Amount of E-waste world-wide

• An estimated 50 million tons of E-waste are produced each year. The USA discards 30 million computers each year and 100 million phones are disposed of in Europe each year.

• The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only 15-20% of e-waste is recycled, the rest of these electronics go directly into landfills and incinerators.

• China already produces about 2.3 million tons (2010 estimate) domestically, second only to the United States.

• Life span of a computer changed from 4-6 years in 1997 to 2 years in 2005 and further decreasing .

• Average working life of a mobile phone is 7 years but worldwide the average consumer changes their mobile every 11 months.

• UN study has found that manufacturing a computer and its screen takes at least 240kg of fossil fuels, 22 kg of chemicals and 1.5 tonnes of water – more than the weight of a car.

• By 2017, the volume of discarded e-products worldwide is expected to be 33 per cent higher than in 2012 and weigh the equivalent of eight of the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

• Rapid changes in technology, changes in media falling prices, and planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast-growing surplus of electronic waste around the globe.

• A substantial proportion of e-waste exports go to countries outside Europe, including west African countries.

• Treatment in these countries usually occurs in the informal sector, causing significant environmental pollution and health risks for local populations.

E-Waste: Environmental and Health Hazards

Our electronic waste is filled with a veritable cocktail of toxic materials. Unfortunately

when this ewaste is not recycled and simply thrown out with the garbage, ultimately

ending up in landfill, it means both human health and the environment are at risk.

Discarded electronics contain hazardous materials like :Lead (Pb)Mercury (Hg)Hexavalent Chromium (Cr)PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride Plastics)Cadmium (Cd)Brominated Flame Retardants (Pb)

Lead•Lead accumulates in the environment and has high acute and chronic toxic effects on plants, animals and microorganisms.•Lead is known to cause damage to nervous systems, blood system and kidneys in humans.•Effects on the endocrine system have been observed, and serious negative effects on children's brain development are well documented.•Lead existing in land filled products has the potential to contaminate drinking water supplies.CadmiumCadmium is cancer causing to humans. Within environmental systems it rapidly degrades soil health causing flow on effects to local ecosystems; it is also released to the atmosphere if burnt.

The apparatus consists of the 10 × 10 cm printed circuit board mounted with SMD devices

.

Mercury•Mercury has a toxic affect on both human and environmental health. Negative effects on brain functioning and development have been attributed to mercury.• A small amount now exists in every household light-bulb (the new energy efficient CFLs), if these light-bulbs are crushed as part of the waste transfer process the elemental form of mercury is easily transferred into local environments. •Once in landfill and combined with organics, anaerobic breakdown takes place leading to the production of highly toxic methyl-mercury.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride Plastics)•The production and burning of PVC products generates dioxins and furans, which contribute to air pollution and respiratory ailments.•. Hazardous chemical additives (like phthalates) can leach when PVC components of electronic products are sent to landfill.

Brominated Flame RetardantsWhen e waste is oxidized during smelting, bromine will be released. The released bromine may then recombine with unoxidized carbon under certain conditions in smelter emissions in the form of Brominated dioxins and furans.•Research has concluded that exposure to these chemicals in early life could induce neurotoxic effects similar to those caused by other toxic substances such as some pesticides.•Exposure to Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs) are believed to cause an increased risk of cancer of the digestive and lymph systems.•PBBs are found in:

Printed circuit boardsComponents such as connectors, plastic covers and cablesPlastic covers of TV sets

E-WASTE MANAGEMENT

 It is estimated that 75% of electronic items are stored due to uncertainty of how to manage it. These electronic junks lie unattended in houses, offices, warehouses etc. and normally mixed with household wastes, which are finally disposed off at landfills. This necessitates implementable management measures.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.

Inventory management

Proper control over the materials used in the manufacturing process is an important way to reduce waste generation (Freeman, 1989). By reducing both the quantity of hazardous materials used in the process and the amount of excess raw materials in stock, the quantity of waste generated can be reduced. This can be done in two ways i.e. establishing material-purchase review and control procedures and inventory tracking system.

Production-process modification

Changes can be made in the production process, which will reduce waste generation. This reduction can be accomplished by changing the materials used to make the product or by the more efficient use of input materials in the production process or both. Potential waste minimization techniques can be broken down into three categories:i) Improved operating and maintenance procedures,ii) Material change andiii)Process-equipment modification.

Recovery and reuse

This technique could eliminate waste disposal costs, reduce raw material costs and provide income from a salable waste. Waste can be recovered on-site, or at an off-site recovery facility, or through inter industry exchange. A number of physical and chemical techniques are available to reclaim a waste material such as reverse osmosis, electrolysis, condensation, electrolytic recovery, filtration, centrifugation etc.

Information security

• E-waste presents a potential security threat to individuals and exporting countries.

• Hard drives that are not properly erased before the computer is disposed of can be reopened, exposing sensitive information

TOXIC SUBSTANCES PRESENT IN E-WASTE

AmericiumLeadMercurySulphurCadmiumBeryllium oxide

Hazardous

AluminumCopperGermaniumGoldIronLithiumNickelSiliconTinZincNon-

Hazardous

•  Credit card numbers, private financial data, account information and records of online transactions can be accessed by most willing individuals. Organized criminals in Ghana commonly search the drives for information to use in local scams.[38]

• Government contracts have been discovered on hard drives found in Agbogbloshie.

• Multi-million dollar agreements from United States security institutions such as the Defense Intelligence Agency(DIA), the Transportation Security Administration and Homeland Security have all resurfaced in Agbogbloshie

Background

• The global growth in electrical and electronic equipment production and consumption is exponential.

• Electronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest growing waste stream today.

• Due to the high financial investment needed for environmentally sound waste management, there is currently a high level of transboundary, often illegal, movement of e-waste into developing countries for recycling and the worldwide market for e-waste is growing by almost 9% per year.

• Between 50% and 80% of e-waste collected for recycling in developed countries each year is being exported.

Issues Posed

• High volumes

• Toxic design

• Poor design and complexity

• Financial incentives • Lack of regulation

Risks to Workers and the Environment

• Different chemicals pose different hazards and without information, safe handling cannot be assured

• The main hazards arise from the presence of heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, flame retardants and other potentially hazardous substances.

• The workers and local residents in areas of e-recycling in developing countries are exposed to the chemicals through inhalation, dust ingestion, dermal exposure and dietary intake.

• Workers are exposed to other hazards leading to physical injuries and chronic ailments such as asthma, skin diseases, eye irritations etc.

• For the most part, workers are not aware of environmental and health risks, do not know better practices or have no access to investment capital to finance safety measures.

• It is a global environmental and health emergency, beyond occupational exposure involving vulnerable groups and future generations

Governments should set up regulatory agencies in each state, which are vested with the responsibility of coordinating and consolidating the regulatory functions of the various government authorities regarding hazardous substances.

Governments must encourage research into the development and standard of hazardous waste management, environmental monitoring and the regulation of hazardous waste-disposal.

Governments should enforce strict regulations and heavy fi nes levied on industries, which do not practice waste prevention and recovery in the production facilities.

Governments should enforce strict regulations against dumping e-waste in the country by outsiders.

RESPONSIBLITIES OF GOVERNMENT

Re-evaluate 'cheap products' use, make product cycle 'cheap' and so that it has no inherent value that would encourage a recycling infrastructure.

Create computer components and peripherals of biodegradable materials.

Encourage / promote / require green procurement for corporate buyers.

Look at green packaging options. Recycling raw materials from end-of-life electronics

is the most effective solution to the growing e-waste problem.

E-wastes should never be disposed with garbage and other household wastes. This should be segregated at the site and sold or donated to various organizations.

RESPONSIBILITY OF INDUSTRIES & CITIZENS