devices are generating waste. But if the device is in the condition of reuse, resale, refurbishment, destruction, or salvage recycling then people in need go for the latter with the device as long as it is carried out in an environmentally friendly manner.
Ques. List out 5 examples of E-waste from daily life? (4 marks)
Ans. Five examples of e-waste from daily life are as follows:
- The large household appliances- Refrigerators/freezers, washing machines, and dishwashers.
- Telecommunications and information technology (IT) equipment such as personal computers, telephones, mobile phones, printers, and scanners.
- Consumer electronics such as televisions, stereo equipment, and electric toothbrushes.
- Toys, recreational, and sporting goods.
- Systems for medical equipment.
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