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E-WASTE MANAGEMENT AND HANDLING

E-waste has been defined as waste electrical and electronic equipment, whole or in part or rejects from their
manufacturing and repair process, which are intended to be discarded.
The main factors identified to be responsible for the increased consumption and productions of electrical and
electronic equipment are rapid economic growth, coupled with urbanization and industrialization. The Indian
Information Technology (IT) sector is one of the major contributors to the global economy. At the same time,
it is responsible for the generation of the bulk of E-waste or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
(WEEE) in India. Although the global E-waste problem has been able to attract attention across the world,
not much emphasis has been given to the E-waste engendered in developing countries. Developing
countries like India, today, are burdened with the colossal problem of E-waste which is either locally
generated or internationally imported, causing serious menace to human health and environment. The
hazardous components in electrical and electronic equipment are a major concern during the waste management
phase. In the context of India, recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment is not undertaken
to an adequate degree.
The composition of e-waste is diverse and falls under hazardous and non-hazardous categories. Broadly, it
consists of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics, glass, wood and plywood, printed circuit boards, concrete,
ceramics, rubber and other items. Iron and steel constitute about 50% of the waste, followed by plastics (21%),
non-ferrous metals (13%) and other constituents. Non-ferrous metals consist of metals like copper, aluminium
and precious metals like silver, gold, platinum, palladium and so on. The presence of elements like lead,
mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium, hexavalent chromium, and flame retardants beyond threshold quantities
make e-waste hazardous in nature. It contains over 1000 different substances, many of which are toxic, and
creates serious pollution upon disposal. Obsolete computers pose the most significant environmental and health
hazard among the e-wastes.

Environment Concerns and Health Hazards

E-waste is highly complex to handle due to its composition. It is made up of multiple components some of
which contain toxic substances that have an adverse impact on human health and environment if not handled
properly. Often, these problems arise out of improper recycling and disposal methods. This underlines the need
for appropriate technology for handling and disposal of these chemicals.
Pollutants or toxins in e-waste are typically concentrated in circuit boards, batteries, plastics, and LCDs (liquid
crystal displays). The waste from electronic products include toxic substances such as cadmium and lead in
the circuit boards; lead oxide and cadmium in monitor cathode ray tubes (CRTs); mercury in switches and flat
screen monitors; cadmium in computer batteries; polychlorinated biphenyls in older capacitors and transformers;
and brominated flame retardants on printed circuit boards, plastic casings, cables and PVC cable insulation that
releases highly toxic dioxins and furans when burned to retrieve copper from the wires. Many of these
substances are toxic and carcinogenic. The materials are complex and have been found to be difficult to recycle
in an environmentally sustainable manner even in developed countries.

Notes

Most electronic goods contain significant quantities of toxic metals and chemicals like mercury, which is
currently being phased out in the developed countries. Mercury is mobile and poisonous in any form - inorganic,
organic or elemental. Its organic compound methyl mercury has been scientifically proved to be a neurotoxicant that damages the brain. It is geno-toxic too as it passes through the placental and the blood brain
barrier, putting the foetus at risk. Mercury is known to cause severe and permanent damage to the central

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nervous system, lungs and kidneys. It can trigger depression and suicidal tendencies and cause paralysis,
Alzheimers disease, speech and vision impairment, allergies, hypospermia and impotence.
Mercury bio-accumulates (builds up in organisms) and biomagnifies (moves up the food chain). According to
the United Nations Environment Programmes (UNEP) Global Mercury Assessment Report, even minuscule
increases in methyl mercury exposures can affect the cardiovascular system.
E-waste typically contains complex combinations of materials and components down to microscopic levels.
The wastes are broken down not just for recycling but for the recoverable materials such as plastic, iron,
aluminium, copper and gold. However, since e-waste also contains significant concentration of substances that
are hazardous to human health and the environment, even a small amount of e-waste entering the residual
waste will introduce relatively high amount of heavy metals and halogenated substances. Such harmful substances
leach into the surrounding soil, water and air during waste treatment or when they are dumped in landfills or
left to lie around near it. Sooner or later they would adversely affect human health and ecology.
Unless suitable safety measures are taken, these toxic substances can critically affect the health of employees
and others in the vicinity who manually sort and treat the waste by entering their body through respiratory
tracts, through the skin, or through the mucous membrane of the mouth and the digestive tract. Therefore, the
health impact of e-waste is evident. There is no doubt that it has been linked to the growing incidence of
several lethal or severely debilitating health conditions, including cancer, neurological and respiratory disorders,
and birth defects. This impact is found to be worse in developing countries like India where people engaged
in recycling e-waste are mostly in the unorganized sector, living in close proximity to dumps or landfills of
untreated e-waste and working without any protection or safeguards. Many workers engaged in these recycling
operations are the urban poor and unaware of the hazards associated with them.
In addition to various hazardous materials, e-waste also contains many valuable and precious materials. In fact
up to 60 elements from the periodic table can be found in complex electronics. Using the personal computer
(PC) as an example a normal Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) computer monitor contains many valuable but also
many toxic substances. One of these toxic substances is cadmium (Cd), which is used in rechargeable computer
batteries and contacts and switches in older CRT monitors.
Cadmium can bio-accumulates in the environment and is extremely toxic to humans, in particular adversely
affecting kidneys and bones. It is also one of the six toxic substances that have been banned in the European
Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive. Beyond CRT monitors, plastics, including polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) cabling is used for printed circuit boards, connectors, plastic covers and cables.
When burnt or land-filled, these PVCs release dioxins that have harmful effects on human reproductive and
immune systems. Mercury (Hg), which is used in lighting devices in flat screen displays, can cause damage to
the nervous system, kidneys and brain, and can even be passed on to infants through breast milk.
Electrical goods contain a range of other toxic substances such as lead (Pb), beryllium (Be), brominated flame
retardants and polychlorinated biphenyls(PCB) just to name a few. Lead plays an important role in the overall
metal production processes and while attempts to design-out lead from EEE does not necessarily mean that
it is no longer used. Even the lead-free solder elements are co-produced with lead. This illustrates the need for
a holistic view to be taken in analyzing the e-waste situation for working out possible solutions.

Management of E-waste in Indian Context

Notes

In India there are 10 States that contribute to 70 per cent of the total e-waste generated in the country, while
65 cities generate more than 60 per cent of the total e-waste in India. Among the 10 largest e-waste generating
States, Maharashtra ranks first followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi,

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Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. Among the top ten cities generating e-waste, Mumbai ranks
first followed by Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Surat and Nagpur.
The main sources of electronic waste in India are the government, public and private (industrial) sectors, which
account for almost 70 per cent of total waste generation. The contribution of individual households is relatively
small at about 15 per cent; the rest being contributed by manufacturers. Though individual households are not
large contributors to waste generated by computers, they consume large quantities of consumer durables and
are, therefore, potential creators of waste.
In India, it has been observed that in most of the cases, electronic items are stored unattended because of lack
of knowledge about their management. Such electronic junks lie in houses, offices, warehouses etc. Generally,
these wastes are mixed with household wastes, which are finally disposed of at landfills. This necessitates
implementation of appropriate management measures including stringent regulations. The management practices
currently in operation in India have severe health and environmental implications.
The composition of E-waste consists of diverse items many of which contain hazardous elements.
Therefore, the major approach to treat E-waste is to reduce the concentration of these hazardous chemicals
and elements through recycle and recovery.
In the process of recycling or recovery, certain E-waste fractions act as secondary raw material for recovery
of valuable items. In Indian context, primarily recycling, reuse and recovery are done as measures
to treat E-waste. The recycle and recovery includes the unit operations like dismantling, segregation
of ferrous metal, non-ferrous metal and plastic by shredder process, refurbishment and reuse, recycling /
recovery of valuable materials and treatment/disposal of dangerous materials and waste. Dismantling includes
removal of parts of the electrical and electronic equipment containing perilous substances (CFCs, Hg
switches, PCB); removal of easily accessible parts containing valuable substances (cable containing
copper, steel, iron, precious metal containing parts, etc.). Refurbishment and reuse of E-waste has potential
for those used electrical and electronic equipment which can be easily renovate to put to its original
use.
Recycling/ recovery of valuable materials includes recycling and recovery of valuable materials from the
E-waste stream like non-ferrous metals in smelting plants, precious metals in separating works. As
most of the electrical and electronic equipment contain many precious metals, this process is an
important step in the management of E waste. The materials of potential hazard are disposed of
in landfill sites or sometimes incinerated. However, the process of incineration is quite expensive. CFCs
are treated thermally, PCB and Mercury are often recycled or disposed of in underground landfill sites.
In India, primarily two types of disposal options based on the composition are in practice. These are Landfilling
and Incineration. However, the environmental risks from landfilling of E-waste cannot be neglected because
the conditions in a landfill site are different from a native soil, particularly concerning the leaching
behaviour of metals. In addition it is known that cadmium and mercury are emitted in diffuse form or
via the landfill gas combustion plant. Landfilling does not appear to be an environmentally sound
treatment method for substances, which are volatile and not biologically degradable (Cd, Hg, CFC), persistent
(PCB) or with unknown behaviour in a landfill site (brominated flame retardants). As a consequence
of the complex material mixture in E-waste, it is not possible to exclude environmental (long-term)
risks even in secured landfilling.

Notes

Advantage of incineration of E-waste is the reduction of waste volume and the utilization of the energy
content of combustible materials. By incineration some environmentally hazardous organic substances are
converted into less hazardous compounds. Disadvantage of incineration are the emission to air of

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substances escaping flue gas cleaning and the large amount of residues from gas cleaning and
combustion. Waste incineration plants contribute significantly to the annual emissions of cadmium and mercury.
The assessment of E-waste recycling sector in India indicates that E-waste trade starts from formal
dismantling sector and moves to informal recycling sector. The entire E-waste treatment is being carried
out in an unregulated environment, where there is no control on emissions. There are two E-waste
dismantling facilities in formal sector in India. These facilities are M/s. Trishiraya Recycling facilities, Chennai
and M/s E-Parisara, Bangalore.
As the collection and re-cycling of electronic wastes is being done by the informal sector in the country at
present, the Government has taken the following action/steps to enhance awareness about environmentally
sound management of electronic waste:

Several Workshops on Electronic Waste Management was organised by the Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB) in collaboration with Toxics Link, CII etc.

Action has been initiated by CPCB for rapid assessment of the E-Waste generated in major cities of the
country.

A National Working Group has been constituted for formulating a strategy for E-Waste management.

A comprehensive technical guide on Environmental Management for Information Technology Industry

in India has been published and circulated widely by the Department of Information Technology (DIT),
Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

Demonstration projects has also been set up by the DIT at the Indian Telephone Industries for recovery
of copper from Printed Circuit Boards.
Although awareness and readiness for implementing improvements is increasing rapidly, the major obstacles
to manage the e-wastes safely and effectively remain. These include:

The lack of reliable data that poses a challenge to policy makers wishing to design an e-waste management
strategy and to an industry wishing to make rational investment decisions.

Only a fraction of the e-waste (estimated 10%) finds its way to recyclers due to absence of an efficient
take back scheme for consumers.

The lack of a safe e-waste recycling infrastructure in the formal sector and thus reliance on the capacities
of the informal sector pose severe risks to the environment and human health.

The existing e-waste recycling systems are purely business-driven that have come about without any
government intervention. Any development in these e-waste sectors will have to be built on the existing
set-up as the waste collection and pre-processing can be handled efficiently by the informal sector, at the
same time offering numerous job opportunities.

E-waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2011

Notes

Despite a wide range of environmental legislation in India there are no specific laws or guidelines for electronic
waste or computer waste. As per the Hazardous Waste Rules (1989), e-waste is not treated as hazardous unless
proved to have higher concentration of certain substances. Thus the e-waste (Management & Handling) Rules,
2011 have been notified in May 2011.

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Major Stakeholders/Responsibilities as mentioned in Rules:

1.

Producer is any person who, irrespective of the selling technique used; manufactures and offers to sell
electrical and electronic equipment under his own brand; or offers to sell under his own brand, assembled
electrical and electronic equipment produced by other manufacturers or suppliers; or offers to sell imported
electrical and electronic equipment has to take authorization under these Rules for implementation of
EPR.

2.

Bulk Consumers are bulk users of electrical and electronic equipment such as central government or state
government departments, public sector undertakings, banks, educational institutions, multinational
organizations, international agencies and private companies that are registered under the Factories Act,
1948 and Companies Act, 1956; who has to maintain records on E-waste generated and channelized to
registered/authorized collection centres/recycler/dismantler.

3.

Extended Producer Responsibility is a responsibility of any producer of electrical or electronic equipment,

for their products beyond manufacturing until environmentally sound management of their end of life
products, the scope of which has to be clearly defined while issuing authorization to individual producers.

4.

Collection Centre is a centre established individually or jointly or a registered society or a designated

agency or a company or an association to collect e-waste who has to obtain authorization under E-Waste
Rules, 2011.

5.

Dismantler is any person or registered society or a designated agency or a company or an association

engaged in dismantling of used electrical and electronic equipment into their components who has to
obtain authorization and registration under HW (M, H&TM) Rules 2008/E-Waste Rules, 2011.

6.

Recycler is any person who is engaged in recycling or reprocessing of used electrical and electronic
equipment or assemblies or their component, who has to obtain authorization and registration under HW
(M, H &TM) Rules 2008 /E-Waste Rules, 2011.

7.

SPCBs/PCCs have been given the responsibility as regulatory agencies for implementing the E-waste
Rules in respective States

8.

CPCB was given the responsibility to evolve the guidelines for implementation, oversee the progress made
in implementing the Rules and also to implement RoHSS compliance.

Extended producers responsibility (EPR) is main feature of the E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules,
2011, wherein the producer of electrical and electronic equipment was given the responsibility of managing
such equipment after its end of life, thus the producer is responsible for their products once the consumer
discards them. Under this EPR, producer is also entrusted with the responsibility to finance and organize a
system to meet the costs involved in complying with EPR.
Further according to rules E-waste recycling can be undertaken only in facilities authorized and registered with
State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committee (PCCs). Wastes generated are required to be sold
to a registered or authorized recycler or re-processor having environmentally sound facilities. The rule has
provision for setting up of Collection Centre individually or jointly; or by a registered society or a designated
agency; or by an association to collect e-waste.

Notes

Under the e-waste rules, 2011, in case of non compliance with any of the conditions of the authorization or
with any provision of the Act or the rules, the SPCB/PCC may cancel or suspend the authorization issued

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under these rules for such period as it considers necessary in the public interest. The SPCB or PCC may also
give directions to the persons whose authorization has been suspended or cancelled for the safe storage of the
e-waste and such persons shall comply with such directions.
Criticism of Rules:

First and foremost, it ignores the unorganized and small and medium sectors where 90 per cent of the ewaste is generated. The law currently does not provide for any plan to rehabilitate those involved in
informal recycling.

Secondly, the Rules also do not provide detail about the business model for collection of e-waste from
consumers. The legislations enacted by the Government cover generation, storage, transportation and
disposal of hazardous waste but do not propose a streamlined collection mechanism. On the other hand,
most countries which have drafted regulations on e-waste have sought the participation and involvement
of producers as they are best.

Thirdly, the Rules also do not recognize the magnitude of transboundary movement of e-waste under
different categories, for example, under the pretext of metal scraps and second-hand electrical appliances.

Fourthly, the MSME sector is mainly affected as producer under the new draft rules, imposing many
responsibilities on the producers (MSMEs) in regard to collection, disposal and recycling of e-waste.

Conclusion

Notes

In India, the amount of E-waste generated is rising rapidly. With the increasing dependence on electronic and
electrical equipment, the rise of E-waste generation is well expected in the country. However, the management
of the same is a major challenged faced by the country. Indian people are still to realize the associations
between the cause of generation of E-waste and its effects including detrimental health and environmental
effects.