A PROJECT REPORT ON

E – WASTE AN OVERVIEW

A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED TO

MUMBAI UNIVERSITY

MUMBAI

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE IN

BACHELORS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

SUBMITTED

BY

_________________________________

_______________________________

MUMBAI UNIVERSITY

MUMBAI – 400 098

2017-2019

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 DECLARATION

I the undersigned solemnly declare that the report of the summer training work entitled

study on “_____________________________________________” is based on my work

carried out during the course of my study under the supervision of

________________________________ , _____________________________________&

Mrs_______________________________, Faculty, Department of Management. Villa Marie

Degree College

I assert that the statements made and conclusions drawn are an outcome of the project

work. I further declare that to the best of my knowledge and believe the project report does not

contain any part of any work which has been submitted for the award of any other degree/

diploma/ certificate in this university or any other university.

_______________________

(Signature of the student)

DATE:

PLACE:

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to extend my gratitude to my Project guide, Mr. Pradeep Pandey, Branch

Manager, Seagull Technologies & Consulting for his appreciable support and valuable time

and guidance with providence of resources in terms of knowledge, theoretical gains and

practical experience.

A successful project can never be prepared by the singular effort of the person to whom project

is assigned, but it also demands the help and guardianship of some conversant persons who

undersigned actively or passively in the completion of a successful project. I would like to

extend my thankfulness to him for providing me with excellent instructors of Seagull

Technologies and Consulting whose guidance and co-operation have been of immense help for

the successful completion of this project. I would also thanks to all staff members of Indiabulls

for guidance and co-operation.

I would also like to thank Mr Ramanpreet (Director), and Mr. Prasad V. Bhat

(Internal Guide) who has been very cooperative and chose to remain anonymous, for giving

me the opportunity to gain from their experience in selection and recruitment processes.

Without their contributions, this project would have been rather incomplete.

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Chapters

List of Tables
List of Figures
Abbreviations and Glossary

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1 General
1.2 Need of e-waste study
1.3 Object of the project
1.4 Scope of the project
1.5 Outline of the Project

Chapter 2: Literature review

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Classification of e-waste
2.3 E-waste hazards
2.3.1 Health hazards of mercury
2.3.2 Health hazards of lead
2.3.3 Health hazards of arsenic
2.3.4 Health hazards of cadmium
2.4 E-waste Scenario
2.4.1 E-Waste in the global context
2.4.2 E-waste in the Indian context
2.4.3 E-waste state scenario
2.5 Friendly way to handle e-waste
2.6 Regulatory regime for e-waste
2.6.1 The Hazardous Wastes
(Management and Handling) Rules, 2003
2.6.2 The Municipal Solid Wastes
(Management and Handling) Rules, 2000
2.7 Status of e-waste legislation in India
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2.8 Basel Convention
2.8.1 Basel Ban Amendment
2.9 Various methods of e-waste disposal
2.9.1 Incineration
2.9.2 Open-burning
2.9.3 Landfilling
2.10 Leaching of e-waste
2.10.1 Dynamic Leaching Test
2.11 Recycling
2.11.1 Purpose of recycling e-waste
2.11.2 Process of Recycling
2.11.3 E-waste Recycling/Treatment technologies in India
2.11.4 Recycling, Reuse and Recovery Options
2.12 Process flow diagram of an integrated facility
2.13 Recommended action against e-waste
2.14 Some international responses to e-waste
2.15 Summary

Chapter 3: Case Study

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Methodology
3.2.1 E-waste recycling at ECORECO – activity flow chart
3.3 Remarketing
3.4 Data security
3.5 Ecoreco’s associations

Chapter 4: Analysis
Chapter 5: Result
Chapter 6: Conclusions and recommendations
Future work
References and Bibliography
Plates

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 List of Tables

Table Number Title

2.1 E-Waste Hazards
2.2 E-waste generating top 10 states

4.1 Quantities of e-waste sent to Ecoreco from each

state

List of Figures

Figure Number Title

2.1 Classification of e- waste

2.2 City-wise Graphical representation of e-waste

2.3 Pyramid showing friendly way to handle e-
waste
2.4 Recycling process

2.5 Recycling of electronic scrap at Umicore’s

integrated metals smelter and refinery

2.6 Recycling of electronic scrap at Umicore’s

integrated metals smelter and refinery

3.1 Approach

3.2 Reuse, Recycling and Recovery Process

3.3 Segregation of Plastics

3.4 CRT Treatment

3.5 Activity Flow chart

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ABBREVATIONS AND GLOSSARY

AK : Actinic Keratosis

BMO : Base Metal Operations

CCA : Chromate Copper Arsenate

CD : Compact Disc

CEEDI : China Electronics Engineering and Design Institute

CFC : Chlorofluorocarbon

CPU : Central Processing Unit

CRT : Cathode Ray Tube

DANCED : Danish Co-operation for Environment and Development

DEAT : Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

DLT : Dynamic Leaching Test

EEE : Electrical and Electronic Equipment

EPA : Environmental Protection Agency

EPR : Extended Producer Responsibility

EPRCC : Environmental Protection and Resource Conservation Committee

ESM : Environmentally Sound Management

EU : European Union

EWSR : Electronic Waste Shipment Regulation

IAER : International Association of Electronic Recyclers

IC : Integrated Chip

IPWM : Integrated Pollution and Waste Management

IT : Information and Technology

LCD : Liquid Crystal Display

LDC : Less Developed Countries

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LED : Light-Emitting Diode

MAIT : Manufacturers Association for Information Technology

MII : Ministry of Information Industry

MPCB : Maharashtra Pollution Control Board

NDRC : National Development and Reform Commission

NPC : National People’s Congress

NWMS : National Waste Management Strategy

PBB : Polybrominated Biphenyls

PBDD : Polybrominated Dioxins

PBDE : Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers

PC : Personal Computer

PCB : Polychlorinated Biphenyls

PCB : Printed Circuit Board

PCDF : Polychlorinated and Polybrominated Dioxins and Furans

PIC : Prior Informed Consent

PMO : Precious Metal Operations

PVC : Polyvinyl Chloride

PWB : Printed Wiring Boards

SEPA : State Environmental Protection Administration

TBBA : Tetrabromo Biosphenol-A

TCDD : Tetrachloro-Dibenzo-Dioxin

TCLP : Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure

TSDF : Treatment Storage and/or Disposal Facility

WEEE : Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

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 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.
-Mohandas K. Gandhi

1.1 GENERAL:

Waste is an unwanted or undesired material or substance. It is also referred to as rubbish, trash,

garbage, or junk. Waste is directly linked to the human development, both technologically and
socially. The composition of different wastes has varied over time and location, with industrial
development and innovation being directly linked to waste materials. Some components of
waste have economical value and can be recycled once correctly recovered. Various types of
wastes are biodegradable waste, biomedical waste, commercial waste, construction and
demolition waste (C&D waste), domestic waste, electronic waste (e-waste), hazardous waste,
household waste, human waste, industrial waste, liquid waste, municipal solid waste,
radioactive waste (nuclear waste), hazardous waste, toxic waste.

The large majority of wastes generated globally are disposed of in landfill sites, without any
pre-treatment or with minor treatments. Electronic wastes, "e-waste" is a waste type consisting
of any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic device. Electrical and electronic equipments
are made up of multitude of components, some containing toxic substances which can have an
adverse impact on human health and the environment if not handled properly. E-waste contains
toxic substances such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, barium etc. Often, these hazards arise due to
the improper recycling and disposal processes used. When disposed carefully in a controlled
environment, they do not pose any serious health or environmental risk.

Hazardous-waste management studies to evaluate the significance of such hazards, advice on

treatment and containment, and develop regulations to prevent mishaps are also met upon. E-
waste management includes various disposal methods such as incineration, open burning,
landfilling and the recycling method. Among the various disposal methods landfilling is
considered as the most harmful because of leachate which often contains heavy water
resources. . Even the best "state of the art" landfills are not completely tight throughout their

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lifetimes and a certain amount of chemical and metal leaching will occur. The situation is far
worse for older or less stringent dump sites. Recycling is a far better option as compared to
disposal because it saves resources and protects the Earth because new metals don't have to be
mined.

1.2 NEED OF E-WASTE STUDY:

When people say "I am concerned about the environment," what do they mean? Environment
protection is a major concern today, and humans are now trying every means and method
available to save the environment. The study on e-waste is required because:

 It is an environmental and health hazard:

E-waste contains a number of toxic substances which are not only dangerous for the
environment but also for the people living in the immediate area of e-waste recycling
and disposal sites. The cathode ray tubes (CRTs) in computer and television monitors
contain lead - which is poisonous to the nervous system - as do circuit boards. Mercury
- like lead - a neurotoxin, is used in flat-panel display screens. Some batteries and circuit
boards contain cadmium, known to be a carcinogen.

 Rapid growth of the IT sector:

Rapid growth combined with rapid product obsolescence and discarded electronics is
now the fastest growing waste stream in the industrialized world. The growing quantity
of e-waste from electronic and the IT industry is beginning to reach disastrous
proportions and they need to be controlled. The problem in Indian scenario is the lack
of awareness among enterprises on the hazardous effects of e-waste. Bangalore is the
IT hub of India and is growing phenomenally. The growing industry has provided
employment to over 2 lakh people and alone produces nearly 8,000 tons of e-waste
every year. Most of this waste is recycled unscientifically or just dumped along with
domestic solid waste, thereby creating health and environmental risks.

 To separate recyclable and reusable materials:

Government organizations would like to foster opportunities to recycle and re-use
surplus electronic equipment on as wide a scale as possible. Recycling of e-waste is not

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 required merely because it is mandatory or environmental requirement, but is also
essential to avoid bad publicity when computers and other office automation systems
are found in landfill or third world countries, consequently, the industry is on the brink
of a paradigm shift with respect to cost avoidance v/s risk avoidance. . Recycling and
buying recycled products creates demand for more recycled products, decreasing waste
and helping our economy

1.3 OBJECT OF THE PROJECT:

E-Waste is a global concern today and it has far-reaching adverse effects on the environment
if not dealt with immediately. Hence study on e-waste is necessary and the objectives of our
present study are as stated below:

 To create awareness about e-waste: The average citizen has no idea about e-
waste and the problems it is causing for our environment. There are plenty of things
consumers can do. First, spread awareness of e-waste by discussing the problem with
friends and family, and at work place. The more the people know the proper way to
dispose off their electronic waste, the better. Second, find out if there is an electronic-
recycling centre in the city or anywhere nearby. Bring the equipment there when it’s
time to dispose of it.

 To study the hazardous effects of e-waste: Computers and other electronic

equipment are made from hundreds of different materials, both found naturally as well
as man-made. While some naturally occurring substances, such as chromium, are
harmless in nature, their use in the manufacture of electronic equipment often results in
compounds which are hazardous. These highly toxic compounds are especially harmful
to human health and the environment if not disposed of carefully. Even a small cell
phone has hundreds of harmful carcinogens that are detrimental to the environment as
well as human health.

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  To study the quantity of e-waste generation: India generated 3.3 lakh tones
e-waste in 2017 and is expected to touch 4.7 lakh tones by 2020. The illegal import of
e-waste from abroad added another 50 tones to the Indian origin. Pune ranked 3rd in
Maharashtra in e-waste generation and the city’s e-waste would reach 3,500 tons by
2020. The two largest nations shipping their e-wastes out are the United States and
Britain. Britain exported 25,000 tons of e-waste to South Asia last year.

 Disposal methods: In the hierarchy of end-of-life disposal methods, landfilling is

considered the most harmful, and recycling the most environmentally tolerable. Various
methods of e-waste disposal are incineration, open burning and land filling. Land filling
is one of the most widely used methods of waste disposal.

 Reuse or recycling methods: Recycling means taking a product or materials at

the end of its useful life and turning it into a usable raw material to make another
product. Most of the recycling process involves physical dismantling by hammer,
chisel, screw driver and bare hand. Recycling offers significant energy savings over
manufacturing with virgin materials.

1.4 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT:

In order to execute this project, it is essential to establish the e-waste business chain linking
different stakeholders to understand the trade economics and associated environmental
impacts.

The provision of recycling/disposal methods ensures constant and reliable e-waste

management .The study shall identify and describe the following:

• Their respective geographical distribution in the study area.

• E-waste generation cycle: Generation of electronic wastes starts once it is discarded after the
end of its useful life. 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.

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1.5 OUTLINE OF THE PROJECT:

The report is organised in six chapters. Chapter one presents introduction of e-waste, need of
e-waste study, objective and scope of work. The Chapter two literature review deals with the
definition of e-waste, classification of e-waste, hazards in e-waste, the global scenario of e-
waste, Indian scenario of e-waste, the state scenario of e-waste, various ongoing practices of
disposal and recycling or reuse of e-waste. The chapter three deals with the case study(eco-
reco); chapter four is analysis. The results are detailed in chapter five and the conclusions and
recommendations that can be arrived upon after the completion of work is included in chapter
six.

CHAPTER 2

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 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION:

The rapid pace of technological change in the field of electronics has made appliances for
homes and office equipment both affordable and widely used. The extreme growth rates but
also ever increasing obsolescence rates result in large quantities of electrical and electronic
equipment being added to the waste stream.
Electronics are quickly becoming a significant portion of the materials sent to local landfills.
Computers, radios, fax machines, cellular telephones and personal digital assistants are
becoming items of concern in the waste stream. Advances in technology, as well as the
decreasing price of most electronics, has led to an increase in the volume of outdated items that
require proper disposal, typically called electronic waste.
Electronic waste, popularly known as ‘e-waste’ (E. Pehlivan12 et al.,2009) can be defined as
electronic equipments / products connects with power plug, batteries which have become
obsolete due to:
 advancement in technology
 changes in fashion, style and status
 Nearing the end of their useful life.
. The processing of electronic waste in developing countries causes serious health and
pollution problems due to lack of containment, as do unprotected landfilling (due to leaching)
and incineration.

2.2 CLASSIFICATION OF E-WASTE:

E-waste encompasses ever growing range of obsolete electronic devices such as computers,
servers, main frames, monitors, TVs & display devices, telecommunication devices such as
cellular phones & pagers, calculators, audio and video devices, printers, scanners, copiers and
fax machines besides refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and microwave ovens,
e-waste also covers recording devices such as DVDs, CDs, floppies, tapes, printing cartridges,

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 military electronic waste, automobile catalytic converters, electronic components such as
chips, processors, mother boards, printed circuit boards, industrial electronics such as sensors,
alarms, sirens, security devices, automobile electronic devices.The classification of e-waste is
shown in the form of a flowchart in Fig 2.1.

CLASSIFICATION OF
E-WASTE

Computer peripherals Telecommunicatio Industrial Electronics Lighting Devices

n devices

 Monitors,  Phones  Sensors  Fluorescent

 CPU,  Cell phones  Alarms Tubes
 Key Board,  Pagers  Automobile
 Mouse,  Fax electronic
 Circuit Boards Machines Devices
 CDs  Security devices
 Floppies
 Laptops
 Servers

Fig: 2.1 Classification of e- waste

2.3 E-WASTE HAZARDS:

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Electronic waste accounts for 70 percent of the overall toxic waste currently found in landfills.
In addition to valuable metals like aluminum, electronics often contain hazardous materials
like mercury. When placed in a landfill, these materials (even in small doses) can contaminate
soil as well as drinking water.
E-waste contains different hazardous materials which are harmful to human health and the
environment if not disposed of carefully. While some naturally occurring substances are
harmless in nature, their use in the manufacture of electronic equipment often results in
compounds which are hazardous (e.g. chromium becomes chromium VI). The following table
gives a selection of the mostly found toxic substances in e-waste and the various health hazards
caused.

Table 2.1 E-Waste Hazards

Substance: Occurrence in Health relevance:
Halogenated compounds: e- waste:
PCB (polychlorinated condensers, transformers Cause cancer, effects on
biphenyls) the immune system,
reproductive system,
nervous system, endocrine
system and other health
effects. persistent and bio
accumulatable

• TBBA Fire retardants for plastics can cause long-term period

(tetrabromobisphenol-A) (thermoplastic injuries to health acutely
• PBB (polybrominated components, cable poisonous when burned
biphenyls) insulation) TBBA is
• PBDE (polybrominated presently the most widely
diphenyl ethers) used
flame retardant in printed
wiring boards and covers
for components

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Chlorofluorocarbon cooling unit, insulation Combustion of halogenated
(CFC) foam substances may cause toxic
emissions.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride cable insulation Temperature processing of

High) cables may release
chlorine, which is
converted to dioxins and
furans.
Heavy metals and other
metals:

Arsenic small quantities in the form acutely poisonous and on a

of gallium arsenide within long-term perspective
light emitting diodes injurious to health

Barium Getters in CRT may develop explosive

gases
(hydrogen) if wetted
Beryllium power supply boxes which Harmful if inhaled
contain silicon
controlled rectifiers, beam
line components
Cadmium rechargeable NiCd- acutely poisonous and
batteries, fluorescent layer injurious to health on a
(CRT screens), printer inks long-term perspective
and toners, photocopying -
machines (photo
drums)
Chromium VI Data tapes, floppy-disks acutely poisonous and
injurious to health on a
long-term perspective
causes allergic reactions

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Gallium arsenide Light-emitting diode injurious to health
(LED)
Lead CRT screens, batteries, causes damage to the
printed wiring boards nervous system, circulatory
system, kidneys causes
learning disabilities in
children
Lithium Li-batteries may develop explosive
gases (hydrogen) if wetted
Mercury Is found in the fluorescent acutely poisonous and
lamps that provide injurious to
backlighting in LCDs, in health on a long-term
some alkaline batteries and perspective
mercury wetted
switches

Nickel rechargeable NiCd- may cause allergic

batteries or NiMH reactions
batteries, electron gun in
CRT
Rare earth elements fluorescent layer (CRT- irritates skin and eyes
(Yttrium, Europium) screen)
Selenium older photocopying- exposure to high levels
machines (photo may cause
toxic when inhaled drums) adverse health effects
Zinc sulphide Is used on the interior of a Toxic when inhaled
CRT screen, mixed with
rare metals
Others:
Toxic organic substances condensers, liquid crystal
display
Toner Dust Toner cartridges for laser Health risk when dust is
printers / copiers inhaled

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 risk of explosion
Radioactive substances Medical equipment, fire May cause cancer when
Americium detectors inhaled

Electronics and electrical equipment seem efficient and environmentally-friendly, but there are
hidden dangers associated with them once these become e-waste. The harmful materials
contained in electronics products (Cynthia A. Bily4et al.,2008); coupled with the fast rate at
which we’re replacing outdated units, pose a real danger to human health if electronics products
are not properly processed prior to disposal (Jae-Min Yoo19et al.,2009).
Electronic products like computers and cell phones contain a lot of different toxins (Daniel A.
Vallero5et al.,2002). For example, cathode ray tubes (CRT) of computer monitors contain
heavy metals such as lead, barium and cadmium, which can be very harmful to health if they
enter the water system. These materials can cause damage to the human nervous system and
respiratory systems. Flame- retardant plastics used in electronics casings, release particles that
can damage human endocrine functions. These are the types of things that can happen when
unprocessed e-waste is put directly in landfill.

2.3.1 Health hazards of mercury:

Mercury is a dense liquid metal that gives off a colourless, odourless, tasteless vapour at
relatively low temperatures (David Hollansky8,2008). The fluorescent tubes that provide the
source of light in the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) contain mercury. Very small amounts of
mercury are also found in the LCD backlights. Mercury vapour lamps provide enhanced indoor
and outdoor lighting; and elemental mercury has many uses including thermostat regulation
and the manufacture of plastics, mirrors and thermometers.
Organic mercury is the most deadly of the mercury compounds, probably due to its ability to
enter the cells almost effortlessly. Within the cell it can destroy the various components
selectively or in total by releasing chemicals, damaging Deoxyribo- Nucleic Acid (DNA) and
by rupturing the cell membrane. A positive correlation was found between mercury
concentration in blood and chromosomal aberration. A study of women in the village of
Camara de Lobos in the island of Madeira, where sea currents cause a concentration of mercury

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in local sea life, found that average values of total mercury in hair and blood were about 10
mcg/g and 32 mcg/L respectively. These levels have been associated with risk for brain
development.

2.3.2 Health hazards of lead:

Lead is found in glass components of Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT), as well as in electronics
components (printed wiring boards and their components) of both CRT and Liquid Crystal
Display (LCD). It is widely used in electronic goods, as a major component of solders (as an
alloy with tin) in printed circuit boards and as lead oxide in the glass of cathode ray tubes
(televisions and monitors), as well as in lead-acid batteries (Elizabeth Grossman13et al.,2007).
Its compounds have also been used as stabilizers in some Poly Vinyl Chlorides (PVC) cables
and other products.
Lead is a significant material in current CRT, accounting for up to 8% of the overall
composition of the CRT by weight; with a 17" monitor containing as much as 1.12 kg of lead
(Anne E. Maczulak1,2009). Lead is used in several parts of the CRT monitor, including the
funnel and neck glass, the sealing frit, as solder on Printed Wiring Boards (PWB) within the
monitor, and sometimes in the front panel glass of the CRT.
At even very low levels, lead has been shown to cause health problems (Herbert Lund18,2000).
This makes it extremely important that we reduce our use of lead and dispose of it properly.
When lead is inhaled, about 30%-50% of the particles will reach the lungs, depending on the
size of the particle. Large particles land in the upper respiratory tract where they get trapped
by the mucous lining and are moved out by the cilia. Unfortunately, the mucous is often
swallowed, allowing these large particles to then go into the digestive system.

Smaller particles can reach deeper in the lungs and from there be absorbed into the bloodstream.
This means that when there is burning or welding on lead-painted surfaces, the lead fumes can
be especially dangerous. The small particles created as a fume will reach the blood if they are
inhaled. Once lead is in the blood, some of it moves into soft tissues.

2.3.3 Health hazards of arsenic:

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Arsenic is the most notorious of the chemicals contained in CCA (Chromate Copper Arsenate).
It is a metalloid element, but when refined, arsenic is tasteless, odorless and colorless. Due to
the unfortunate exposure of several population groups around the world to arsenic in their water
supplies, the adverse health effects of long term arsenic exposure are well known and well
documented. They include the following systemic effects:

2.3.3.1 Toxicological: Arsenic is a human poison (toxin). Mild chronic poisoning can occur
at doses as low as 0.15 mg daily. According to the Journal of Pesticide Reform, "the lethal dose
of arsenic for an adult human is between 1 and 2.5 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body
weight". Thus, for a typical adult male weighing 165 pounds (75 kg), the fatal dose can be as
little as 75 milligrams.

2.3.3.2 Dermatological: Skin cancers in the form of basal cell or squamous cell
carcinomas, are one of the most serious long-term dermatological health hazards from
continuous exposure to arsenic. Other serious dermatological hazards from chronic arsenic
exposure can include pre-cancerous Actinic Keratosis (AK), darkening of the skin (hyper
pigmentation).

2.3.3.2 Cardiovascular, Hepatic and Hematological: Cardiovascular side effects

affecting the heart and arteries from chronic arsenic exposure include high blood pressure,
irregular heartbeat, premature hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), vascular lesions,
diabetes mellitus, and abnormal heart function. Hazards to the liver (hepatic effects) include
cirrhosis, abnormal liver function, as well as symptoms such as "jaundice or simply an enlarged
and tender liver". Long term arsenic exposure can produces serious hematological (blood)
problems ranging from anemia to more life-threatening ailments such as assorted forms of
cytopenia, aplastic anemia and even acute leukemia in rare instances.

2.3.3.3 Respiratory: Continuous arsenic exposure can cause irritation and damage to the
mucous membranes in nasal passages and airways, including pharyngitis and rhinitis, and can
also aggravate symptoms of asthma. However, the greatest and most prevalent risk of
prolonged arsenic exposure via inhalation is lung cancer.

2.3.3.4 Neurological: The two most commonly-reported neurological effects of severe or

chronic arsenic exposure are "pins and needles" feeling in the hands and feet, and partial

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paralysis of the limbs. In severe cases, degeneration of the peripheral nervous system has been
noted. Other noted neurological side effects include hearing loss, memory loss, headaches,
depression, anxiety attacks, and muscle and joint pain.

2.3.3.5 Carcinogenic: Chronic oral, dermal or inhalation arsenic exposure can lead to
several kinds of cancer. The most common are skin cancer, bladder cancer, and lung cancer,
the latter being most prevalent in cases of inhalation exposure. Skin cancer can result from
dermal or oral exposure, and patients with arsenic-related skin cancer are more prone to other
internal cancers.

2.3.4 Health hazards of cadmium:

Cadmium occurs in certain components such as chip resistors, infra-red detectors, and
semiconductor chips. Cadmium is also a plastic stabilizer and some older cathode ray tubes
contain cadmium.

Spills and leaks from hazardous e-waste sites can cause cadmium to enter soil or water.
Cadmium attached to small particles may get into the air and travel a long way before coming
down to earth as dust or in rain or snow.

Cadmium compounds are toxic with a possible risk of irreversible effects on human health, and
accumulate in the human body, particularly the kidneys. Eating food or drinking water with
very high cadmium levels severely irritates the stomach, leading to vomiting and diarrhoea.
Cadmium build-up causes kidney damage, and also causes bones to become fragile and break
easily.

2.4 E-WASTE SCENARIO:

E-Waste is a global concern today. It can have far-reaching adverse effects on the environment
if not dealt with immediately. Awareness of e-waste management is the key to getting more
customers to come forward and dispose of their e-waste in a safe manner.

2.4.1 E-Waste in the global context:

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The use of electronic devices has proliferated in recent decades, and proportionately the
quantity of electronic devices that are disposed of, is growing rapidly throughout the world. A
study found that every year, 20 to 50 million tons of e-waste are generated worldwide. In 1994,
it was estimated that approximately 20 million Personal Computers (PC) became obsolete. By
2004, this figure was to increase to over 100 million PC. This fast growing waste stream is
accelerating because the global market for PC is far from saturation and the average lifespan
of a Personal Computer (PC) is decreasing rapidly.

E-waste is a global issue for two main reasons:

1. Developing countries own a substantial share of e-waste. For example, of the estimated
20-50 million tonnes of e-waste discarded annually worldwide, Asian countries discard
an estimated 12 million tonnes. This share will likely only increase with the rapidly
developing economies of China and India, who will have 178 million and 80 million
new computers, respectively, out of the global total of an estimated 716 million new
computer users by 2020.
2. E-waste is often sent for recycling and refurbishing in developing countries (David
Naquib Pellow6,2007) where labour is relatively cheap, and, once there, can simply be
landfilled, for example, 50-80 percent of the e-waste collected for recycling in the US
is exported.

 In USA, it accounts 1% to 3% of the total municipal waste generation.

 In European Union (EU), e-waste is growing three times faster than average annual
municipal solid waste generation. A recent source estimates that total amount of e-waste
generation in EU ranges from 5 to 7 million tonnes per annum or about 14 to 15 kg per
capita and is expected to grow at a rate of 3% to 5% per year.
 In developed countries, currently it equals 1% of total solid waste generation and is
expected to grow to 2% by 2020.

2.4.2 E-waste in the Indian context:

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The electronics industry has emerged as the fastest growing segment of Indian industry both in
terms of production and exports. The share of software services in electronics and IT sector has
gone up from 38.7 per cent in 2003-2004 to 61.8 percent in 2017 - 2018.
A review of the industry statistics show that in 1990-91, hardware accounted for nearly 50%
of total IT revenues while software's share was 22%. The scenario changed by 2003 - 2004,
with hardware share falling to 38% and software's share rising to 41%. This shift in the IT
industry began with liberalization, and the opening up of Indian markets together with which
there was a change in India’s import policies vis-à-vis hardware leading to substitution of
domestically produced hardware by imports. Since the early 1990s, the software industry has
been growing at a compound annual growth rate of over 46% (supply chain management,
1999). According to the survey conducted the Indian PC industry is growing at a 25%
compounded annual growth rate. The e-waste inventory based on this obsolescence rate and
installed base in India for the year 2017 has been estimated to be 146180.00 tones. This is
expected to exceed 8, 00,000 tones by 2025 (Vishakha Munshi30,2017).

Sixty-five cities in India generate more than 60% of the total e-waste generated in India. Ten
states generate 70% of the total e-waste generated in India. Maharashtra ranks 1st followed by
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh and Punjab in the list of e-waste generating states in India.

Table 2.2 E-waste generating top 10 states

State e-waste (tonnes)

Maharashtra 20270.59
Tamil Nadu 13486.24
Andhra Pradesh 12780.33
Uttar Pradesh 10381.11
West Bengal 10059.36
Delhi 9729.15
Karnataka 9118.74
Gujarat 8994.33
Madhya Pradesh 7800.62

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 Punjab 6958.46

Source: MPCB

2.4.3 E-waste state scenario:

In India, among the 10 states, Maharashtra ranks 1st in the e-waste generation .The total e-
waste generation in Maharashtra accounts for 20000 tonnes per year. It shows that Greater
Mumbai and Pune generates maximum amount of e-waste. This is due to the presence of a
large number of Info Tech Parks & electronic products manufacturing companies situated in
Mumbai and Pune areas, which plays the main role in e-waste generation. The entire amount
of e-waste from this region is transported for dismantling and further supply to Delhi market.
Therefore, Maharashtra acts as a hub for supply of e-waste to Delhi and other parts of India.
Among the top ten cities generating e-waste, Mumbai ranks first followed by Delhi, Bangalore,
Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Surat and Nagpur.

While there is no large-scale organized e-waste recycling facility in the country and the entire
recycling exists in unorganized sector, there are two small e-waste dismantling facilities in
Chennai. Ironically, in India, there are no specific environmental laws or guidelines on e-waste.
None of the existing environmental laws have any direct reference to electronic waste or refer
to its handling as hazardous in nature. However, several provisions of the laws may apply to
various aspects of electronic wastes. Since e-waste or its residues fall under the category of
“hazardous” and “non-hazardous waste, they are covered under the preview of “The Hazardous
Waste Management Rules, 2003”. According to the draft guidelines, plastic-containing flame-
retardants can be burnt in common hazardous waste incineration facilities. But monitoring and
control of plastic burning at the facilities is a big environmental health and safety issue.
Therefore, plastic which cannot be recycled and is hazardous in nature is recommended to be
land filled in nearby treatment storage and/or disposal facility (TSDF).

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Fig 2.2: City-wise Graphical representation of e-waste

Source: Manufacturer’s Association for Information Technology (MAIT)

Moreover, existing lead recycling facilities from batteries fall under the existing environmental
regulations for air, water, noise, land and soil pollution and generation of hazardous waste. In
case lead recovery is low, they can be temporarily stored at e-waste dismantling facility and
later disposed in TSDF. There is a need to geographically restrict area of operation of a
particular facility similar to the lines of area of operation of a TSDF facility. This will ensure
lower transportation cost, check transportation of e-waste across the different states and
availability of raw material to the facility.

2.5 FRIENDLY WAT TO HANDLE E-WASTE:

There are many ways to deal with e-waste. As the adage goes “prevention is better than cure”
it is wise to prevent or minimize the production of e-waste. Reusing the parts and various
components of e-waste is another option which reduces the total volume of e-waste to be treated
or disposed off. (Anne E. Maczulak1et al.,2009) Recycling is changing the original product and
using it to produce something new. Recycling also reduces the content of e-waste to be
disposed. When methods like open burning or incineration are used for disposing e-waste, the
energy so produced can be recovered and put to use for lighting or other purposes. The least
favored method of handling e-waste is to dispose it off. Disposal methods not only cause
pollution but also lead to generation of by- products which have to be dealt with separately.

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 Fig 2.3: Pyramid showing friendly way to handle e-waste

Source: MPCB

2.6 REGULATORY REGIME FOR E-WASTE:

In India, there are no specific environmental laws or Guidelines for e-waste.

None of the existing environmental laws have any direct reference to electronic waste or refer
to its handling as hazardous in nature. However several provisions of these laws may apply to
various aspects of electronic wastes. Since e-waste or its constituents fall under the category of
‘hazardous” and “non hazardous waste”, they shall be covered under the purview of “The
Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2003”. Respective definitions, their meaning and
interpretation under the rule are given below.

2.6.1 The Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2003

The Hazardous Waste (Management and handling) Rule, 2003, defines

“Hazardous waste” as any waste which by reason of any of its physical,
chemical, reactive, toxic, flammable, explosive or corrosive characteristics
causes danger or likely to cause danger to health or environment, whether alone or when on
contact with other wastes or substances, and shall include:

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  Waste substances that are generated in the 36 processes indicated in column 2 of
Schedule I and consist of wholly or partly of the waste substances referred to in column
3 of same schedule.
 Waste substances that consist wholly or partly of substances indicated in five risks class
(A, B) mentioned in Schedule 2, unless the concentration of substances is less than the
limit indicated in the same Schedule.
 Waste substances that are indicated in Lists A and B of Schedule 3 (Part A) applicable
only in cases of import and export of hazardous wastes in accordance with rules 12, 13
and 14 if they possess any of the hazardous characteristics listed in Part B of schedule

“Disposal” means deposit, treatment, recycling and recovery of any hazardous wastes.
Important features of Schedule 1 and 2 which may cover E-waste are given below.

Schedule 1
Although, there is no direct reference of electronic waste in any column of
Schedule 1 (which defines hazardous waste generated through different
industrial processes), the “disposal process” of e-waste could be characterized as hazardous
processes. The indicative list of these processes is given below.
 Secondary production and/ or use of Zinc
 Secondary production of copper
 Secondary production of lead
 Production and/ or use of cadmium and arsenic and their compounds
 Production of primary and secondary aluminum
 Production of iron and steel including other ferrous alloys (electric furnaces, steel
rolling and finishing mills, coke oven and by product plan)
 Production or industrial use of materials made with organo silicon compounds
 Electronic industry
 Waste treatment processes, e.g. incineration, distillation, separation and concentration
techniques
As per these regulations, once a waste product is classified as hazardous
according to industrial process listed in Schedule 1, it is exempted from the
concentration limit requirement set by Schedule 2 of Act, and is considered
hazardous irrespective of its concentrations.

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Schedule 2
The Schedule 2 of the Hazardous Waste Management and Handling Rules 2003, lists waste
substances which should be considered hazardous unless their concentration is less than the
limit indicated in the said Schedule. The various classes of substances listed in this Schedule
relevant to E-waste are covered broadly in Class A and B as shown below.

Class A: Concentration Limit: >= 50 mg/kg

The indicative waste list, which could be part of E-waste or its fractions under this class are
given below.
 Antimony and antimony compounds
 Beryllium and beryllium compounds
 Cadmium and cadmium compounds
 Chromium (VI) compounds
 Mercury and mercury compounds
 Halogenated compounds of aromatic rings, e.g. polychlorinated biphenyls,
 polychloroteriphenyls and their derivatives
 Halogenated aromatic compounds

Class B: Concentration Limit: >= 5,000 mg/kg

The indicative waste list, which could be part of E-waste or its fractions under this class are
given below.
 Cobalt compounds
 Copper compounds
 Lead and lead compounds
 Nickel compounds
 Inorganic tin compounds
 Vanadium compounds
 Tungsten compounds
 Silver compounds
 Halogenated aliphatic compounds
 Phenol and phenolic compounds
 Chlorine

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  Bromine
 Halogen-containing compounds, which produce acidic vapors on contact with humid
air or water

2.6.2 The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000

"Municipal Solid Waste" includes commercial and residential wastes generated in municipal
or notified areas in either solid or semi-solid form excluding industrial hazardous wastes but
including treated bio-medical wastes.

"Disposal" means final disposal of municipal solid wastes in terms of the

specified measures to prevent contamination of ground-water, surface water and ambient air
quality.

"Processing" means the process by which solid wastes are transformed into
new or recycled products;

"Recycling" means the process of transforming segregated solid wastes into

raw materials for producing new products, which may or may not be similar to the original
products

"Storage" means the temporary containment of municipal solid wastes in a

manner so as to prevent littering, attraction to vectors, stray animals and
excessive foul odor.

2.7 STATUS OF E-WASTE LEGISLATION IN INDIA:

Toxics Link, in association with the Basel Action Network, published the landmark report in
February 2003, on the transboundary movement of e-waste from the developed countries to
India and the hazardous practices associated with recycling e-waste, especially highlighting the
need for legislation to ban the import of e-waste as well as ensure environmentally sound

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disposal of the domestically generated e-waste (Rakesh Joshi27et al.,2009). Even though India
is a signatory of the Basel Convention, there is no specific legislation regulating the import/
export or the collection and treatment of e-waste in India as yet (in 2006) (Dr. Hassan Ahmed9et
al.,2009). There are however several existing environmental legislations which are of
importance and useful in the context of e-waste.

2.8 BASEL CONVENTION:

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and
their Disposal is the most comprehensive global environmental agreement on hazardous and
other wastes.
The Convention has 172 Parties and aims to protect human health and the environment against
the adverse effects resulting from the generation, management, transboundary movements and
disposal of hazardous and other wastes. The Basel Convention came into force in 1992. It was
designed to reduce the movements of hazardous wastes between nations, and specifically to
prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to Less Developed Countries (LDC). It
does not, however, address the movement of radioactive waste. The Convention is also
intended to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated, to ensure their
environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation, and to
assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they
generate.

2.8.1 Basel Ban Amendment:

After the initial adoption of the Convention, some LDCs and environmental organizations
argued that it did not go far enough. Many nations and NGOs argued for a total ban on shipment
of all hazardous waste to LDCs. In particular, the original Convention did not prohibit waste
exports to any location except Antartica but merely required a notification and consent system
known as "prior informed consent" or PIC. Further, many waste traders sought to exploit the
good name of recycling and begin to justify all exports as moving to recycling destinations.
Many believed a full ban was needed including exports for recycling. After the 1995 Basel
conference by LDCs, Greenpeace and key European countries such as Denmark, led to a
decision to adopt the Basel Ban Amendment to the Basel Convention. Not yet in force, but

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considered morally binding by signatories, the Amendment prohibits the export of hazardous
waste from a list of developed (mostly OECD) countries to developing countries. The Basel
Ban applies to export for any reason, including recycling. An area of special concern for
advocates of the Amendment was the sale of ships for salvage, shipbreaking. The Ban
Amendment was strenuously opposed by a number of industry groups as well as nations
including the United States and Canada. As of late-2005, 63 nations have ratified the Basel Ban
Amendment; 62 are required for it to enter into force. The European Union fully implemented
the Basel Ban in its Waste Shipment Regulation (EWSR), making it legally binding in all
European Union (EU) member states.

2.9 VARIOUS METHODS OF E-WASTE DISPOSAL:

E-waste management practices comprise of various means of final disposal of end-of-life
equipment. In the hierarchy of end-of-life disposal methods, landfilling is considered the most
harmful, and recycling the most environmentally tolerable
Various methods of e-waste disposal are:

 Incineration
 Open burning
 Landfilling

2.9.1 Incineration:

Incineration is the process of destroying waste through burning. Because of the variety of
substances found in e-waste, incineration is associated with a major risk of generating and
dispersing contaminants and toxic substances. The gases released during the burning and the
residue ash is often toxic (R. E. Hester28et al.,2004). This is especially true for incineration or
co-incineration of e-waste with neither prior treatment nor sophisticated flue gas purification.

Studies of municipal solid waste incineration plants have shown that copper, which is present
in printed circuit boards and cables, acts a catalyst for dioxin formation when flame-retardants
are incinerated. These brominated flame retardants when exposed to low temperature (600-
800°C) can lead to the generation of extremely toxic polybrominated dioxins (PBD) and furans.
PVC, which can be found in e-waste in significant amounts, is highly corrosive when burnt and
also induces the formation of dioxins.

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2.9.1.1 Advantages of incineration:

Advantage of incineration of e-waste is the reduction of waste volume and the utilization of
the energy content of combustible materials. Some plants remove iron from the slag for
recycling. By incineration some environmentally hazardous organic substances are converted
into less hazardous compounds.

2.9.1.2 Disadvantages of incineration:

Disadvantage of incineration are the emission to air of substances escaping flue gas cleaning
and the large amount of residues from gas cleaning and combustion.
Incineration also leads to the loss valuable of trace elements which could have been recovered
had they been sorted and processed separately.

2.9.2 Open-burning:

Open burning is the process of destroying the waste by burning it under uncontrolled
conditions.

2.9.2.1 Disadvantages of open burning:

Since open fires burn at relatively low temperatures, they release many more pollutants than in
a controlled incineration process at an MSWI-plant. Inhalation of open fire emissions can
trigger asthma attacks, respiratory infections, and cause other problems such as coughing,
wheezing chest pain, and eye irritation (Mackenzie21, et al.,2005). Chronic exposure to open
fire emissions may lead to diseases such as emphysema and cancer. For example, burning PVC
releases hydrogen chloride, which on inhalation mixes with water in the lungs to form
hydrochloric acid.
This can lead to corrosion of the lung tissues, and several respiratory complications. Often fires
burn with a lack of oxygen, forming carbon monoxide, which poisons the blood when inhaled.
The residual particulate matter in the form of ash is prone to fly around in the vicinity and can
also be dangerous when inhaled. Soil and sediment collected in the vicinity of an open
electronic waste disposal and recycling facility. The PBD were detected in the soil and
sediment samples at levels of 0.26–824 Ng/g (dry weight).

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Many of the chemicals released are highly toxic, some may affect children’s developing
reproductive systems, while other can affect brain development and the nervous system. The
samples of soil/ash from open burning sites generally contained high levels of many metals
that are known to be present in electronic devices, some of which have toxic properties (Paul
T William, et al.,2005). Numerous organic chemical pollutants were also identified.
Similarities were found between the samples from the different open burning sites, with regard
to those metals present at high levels and the range of organic chemicals present.

2.9.3 Landfilling:

The most common method of managing E-waste has been landfilling (Amalendu Baqchi 2 et
al.,2004) While the weight represented by used electronics is not dramatic, the volume that
these items represent in landfills is proportionally more significant because of the bulk and
rigidity of these materials. Furthermore, as some electronic items contain hazardous material,
the proper management of those items is important. In addition, electronic items are made with
valuable materials that are a great source of recoverable commodities including steel, glass,
plastic, and precious metals.

Discarded electronics often end up in landfills. It has become common knowledge that all
landfills leak. Even the best "state of the art" landfills are not completely tight throughout their
lifetimes and a certain amount of chemical and metal leaching will occur (Paul T William 24 et
al.,2005). The situation is far worse for older or less stringent dump sites

2.10 LEACHING OF E-WASTE:

Leachate is the liquid that drains or 'leaches' from a landfill; it varies widely in composition
regarding the age of the landfill and the type of waste it contains (David Hollansky8et
al.,2004). It can usually contain both dissolved and suspended materials. Disposal of e-wastes
is one of the main reasons for leaching. Computer wastes that are land filled produces
contaminated leachates which eventually pollute the groundwater. Acids and sludge obtained
from melting computer chips, if disposed on the ground causes acidification of soil.
Incineration of e-wastes can emit toxic fumes and gases, thereby polluting the surrounding
air. Improperly monitored landfills can cause environmental hazards. Mercury will leach
when certain electronic devices, such as circuit breakers are destroyed. The same is true for

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polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) from condensers. When brominated flame retardant plastic
or cadmium containing plastics are landfilled, both polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)
and cadmium may leach into the soil and groundwater. It has been found that significant
amounts of lead ion are dissolved from broken lead containing glass, such as the cone glass
of cathode ray tubes, gets mixed with acid waters and are a common occurrence in landfills.

2.10.1 Dynamic Leaching Test

Dynamic leaching test (DLT) is employed to study the leaching mechanism and to evaluate the
potential leaching hazards of various E-waste components under landfill conditions. The
samples include the PC motherboards, hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, CD/DVD drives,
power supply units, and cell phones.

In the test, a specimen- for instance a whole piece of motherboard - is cleaned of dirt and
rinsed by deionizer water, then placed in a test container on top of the supports built inside
the container. The containers are filled with two types of leaching fluids. The liquid-to-solid
ratio of 10:1 on weight basis is used (James E. Kilduff20,2000). Leaching cycles of 3 to 10
days were used. After each leaching cycle, the leaching fluid is renewed by the fresh one and
analyzed for different toxic constituents.

2.11 RECYCLING:

Nowadays computer has been as important as oxygen. Without computer no one can live. All
are looking at the advantages it has been producing but there are disadvantages equal to
advantages. One of them is the electronic wastes produced by the computer. These electronic
wastes contain toxic substances like mercury, lead, cadmium etc. These substances cause harm
to the Environment.

Recycling (Carl A. Zimring3et al.,2005) is one of those concepts everyone embraces. Yet, when
it comes to electronics—TVs, monitors, computers, and peripherals—why do so few of us
actually do it? According to figures from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), only
about 13.6% of so-called e-waste was recycled in 2007, the rest being diverted to municipal
landfills or storage. The rate is a significant improvement from the 10% recycled in 2000;

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however, it’s a far cry from the two-thirds of major appliances—things such as refrigerators
and washing machines—that are diverted from the dump.

Recycling of e-waste is not required merely because it is mandatory or environmental

requirement, but is also essential to avoid bad publicity when computers and other office
automation systems are found in landfill or third world countries, consequently, the industry is
on the brink of a paradigm shift with respect to cost avoidance v/s risk avoidance.

2.11.1 Purpose of recycling e-waste:

Most electronic devices contain a variety of materials, including metals, which can be
recovered for recycling. Recycling waste electronics saves resources and protects the Earth
because new metals don't have to be mined (Denise Di Ramio7et al.,2008). In addition, some
electronic products contain high enough levels of certain materials, such as lead, that render
them hazardous waste when disposed. Hazardous wastes cannot be disposed with municipal
trash. Apart from this other few reasons for recycling are as follows:

 Good For Our Economy -companies rely on recycling programs to provide the raw
materials they need to make new products.
 Creates Jobs
 Reduces Waste (Frank Ackerman14et al.,2007)
 Good For The Environment -Recycling requires far less energy, uses fewer natural
resources, and keeps waste from piling up in landfills.
 Saves Energy -Recycling offers significant energy savings over manufacturing with
virgin materials.
 Preserves Landfill Space -No one wants to live next door to a landfill. Recycling
preserves existing landfill space.
 Prevents Global Warming
 Reduces Water Pollution -Making goods from recycled materials generates far less
water pollution than manufacturing from virgin materials.
 Creates New Demand -Recycling and buying recycled products creates demand for
more recycled products, decreasing waste and helping our economy

2.11.2 Process of Recycling:

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The process followed is as under:

Manual separation of glass & large ferrous

Shredding of the remaining items

Magnetic separation for iron/steel

Eddy current separation for aluminum

Manual separation of copper and other mix

Re-shredding of mix particles

Segregation of Printed Circuit Boards,

CRT separation

Disposal of heavy hazardous substances

Recovery of precious metals by the renowned refinery

Sale of recovered commodities to respective smelting companies

Fig 2.4: Recycling process

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The recycle and recovery includes the following unit operations:-

(i) Dismantling:
Removal of parts containing dangerous substances (CFC, Hg switches,
PCB); removal of easily accessible parts containing valuable substances
(Cable containing copper, steel, iron, precious metal containing parts,
e.g.contacts) .

(ii) Segregation of ferrous metal, non-ferrous metal and plastic

This separation is normally done in a shredder process.

(iii) Refurbishment and reuse:

Refurbishment and reuse of e-waste has potential for those used electrical
and electronic equipments which can be easily refurbished to put to its
original use.

(iv) Recycling/recovery of valuable materials

Ferrous metals in electrical are furnaces, non-ferrous metals in smelting
plants, precious metals in separating works.

(v) Treatment/disposal of dangerous materials and waste

Shredder light fraction is disposed of in landfill sites or sometimes incinerated (expensive),
CFCs are treated thermally, PCB is incinerated or disposed of in underground storages, Hg is
often recycled or disposed off in underground landfill sites.

2.11.3 E-waste Recycling/Treatment technologies in India

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. E-waste movement from
formal to informal sector is driven by trade and can be tracked by trade value chain. This e-
waste trade value chain can be mapped based on material flow from formal sector to informal
sector. This chain was identified considering bottom-up approach with three levels of e-waste
generation hierarchy. The three levels of e-waste generation hierarchy give rise to three types
of stakeholders involved in e-waste trade as described below:-
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1. 1st Level – Preliminary e-waste Generators.
2. 2nd Level – Secondary e-waste Generators.
3. 3rd Level – Tertiary e-waste Generators.

The input to “Preliminary e-waste Generator” comes from formal organized

market like manufacturers, importers, offices and organized markets, where e-waste from
domestic consumers comes either in exchange schemes or as a
discarded item. Therefore, the major stakeholders are scrap dealers/ dismantlers who purchase
e-waste from the first level in bulk quantities.

These stakeholders have limited capacity of dismantling and are involved in trading of e-waste
with “Secondary e-waste Generators”. The market between first and second level is semi
formal i.e. part formal, while the market between second and third level is completely informal.
Stakeholders falling under “Secondary e-waste Generators” have limited financial capacity and
are involved in item/ component wise dismantling process and segregation ex. dismantling of
CRT, PCB, plastic and glass from e-waste.

‘Tertiary Level Stakeholders” are the major stakeholders between second and third level and
are metal extractors, plastic extractors and electronic item extractors. They use extraction
process, which are hazardous in nature. The characteristics of emissions from e-waste treatment
in semi formal and informal sector in India are as follows:
1. Generation of mixed e-waste fractions along with hazardous waste after dismantling.
2. Generation of effluents during metal extraction ex. Acid bath process for copper extraction
from printed circuit board.
3. Air emissions due to burning of printed circuit board.
4. Inefficient secondary raw material generation.

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.

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2.11.4 Recycling, Reuse and Recovery Options:

The composition of e-waste consists of diverse items like ferrous and non ferrous metals, glass,
plastic, electronic components and other items and it is also revealed that e-waste consists of
hazardous elements (M. Streicher Porte23et al.,2005). 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.
The value of recovery from the elements would be much higher if appropriate technologies
are used.

The salient features of this operation are given below.

1. The integrated operations are based on two major processes, which are precious metal
operations (PMO) involving recovery of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium
and ruthenium and base metal operations (BMO) involving recovery of Pb, Cu, Ni, Sb, Sn, Bi,
Se, In, Te.
2. The processes are based on complex lead/ copper/ nickel metallurgy, using these base metals
as collectors for precious metals and special metals, such as Sb, Bi, Sn, Se, Te, In.

2.12 PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM OF AN INTEGRATED FACILITY:

Fig 2.5: Recycling of electronic scrap at Umicore’s integrated metals smelter and refinery

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 3. At first at the sampling facility, circuit boards and other E-waste residues after second
level of treatment are prepared for smelting by sampling and assaying for precious
metal content.
4. The PMO include smelter, copper leaching & electro winning plant and precious metals
refinery. The smelter furnace uses submerged lance combustion technology as shown
in figure given below. The technology involves injection of oxygen rich air and fuel in
a molten bath and addition of coke as a reducing agent for the metals. Plastics or other
organic substances that are contained in the input feed partially substitute the coke and
fuel as energy source. The smelter separates precious metals in copper bullion from all
other metals concentrated in a lead slag.
5. After leaching out copper in leaching and copper electro winning plant, the precious
metals are collected in a residue that is further refined at a precious metal in-house
refinery
6. The BMO include lead recovery from lead slag obtained from PMO. The main steps in
BMO are the lead blast furnace, lead refinery and special metal plants.
7. The lead blast furnace reduces the oxidized lead slag from the smelter together with
other high lead containing raw materials and transforms them into impure lead bullion,
nickel specs, copper matte and deleted slag.
8. The impure lead bullion, collecting most of the non-precious metals is treated in lead
refinery. The lead refinery leads to production of lead and sodium antimonite and
special metals residues. These residues are further refined into special metals refinery
to produce indium, selenium and tellurium

Smelting and Electro winning during PMO in an integrated plant:

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Fig 2.6: Recycling of electronic scrap at Umicore’s integrated metals smelter and refinery

9. Bismuth and tin intermediates and nickel specs are sent to other locations for their recovery.
Copper matte is fed into blast furnace used in PMO.

10. The by-products from the integrated facility include sulphuric acid, gas, waste water and
slag from lead blast furnace. Sulphuric acid is further used, while, waste water, gas are cleaned
before discharge while slag is physically calibrated for usage in concrete industry or as dyke
fortification substance.

11. Air is cleaned using bag house filter, electrofilters and scrubbers before discharging into
stack. SOx and NOx are continuously monitored at stack, while diffuse emissions are from
stockyards and roads are controlled by intensive sprinkling. Other measures to control air
pollution include dust free emptying of shipped drums/ big bags, dust free sampling procedures,
storage of critical materials in containers inside a warehouse, emptying of the containers under
aspiration and transport in covered belt system.

12. Water pollution is controlled by using waste water treatment plant where acids are
neutralized while metals, sulphates and fluorine are removed by physico-chemical processes.
Some of the major parameters in addition to basic water quality parameters, which are
monitored, are lead, zinc, copper, nitrates and nitrites and sulphates.

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2.13 RECOMMENDED ACTION AGAINST E-WASTE:

Rapid product obsolescence in the electronic industry has created a waste crisis that is out of
control. The answer to the looming e-waste crisis lies not in finding new downstream hiding
places for this waste; it lies not in exporting it to the desperately poor, but in moving upstream
to prevent the problem at its manufacturing source (Mike Allen22et al.,2004). Today it is
frequently cheaper and more convenient to buy a new machine to accommodate the latest
software and hardware technology and their increasing demands for more speed, memory, and
power, than it is to upgrade the old. Yet, this ‘trash’ and buy’ cycle comes with a monumental
price that we are just beginning to pay. We need to change the dominant paradigm that has
prevailed over the past three decades. The lust for faster, smaller and cheaper must be governed
by a new paradigm of sustainability that demands that our products are cleaner, long-lived,
upgradeable, and recyclable. It is time to strengthen the call for sustainable production,
environmental justice, and corporate and government accountability in order to achieve these
goals. Given here are a few recommendations for the action that needs to be taken.

1 Ban hazardous waste imports: All imports of hazardous waste materials, including
hazardous e-waste must be banned. This is consistent with the Basel Ban Amendment decision
by the Basel Convention to ban all trade of hazardous wastes from OECD to non-OECD
countries. There is no reason for the poor of the world to bear the burden of environmental risk,
particularly when they have not benefited from the products and services that created that risk
in the 1st place.

2 Make the producer responsible:

Producers must be responsible for their products. The principle of ‘Extended Producer
Responsibility’ (EPR) requires accountability on producers over the entire life-cycle of their
products. So far, manufacturers have passed on these costs to the consumers, and now to
developing countries where the products eventually land up for recycling (Giles Slade17,2007).
By adopting EPR, producers will play their part in conserving resources through changes in
product design and process technology. Making producers financially responsible for end-of-
life waste will provide them with a financial incentive to design their products with less
hazardous and more recyclable materials. An effective example of EPR is product take-back
where a producer takes the product back at the end of its life. However, it must be borne in
mind that product take-back needs to go hand-in-hand with mandatory legislation to phase out

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e-waste. Take-back for e-waste is necessary to place the burden of a product’s environmental
impact clearly back into the hands of those who design it in orders to provide immediate
incentive for improvement.

3 Inform the consumer:

Manufacturers of computer monitors, televisions and other electronic devices containing

hazardous materials must be responsible for educating consumers and the general public
regarding the potential threat to public health and the environment posed by their products and
for raising awareness for the proper waste management protocols.

4 Design for recycling:

When it finally becomes necessary to decommission an electronic device, the device must be
designed to ensure clear, safe, and efficient mechanisms for recovering its raw materials. Input
materials must be suitable for safe reconstitution and recycling and there must be a pre-
identifiable recycling market and mechanism established for the input material. Equipment
components must be properly labeled to identify plastic and metal types. Warnings must be
placed for any possible hazard in dismantling or recycling and the product must be made for
rapid and easy dismantling or reduction to a usable form.

2.13.1 The government’s responsibilities

 e-waste policy and legislation

 Encourage organised system recycling
 Collecting fee from manufacturers/consumers for the disposal of toxic materials
 Should subsidise recycling and disposal industries
 Incentive schemes for garbage collectors and general public for collecting and handing
over e-waste
 Awareness programme on e-waste for school children and general public

2.14 SOME INTERNATIONAL RESPONSES TO E-WASTE:

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  United States: In September 2003, California passed the “Electronic Waste Recycling
Act of 2003” (SB20), USA’s first comprehensive electronics recycling law,
establishing a funding system for the collection and recycling of certain electronic
wastes.

 European Union: On January 27, 2003, the EU parliament passed a directive that
requires producers of electronics to take responsibility, financial and otherwise, for
recovery and recycling of E-Waste.

 Japan: Since April 2001, manufacturers have had to recycle appliances, televisions,
refrigerators, and air conditioners. Under a new law, manufacturers would charge a
recycling fee to consumers.

 OECD: The OECD has developed international guidelines on the “environmentally

sound management” (ESM) of used and scrap personal computers.
 China: The Standing Committee of the 9th NPC promulgated a law in 2002, requiring
compulsory retrieval of used industrial products.
 Netherlands: In 1998, passed, “The Disposal of White and Brown Goods Decree”. It
requires manufacturers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment sold in the
country to take back their end-of-life products.

2.15. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW:

Electronic waste or e-waste are the electronic products/ equipments connected with
power plug or batteries which have become obsolete due to advancement in technology or due
to the nearing of the end of their useful life. According to the gadgets they can be classified
into computer peripherals, telecommunication devices, industrial electronics and lighting
devices. They satisfy all the conditions of being hazardous as per the standards of the
Hazardous Waste Management and Handling Rules, 2003 as they contain various toxic metals
such as lead, barium, arsenic, etc. which are not only harmful to the human health but also to
the environment if not disposed of carefully.
Every year around 20 to 50 million tons of e-waste is generated worldwide with the share of
developed countries like U.S.A being the highest. This is often sent to developing countries for

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recycling and refurbishment where the labor is relatively cheap and can be simply landfilled.
Developing Asian countries discard an estimated 12 million tones of e-waste of the total 20-50
million tones discarded annually worldwide. In India, Maharashtra ranks first in total e-waste
generation which is followed by states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, etc. Around 20,000
tones of e-waste is generated in Maharashtra with the share of Greater Mumbai and Pune region
being the highest owing to the presence of large number of Info Tech Parks.In India there are
no special environmental laws or Guidelines for e-waste. Since e-waste and its constituents fall
under the category of “ hazardous” and “ non-hazardous” wastes they shall be covered under
the provisions of “ The Hazardous Waste Management and Handling Rules, 2003” . The
respective definitions, their meaning and interpretations under the rule have been explained in
the rule stated. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is the most comprehensive global environmental
agreement on hazardous and other wastes. It was designed to reduce the movements of
hazardous wastes between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from
developed to Less Developed Countries (LDCs).
After the 1995 Basel conference by LDCs, Greenpeace and key European countries such as
Denmark, led to a decision to adopt the Basel Ban Amendment to the Basel Convention. Not
yet in force, but considered morally binding by signatories, the Amendment prohibits the export
of hazardous waste from a list of developed (mostlyOECD) countries to developing countries.
Various disposal methods such as incineration, openburning and landfilling and
environmentally friendly method such as recycling is adopted to reduce e-wastes. Lanfilling,
which is the most common method adopted has the major disadvantage of causing leaching.
To understand the leaching mechanism and to evaluate the potential hazards of various
components in landfills dynamic leaching test is done. Recycling method is better as compared
to disposal because it requires far less energy and is good for the economy. The process of
recycling includes dismantling, segregation of metals, refurbishment and reuse, recovery of
valuable materials and finally treatment / disposal of dangerous materials and wastes.
Recommended actions to be taken for reducing the hazards of e-waste are to ban the hazardous
wastes imports, make the producer responsible, inform the consumer and design the materials
for recycling. As rapid product obsolescence in the electronic industry has created a waste crisis
that is going out of control actions are to be taken both by the government and the producer of
e-wastes so as to reduce the hazards posed by them.

CHAPTER 3
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 CASE STUDY

3.1 INTRODUCTION:

E-waste is generated from Indian households, computer retailers, manufacturers, foreign

embassies, government, public and private sectors with the share of the IT industry being the
highest. India’s rate of PC obsolescence is growing dangerously.
As up gradation beyond a point becomes uneconomical and incompatible with new software,
a vast amount of hardware will soon be added to the waste stream. Further, as most owners of
these technologies are from the government, public or private sectors, they prefer replacing an
old computer with a new one, rather than upgrading it. Even in the secondary market the older
models have little demand. Owing to the narrowing profit margins between resale and
dismantling, the sale of these computers to the scrap market for material recovery is rising.
Various departments of the government, public as well as private sectors are feeding old
electronic appliances such as computers, telephones, etc, into the waste stream, at an
increasingly fast rate.
Other sources of e-waste are retailers, individual households, foreign embassies, PC
manufacturing units, players of the secondary market, and imported electronic scrap from other
countries. Individual households contribute the least to this, being only 20 per cent of the
overall market.

Eco Recycling limited, started in September 2007, is a pioneer in the field of e-waste
management in India and one of the few organised players in this sector. Ecoreco has an eco-
friendly recycling facility for the segregation of metals, glass and plastics without the use of
incineration or chemical methods. Disposal of hazardous substances is undertaken with the
help of designated treatment facilities.

Ecoreco has its recycling facility located in Andheri (East), a suburb of Mumbai, India. It has
an annual capacity to process 7200 tons of e-waste. The entire process is carried out as per
strict environmental norms.

3.2 METHODOLOGY:

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Ecoreco provides the full spectrum of activities covered under e-waste management –
collection of e-waste from the door step of the generators, sorting them into working/non-
working equipments/components, data security, remarketing of reusable
equipments/components, dismantling of end of life equipments, size reduction, sorting in to
different commodities like glass, plastic, iron/steel, aluminium, copper and hazardous material.

CHART 1 – APPROACH

Fig 3.1: Approach

CHART 2 – REUSE, RECYCLING AND RECOVERY PROCESS

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Fig 3.2: Reuse, Recycling and Recovery Process

CHART 3 – SEGREGATION OF PLASTICS

Fig 3.3: Segregation of Plastics

CHART 4 – CRT TREATMENT

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 Fig 3.4: CRT Treatment

3.2.1 E-WASTE RECYCLING AT ECORECO – ACTIVITY FLOW CHART

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Recycling activities at Ecoreco commences with the receipt of e-waste material from various
clients' locations. The material is initially weighed, and is separated product-wise (monitors,
CPUs, printers, keyboards, etc.) for easy retrieval. The material is then checked by qualified
technicians to ascertain whether the equipments are working or non-working. If the equipment
is in working/ near-working condition, then the technicians attempt to repair upgrade the
components to ensure that they become re-marketable and can be resold. The following
flowchart explains the broad flow of activities at Ecoreco:

Shipment of e-waste
from Client’s Locations

Receipt of Material at
Facility

Segregation of Material into Working/

Non- Working Equipments

Dismantling of non-
Repairing
working components

Upgrading Component
Recovery

Testing
Captive Use Residual Disposal

Refurbishing

Packing
Precious Metal Scrap
Recovery

Sale Environment Friendly

Disposal

Fig 3.5: Activity Flow chart

source: Ecoreco brochure

If the equipments are not in working condition, attempts are made to recycle the e-waste
material. Accordingly, the technicians dismantle the equipment into components and try to
retrieve any working parts thereof. The residual components are then passed on for shredding.
The shredder, which is capable of accepting feed of around 1,500 kgs per hour, helps to “open
up” sealed components, separating metals from plastic. The shredder accepts manually
dismantled components through a hopper at one end, passes the feed through the shredding
chamber and the shredded items are dropped onto a moving conveyor belt.
An inbuilt overhead magnetic band ensures automatic separation of ferrous component from
the feed, whereas employees, wearing appropriate safety equipment such as gloves and

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helmets, stand by to physically separate other metals such as aluminium and copper from the
moving conveyor belt. All plastic components are deposited at the end of the conveyor belt.
These metals (aluminium, steel, copper) and plastics which are of high purity in nature are then
usually sold to smelters. Certain components of the computer such as printed circuit boards
(PCBs) contain precious metals such as gold, silver, etc. These PCBs are not sent for shredding
and are instead accumulated, and would be shipped to specialist precious metal extraction
refineries. That portion of e-waste which contains hazardous elements is sent to authorised
hazardous waste treatment and disposal facilities for final disposal.
3.3 REMARKETING:
Out of the discarded equipments, some of it can still be used after refurbishment and up-
gradation at different levels of business and society. For assured supply of e-waste, Ecoreco
has entered into sourcing agreements with various companies of validities up to 3 years. Given
that a large part of the business involves e-waste collection from multiple locations, Ecoreco
has tied up with one of the leading domestic logistics players having nation-wide presence to
enable both operational and financial efficiency in collection. Through this tie-up, Ecoreco is
able to offer e-waste collection from over 600 locations in India.
3.4 DATA SECURITY:
Data security / data-leakage are threats that many organisations fear while discarding
computers to external recyclers. To address these concerns, Ecoreco has a first-of-its-kind-in-
India mobile shredding van which it deploy to clients’ locations to ensure 100% secured data
destruction from hard-disks and other devices that contain information.
3.5 ECORECOS’S ASSOSCIATIONS
Ecoreco is a member of the International Association of Electronic Recyclers (IAER), USA,
probably the only such unit from India to claim these credentials. Ecoreco is also a member of
other prestigious industry bodies within the sector such as Manufacturers Association for
Information Technology (“MAIT”) and ELCINA Electronic Industries Association of India.
Ecoreco is also the only Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (“MPCB”) recognised e-waste
recycler in Maharashtra. Recently Ecoreco has been declared Winner of the Business Plan 2008
by CII/NVI/WRI/USAID & British Consulate. Ecoreco has also been awarded certificate of
“Most Innovative Technology” by Municipalika 2009.

CHAPTER 4
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 ANALYSIS

In the third chapter titled “CASE STUDY” we have discussed the step by step method adopted
at Ecoreco for recycling of e-waste which is received from all over India.

The approximate quantities and the types of e-waste received from each state is tabulated in
table 4.1

Table No. 4.1: Quantities of e-waste sent to Ecoreco from each state

State Quantity (tones) sent to Type of e-waste

Ecoreco annually
West Bengal 700 Printed Circuit Boards
(PCBs), motherboards
Delhi 1200 old computers, television,
refrigerators and washing
machines
Maharashtra 1800 Electric, Electronic tools,
Computers with CPU,
monitor, other peripherals

Chennai 800 PC monitors, PCBs, CDs,

motherboards, cables, toner
cartridges, light bulbs and
tube-lights
Andhra Pradesh 1200 printed circuit boards (PCBs)

Bangalore 1500 printed circuit boards (PCBs)

and glass items such as tube
lights and picture tubes

Source: Ecoreco

CHAPTER 5
RESULT
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In the previous chapter we have seen the state wise quantities of e-waste received at Ecoreco
for recycling. Hence after the study conducted and analysing the data, the following are the
results:

1. Recycling is the most environmentally tolerable method as compared to the other e-

waste disposal methods like incineration, open burning and land filling.
2. There is only one e-waste recycling facility in Maharashtra and very few in India
as a whole. E- Parisaraa being one of the pioneering projects in Bangalore.
3. Major portion of the e-waste generated in the country is not recycled or disposed off in
a proper, only a part of it is sent to authorised facilities for the disposal.

CHAPTER 6

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

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The conclusions that can be drawn after conducting the study and analysing the results as
described in 5th chapter are as follows:

Awareness about e-waste was created: This was achieved by giving a presentation in college
and making the youth aware of hazards of not disposing e-waste in a proper manner. Pamphlets
which had the various health hazards related to improper handling of e-waste were circulated
among the audience to enlighten them about the detrimental effects of the same. At the
recycling facility visited (Ecoreco), we spoke to the workers and told them the importance of
exercising precaution while dealing with e-waste.

Health hazards of e-waste: Electrical and electronic equipments are made of hundreds of
materials which can be toxic to the humans when they enter the body. At times it can also be
fatal.

Quantities of e-waste generated were found out: After interacting with MPCB (Maharashtra
Pollution Control Board) and CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) authorities we have
come to the conclusion that Maharashtra ranked first in e-waste generation followed closely by
Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi.

Disposal methods being adopted: Among the three common methods of disposal, namely land
filling, open burning and incineration, open burning is widely practised although illegal.

Recycle and Reuse of products: Although recycling and/or reusing the e-waste is the best and
environmentally friendly way to reduce e-waste generation, people prefer to go in for new
products rather than upgrade and use the old electronic product.

FUTURE WORK

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Every day, Indians toss out more than 350,000 cell phones and 130,000 computers, making
electronic waste the fastest-growing part of the Indian garbage stream. E-waste is a fast
emerging problem faced not only by India but also globally. the topic of e-waste is waste and
varied and there is a lot of scope to understand and deal with this topic in a better manner.

Various processes like pyrometallurgical process, hydrometallurgical process, bio-

metallurgical process and wet acid leeching process which is used to extract gold and other
metals from the e-waste can be studied in detail.

Cost involved in setting up of an e-waste recycling plant can be studied. Also the operating
cost, maintenance cost and profits gained once the plant is set up can be worked out.

Nanotechnology which is the study of the control of matter on an atomic and molecular scale
is an interesting topic and its application in recycling of e-waste can be researched.

The methods of recycling and disposal adopted in India can be compared to the methods
adopted in developed countries. This comparative study will make us aware of the
technological differences that exist in our country.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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1. Anne E. Maczulak, (August 30, 2009), “Waste Treatment: Reducing Global Waste”,
Green Technology, pages 95-108.

2. Amalendu Baqchi, (February 13, 2004), “Design of Landfills and Integrated Solid
Waste Management”, Wiley, pages 146-157.

3. Carl A. Zimring, (October 5, 2005), “Cash for your trash: Scrap Recycling in
America”, Rutgus University Press, pages 111-119.

4. Cynthia A. Bily, (September 19, 2008), “What is the impact of E-waste?”, Greenhaven
Press, pages 81-100.

5. Daniel A. Vallero, (December 2007), “Engineering the Risks of Hazardous Wastes”,

Butterworth-Heinemann, pages 45-80.

6. David Naquib Pellow, (September 30, 2007), “Resisting Global Toxics: Transnational
Movements for Environmental Justice” The MIT Press, pages 15-16.

7. Denice Di Ramio, (July 1, 2008), “A Second life for IT assets: the secondary market
reduces e-waste, increases the useful life of equipment and stretches budgets”,
Communication News, Volume 45, Issue 7, page 36.

8. David Hollansky, (June 1, 2004), “Buried in E-waste: electronic waste is often

becoming a landfill nightmare” , State Legislatures(Magazine/ Journal), Volume 30,
Issue 6, page 20.

9. Dr. Hassan Ahmed, (March 6, 2009), “Economic Impact from Banning Hazardous E-
waste Exports in the U.S” , VDM Verlag, pages 19-23.

10. Edward A. Mc Bean, (November 10, 1994), “Solid Waste Landfill Engineering and
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Toxics and Human Health, Shear Water, pages 67-99.

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12. E. Pehlivan, (April 15, 2008), “Journal of Hazardous Waste Materials”, Elsevier,
pages 177-179.

13. Elizabeth Rayte, (August 29, 2006), “Garbage land: On the secret trail of Trash” ,
Back Bay Books, page 144-146.

14. Frank Ackerman, (December 1, 1996), “Why do we recycle? Markets, Values and
Public policy” , Island Press, pages 89-92.

15. Frank Kreight, (June 22, 2002), “Handbook of Solid Waste Management” , McGraw-
Hill Proffessional, pages 129-140.

16. Gale,(June 1, 2007), “ E-waste Legislations: Passed, introduced and being discussed”
, In Compliance (Newsletter), pages 4-5.

17. Giles Slade, (October 30, 2007), “Made to break: Technology and Obsolescence” ,
Harvard University Press, pages 57-60.

18. Herbert Lund, (August 16, 2000), “McGraw Hill Recycling Handbook” , McGraw Hill
Professional, pages 105-109.

19. Jae-Min-Yoo, (March 2008), “Technology for Use”, Greenpeace, page 54-58.

20. James E. Kilduff, (June 26, 2000), “Hazardous and Industrial Waste Proceedings”,
CRC, pages 133-137.

21. Mackenzie, (2005), “Environmental Engineering: Disposal of Hazardous Wastes”,

Elsevier, page 304-309.

22. Mike Allen, (October 25, 2004), “Recycling Companies turn attention to E-waste”, San
Deigo Bussiness Journal (Magazine/ Journal), Volume 38, Issue 2, page 34.
23. M. Streicher Porte, (2009), “Environmental Impact Assessment and Review” , Elsevier,
page 66-71.

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 24. Paul T. William, (March 11, 2005), “Waste Treatment and Disposal”, Butterworth
Heineman, page 124-130.

25. Ronald E. Hester, (January 27, 2009), “Electronic waste management: Design,
Analysis and Application”, Royal Society of Chemistry, pages 56-80.

26. R. Widmen, (2008), “Global Perspectives on E-waste”, Environmental Impact

Assessment and Review, Elsevier, pages 118-126.

27. Rakesh Joshi, (January 30, 2009), “E-waste: Implications, Regulations and
Management in India and Current Global Best Practices”, TERI, pages 79-90.

28. R. E. Hester, (December 31, 1994), “Waste Incineration and the Environment” , Royal
Society of Chemistry, pages 39-56.

29. Ted Smith, (June 28, 2006), “Challenging the Chip: Labor Rights and Environmental
Justice in the Global Electronics Industry”, Temple University Press, page 56-78.

30. Vishakha Munshi, (June 30, 2007), “E-waste: Managing the Digital Dumpyard”, Icfai
University Press, page 79-88.

PLATES

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Fig: Manual dismantling of e-waste
Source: Reuters

E-waste from IT sector

Source: www.greenpeace.com

DISPOSAL METHODS OF E-WASTE

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 Incinerating Plant Landfilling site near dharavi
Source: india.ewasteguide.info/hazardous_processes Source:
india.ewasteguide.info/hazardous_processes

Open burning of e-waste

Source india.ewasteguide.info/hazardous_processes
PRECISOUS METAL RECOVERY FROM E-WASTE

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 Gold Extraction in India in wet acid leaching process
Source: india.ewasteguide.info/hazardous_processes

REUSE OF E-WASTE

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 monitor used as a drop box emptied CPU used as bird house

Monitor being reused as plantation pots

Source: E-Parisaraa

EQUIPMENTS USED AT ECORECO

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Shredding machine used to shred the received e-waste
Source: Ecoreco

Mobile shredding van

Source: Ecoreco

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