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CS0248

E-WASTE - WHITE INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION

1.

Ms.J. NAGA LAKSHMI

.Ms. B. SUVARCHALA

Abstract:
The worlds Largest and fastest growing manufacturing industry is Electronic and information Technology industry. The growth rate of innovations in the electronic industry leads to rapid "Product Obsolence".Mountains of electronic waste (e-waste) such as discarded parts of computers ,T.Vs, mobiles, CD's, Floppies, copiers and other consumer electronic products are quietly creating new environment problems in the world. The quantity of e-waste generation in the world especially in developed countries at a rate of 3 - 5% per year almost three times of their Municipal Solid Waste. The average life span of a personal computer has shrunk from 4-5 years to less than 2 years. The fruits of I.T revolutions are poisonous if the abnormal discarded e-wastes are not properly disposed at the end of there life period. The various methods of e-waste disposal such as landfill, incineration and cause leaching of heavy metals into ground water and air pollution respectively.

Keywords: Product Obsolence, e-waste

Conclusion: Due to toxic nature of any metals that associated with manufacturing of electronics goods and hazardous waste generated at the end of their use, the E-waste management plays vital role in preserving our natural resource and protecting environmental quality and health of public from hazardous e-waste. For effective implementation of E-waste management and planning implementation of e-policy, Government, Policy makers, Public , Scientists, Academicians, industrialists should understand the material utilization in production process their toxicity and potential harmful effects on human health , quantity of e-waste generation composition and their impact on quality of environment including sources system.

1.III/IV I.T
naga_juturu@yahoo.com

2.III/IV I.T
suvarchala.bh@gmail.com

Vaagdevi Institute of Technology & Science

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INTRODUCTION Industrial revolution followed by the advances in the information technology has radically changed normal life of human beings in 20th century civilization. Computers have become instruments of growth and development of any nation. Information technology revolution has made the electronic industry the worlds largest and fastest growing manufacturing industry. But the speed of innovation of new generation of computers and other electronic equipments is also leading to rapid product obsolescence Growth of electronic industry combined with product obsolescence. Discarded Electronic waste (Ewaste) is now fastest growing waste stream in the industrialized world. Todays computer industry innovates very rapidly bring new technologies and upgrades too, on the average of every 18 months. The average life span of a personal computer has shrunk from four to five years to two years and by 2008, two computer are expected to be discarded for every new one put in the mark. The growing quantity of e-waste is beginning to reach disastrous proportions and industrialized countries all over the world are just now beginning to grapple with the problem. The fruits of our high-tech revolution are pure poison if these products are improperly disposed off at the end of their useful life. After initially turning a blind eye to the problem, all Governments have been forced to respond as e-waste begins to seriously inundate solid waste disposal facilities and programs. TYPES OF E WASTES E-waste is old, obsolete, unwanted and end-of-life electronic discards. Waste encompasses a broad and growing range of electronic devices ranging form large house hold appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioner, cellular phones, personal stereos, Television, Photocopier, Fax machines, VCPs and consumer electronics to computers.

Mountainous E-waste TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF E WASTE Ewaste has become a problem of crises proportions because of two primary characteristics i ) E-waste is hazardous Computer equipment contains hazardous materials that have the potential to adversely impact the environment upon entering the waste stream. E waste contains over 1,000 different toxic substances, many of which are toxic and creates serious pollution and legal problem upon disposal. When computer waste is land filled or incinerated, it poses significant contamination problems. Landfills leach toxics into ground water and incineration emit toxic air pollutants including dioxins. In addition to the above, recycling of e waste has serious occupational deceases and Environmental implications. ii ) E Waste is generated at alarming rates The fundamental dynamism of computer manufacturing that has transformed life in the second half of the 20th century especially the speed of innovation also leads to rapid product obsolence. Due to the extreme rates of obsolescence, E Waste produces much high volume of wastes in comparison of other consumer goods. The average computer platform has a life span of less than two years and hardware & Software companies, especially Intel and Microsoft constantly generates new programme that fuel the more speed and memory power, which leads to product obsolence. At present consumers take broken electronic gadgets to a repair shop, as replacement is now often easier and cheaper than repair. It is cheaper and more convenient to buy a new gadget, which
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accommodates upgrade version of technology. Americans are buying more computer than people in any other nation. Currently over 50% of US household has own computers and these becoming obsolete for every new one put on the market. QUANTITY AND COMPOSITION OF E- WASTE United Nations environment programme (UNEP) estimates that 20-50 million tones of e-waste are discarded worldwide every year. On average 4,000 tones per hour. E-waste is generating. According to Silicon Valley toxics (7), U.S predicted that 500 million computers will become obsolete between 1997 to 2007 resulting in 3 billion Kg of plastic, 0.7 billion Kg of lead, 1.36 billion Kg of Cadmium, 0.86 billion Kg of Chromium, 2.9 lakh kg of mercury. The European studies estimate that volume of electronic waste is rising by 3 to 5% per year almost three times faster than the municipal waste stream. The media industry is storing information with picture in compact disks and digital video compact disks (VCDs) to playback for millions of consumer and business around the world. According to world watch institute, more than 45 tons of CDs are discarded globally every month, which contributes hazardous waste and pollution. To make the matter worse, solid waste agencies and recyclers are anticipating a major increase in the volume of computers, Cell phones and T.V monitors discarded in the next 5 years, as the cathode Ray tube (CRT) monitors currently in use will be replaced by smaller and more desirable Liquid crystal display (LCD) screens, this could mean massive dumping of CRT monitors at an ever high rate and also development of advanced model such as plasma TV and rear projection of TV. European studies estimates that the volume of e-waste is increasing by 3-5% per year, which is almost three times faster than the municipal waste stream. To day the electronic waste likely comprises more than 5% of all MSW that is more than disposable diapers and beverage containers and about the same amount as all plastic packaging. Britan approximately 1 Million tones of e-waste is produced each year. It is expected to double by 2010. While goods contribute 43% to this garbage. While IT is the next largest components of 39%. Consumer Electronics are next on the list 8%, with will increase sharply as people switch first to digital, then to flat screen sets. E-waste contains hazardous toxic substances that have the potential to adversely impact the environment upon entering into waste stream. Composition of e-waste is given table 1. Table 1 :COMPOSITION OF PERSONAL DESK TOP COMPUTER (based on a typical DTC weighing 35 kg) :
Sl No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Name Plastics Lead Aluminum Germanium Gallium Iron Tin Content Recycling Efficiency Use/ Location (% by Total (Current Recyclabilty) weight) 22.9907 20 % Include organics, oxides other than silica 6.2988 5% Metal joining, radiation shield/CRT, PWB, 14.1723 80 % Structural, conductivity housing, CRT, PWB, connectors 0.0016 0% Semiconductor/ PWB 0.0013 0% Semiconductor/PWB 20.4712 80 % Structural, magnanimity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB 1.0078 70 % Metal joining/PWB, connectors

In the world, 2 in every 5 is a mobile telephones user up from 1 in every 12 during 2000 (MAIT, 2004). Forecasts shows that the number of mobile phone in Asia would double to nearly 800 million by 2007. The material composition of a mobile phase is given Table 2 TABLE 2 : MATERIAL COMPOSITION OF A MOBILE PHONE Component ABS-PC Ceramics Weight Percentage 29% 16%
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Cu and Compounds

15%

About 1 billion T.V Sets used in Asia during 90s might have shorted to enter the waste stream already. It is projected that the advanced model such as plasma TV and rear projection TV will be affordable to Asia middle class in the next few years. It will further increase the number of TV sets entering into the waste stream in the next 5 years. The composition of a TV set is given Table 3. TABLE 3 : MATERIAL COMPOSITION OF A TV Product substances Weight (Kg) % of Product weight Steel 3.9 10.70 Copper 1.06 2.88 Aluminum 0.16 0.44 SOURCES OF E-WASTE Electronic waste is generated by three major sectors in the United States. Individual and Small business companies. Large business, institutions and governments Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) Large corporations, institutions and Government Large users, upgrade employee computers regularly, for example Microsoft with over 50,000 employees worked wide replaces each computer about every three years. By law it is illegal for these large users to dispose of computers via landfill and thus this E-waste goes to the re-use / recycling / export market. Some large companies lease the computers form leasing companies, who take back working and non-working computers at the end of contract period, Leasing companies take out hundred or thousands of computers at a time and in turn resell them to agents in the reuse/markets. The volume of leased computers is huge in comparison to sales of new computers to corporations Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) OEMs generate E-waste when units coming off the production line dont meet quality standards and must be disposed of some of the computer manufacturers contract with recycling crime companies to handle their electronic waste, which often is exported.IBM has started its own recycling program in New York E-waste contains hazardous toxic substances that have the potential to adversely impact the environment upon entering the waste stream. The list of e-toxic components and their courses are given in following table. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF E-WASTE E-waste often ends up in the landfills or incinerators. Toxic substances like cadmium, mercury and lead that are commonly used in electronic products can contaminate the land, water and air. For example the cadmium from one mobile phone battery is enough to pollute 6, lakhs litres of water (BBC, 2002). Batteries from forecasted 800 million mobile phone in Asia could pollute nearly 4,800 trillion litres of water by 2007 if disposed improperly.
Incineration of e-waste can emit toxic fumes and gases such as doxine, thereby polluting the surrounding air. The most dangerous form of burning e-waste is the open burning of plastics in order to recover copper and other metals. The toxic fall-out from open air burning affects both of the local environment and border global air currents, depositing highly toxic by products in many places through out the world. The toxics component generated from the e-waste and their impact an human health are given table. 4

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TABLE 4 : VARIOUS E-WASTE COMPONENTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH

E toxic Source components

Impact Lead cause damage to the central and peripheral nervous system blood system kidney and reproduction system inhuman. Effects on the endocrine system have been observed and its negative effects a childrens brain development. Lead accumulates in the environment and has high acute and chronic effects on plants animals and microorganisms. Harmful health effects of lead include: decreased growth hyper activity, impaired hearing and brain damage. Mercury can cause damage to various organs including the brain and kidneys as well as the fetus. Respiratory and skin disorder due to bioaccumulation of metals in aquatic organisms like fish, prawns etc.

Lead

Monitor cathode ray tube (CRTs) solder in printed circuit boards and other electronic components, computer batteries.

Switches and flat screen monitors, alkaline batteries and fluorescent lamps, printed circuit boards Mercury measuring equipments, thermo state sensors, mobile phones, and medical equipment. Impact of E-waste on natural resources The manufacturing of a desktop computer requires four times the amount of energy that it uses during its lifetime. The average desktop computer and monitor require 10 times their weight in fossil fuels and chemicals to manufacture. The total amount of fossil fuels required to make a desk top computer with a CRT monitor is 6400 mega joules of energy. Manufacturing computer chips is much more energy intensive than traditional products. The ratio of production inputs to the weight of the final products is 630 for an automobile or 4 to 5 for an aluminum can. Green house gas emissions The reuse of 1,045 tons of whole unit computer represent more than 1 trillion British Thermal units saved in one year and also prevent generation of 71,967 tons of CO2 emissions during incineration and open burning. Pollution and Toxins in the Solid Waste Stream The estimated 315 million computers destined for landfills, incinerators or hazardous waste exports in 2004 will generate up to : 0.5billion kgs of lead contained in computer monitors and soldering of printed circuit boards. million kgs of cadmium contained in chip resistors, infrared detectors and 1 semiconductors. 00 000 kgs of mercury contained in batteries, switches/housing, and printed circuit wiring 2 boards. Million kgs of hexavalent chromium used as a corrosion protection of untreated and 0.6 galvanized steel plates and as a decorative hardener for steel housing. 160million kgs of brominated flame retardants present in the monitors. billion kgs of plastic 2 Existing Disposal practice The value of obsolete electronic goods thrown out or temporarily stored for later disposal is already a serious problem that is escalating at a rapid rate. Currently, and unfortunately, that vast majority of Ewaste ends up in our landfills or incinerators. While there are efforts to divert e-waste from landfills via
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recycling electronics. Recycling is a misleading characterization of many disparate practices including de-manufacturing, dismantling, shredding, burning, exporting etc., that is mostly unregulated and often creates additional hazards itself. Recycling of hazardous wastes, even under the best of circumstances, has little environmental benefit-it simply moves the hazards into secondary products that eventually have to be disposed of. Unless the goal is to redesign the product to use non-hazardous materials, such recycling is false solution current market conditions and manufacturing methods and inputs discourage environmentally sound electronic recycling practices, so most E-waste that is currently being recycled is actually being exported, dismantled in prisons or shredded in processes (17) where there is some material recovery followed by the discard of the remaining materials. The existing disposal practices of e-waste are i) Land fill and incineration ii) Re use reduction and recycling iii) Storage. Landfill and incineration: The most common methods of managing Ewaste has been landfilling. Besides leaching of heavy metals into ground water, volatile component of mercury, dimethlyene mercury can be released. In addition, uncontrolled fires release toxic fumes including dioxine According to the US Environmental protection Agency (EPA) in 2000, more than 4.6 million tones of e-waste ended up in US landfills. In a new report for the EPA, analysts estimate that the amount of E-waste in US landfills will grow fourfold in the next few years. (1) It is thought that most households and small business that dispose rather than store their obsolete electronic components send their materials to land fills or incinerators rather than take them to recyclers. When e-waste are illegally disposed and crushed in landfills, toxic substances is released into the environment, posing a hazardous legacy for current and future generation. About 70% of the heavy metals (including mercury and cadmium) and 40% of lead found in landfills from electronic discards. These heavy metals and other hazardous substances found in electronics can contaminate ground water and pose other environmental and public health risk (16) Mercury will leach when certain electronic devices such as circuit breakers are destroyed. The same is true for PCBs from condensers. When brominates flame retarded plastic or cadmium containing plastics are land filled, both PBDE and the cadmium may leach into the soil and ground water. The introduction of e-waste into incinerators results in high concentration of metals including heavy metals in the slag, in the fly ash, the flue gas and in the filter cake in this connection, more than 90% of the cadmium put an incinerator is found with fly ash and more than 70% of the mercury in the filter cake. Re Use and Recycling Recycling of computer materials and components when properly implemented represents the safest and most effective strategy for addressing the problems posed by outdated computers. Recycling computer materials and components and removing and/or
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reducing and treating the hazardous components conserve resources, reduces environmental and public health threats and protects worker safety, while substantially reducing the high cost of permanently storing and disposing of hazardous wastes in permitted hazardous waste facilities. Computers, televisions and other e waste contain valuable materials and components that are technically recyclable. The problem is the lack of collection, incentives and recycling infrastructure as well as high cost of material collection, handling and processing. Thirty million computers are thrown out every year in the US alone and may are dumped in India and china. According to British Environment Agency, last year, E-waste from British, 10,00,000 old computers contained 500,000 television sets three million refrigerators, 1, 60,000 tones of other electrical equipment and million of discarded mobile phones, all sent to India, china and Pakistan. New Delhi is trading center for e waste-trading business. Dubai serves as center where scrap and wastes of all kinds from America, Europe and western Asians countries are collected and reported. Major buyers form Dubai includes china, Pakistan, and India. In USA, Post service has provided facility for all consumers and small business to safely and convientally disposal of E-waste at post offices. It offers service through its approximately 38, 000 retail locations, 300,000 collection boxes and 2, 90,000 letter carriers E- waste Recycling and Reuse practice in India India is faced with actute problem of E-waste disposal. Mountains of e-waste i.e., discarded parts of computers, mobile phones and other consumer electronics equipments are quietly creating new environmental problems in India. The end effect of electronic junk generated from obsolete computers and discarded electronic components are disastrous to our environment and people. In India, 270 medium and big scrap dealers in the country to handle the domestic and imported e-waste. More than 2000 small recyclers are involved in the recycling of e-wastes. Computer recycling involves employing people to strip down the computers and extract to be sold on the high street. Hundreds of recyclers of discarded computers and electronic components across India sell second hand parts to private computer assemblers. The rest is then burned or dumped both of which potentially high hazardous to the environment. The process of extraction of metals such as lead, gold, platinum etc., all kinds of chemicals like acids, which then get dumped into the soil and go into the ground water. Most of recyclers work with their bare hands and extract precious metals such as gold and silver using crude chemical processes. A health survey in Delhi revels that recyclers regularly suffered from complaints such as respiratory diseases and skin rashes. The environmental and occupational impacts of recovery of various components from e-waste is given table 5. Storage U.S Government researchers estimate that three quarters of all computers ever sold remain stockpiled in their garages, closets basements, pantries or storage spaces. The residual value old electronic equipment soon after production is 1 5% of the original cost of the equipment. (15). If the everyone disposed of these, the US would face a huge waste problems all at once.

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International efforts e waste Management: The majority of the world countries have recognized that the exports of hazardous materials including toxic e-scrap, to the developing world poses serious threats to public health and environment and have banned thus process. The Basel convention on the control of the trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal was adopted in 1989 and entered into force in 1992 and has been ratified by 159 countries including India. It was created to prevent the economically motivated dumpling of hazardous wastes from rich to poorer countries. The convention called for national self-sufficiency in hazardous waste management and the minimization of hazardous waste generation and trans-boundary movements of such wastes. European union has taken the lead on reducing e waste from electronic products by making producers responsible for taking back their products. The European union parliament recently approved two legislative mandates to manufacturers to cover the recycling and collection costs for their own take back programme by 2006 and to phase out use of hazardous substances in the production of electrical and electronics equipment by 2008. The objective of waste from electronic and electrical equipment (WEE) draft directive is to require manufacturers to improve the design of their products in order to avoid the generation of waste and to facilitate the recovery and disposal of electronic scrap. This can be achieved through the phase out of hazardous materials as well as the development of efficient systems of collection, reuse and recycling. Table 5. The environmental and occupational impacts recycling of E-wastes Computer/ ERecovery Potential Environmental waste Potential occupational Hazard material Hazard component Breaking, Silicosis cuts from CRT glass inLead, barium and other Cathode rayremoval ofcase of implosion Inhalation or heavy metals leaching into tubes (CRTs) copper yoke, and contact with phosphor containing ground water, release of dumping cadmium or other metals. toxic phosphor. De-soldering and Tin and lead inhalation, possible Air emission of same Printed circuit removing brominated dioxin beryllium, substances boards computer chips cadmium mercury inhalation