A STUDY ON STATUS AND MANAGEMENT OF E-WASTE IN INDIA

Abstract

The discarded electronic equipment has created a new waste stream named E-waste with in solid waste. E-waste management is unfriendly in India irrespective of enormous waste. E-waste is escalating sharply as the use of short lived electronic equipment expands over large range in the country. In each sector, electronic equipment has its significant role in manufacturing and operation of equipment. Electronics evolves new equipment designs constantly; consequently enhances the demand of electronic equipment manifolds in the world. The new electronic equipment negotiates the prevailing equipment quickly and causes the accumulation of mammoth E-waste in India. The disposal of E-waste is not accomplished as it deserves in the country. Public used to dispose it of blithely and invite hazards as it is toxic characteristically. The prevailing tendency has attracted the attention of one to all because it is penetrating in the municipal waste. The treatment of unified waste is unfeasible as it encompasses biodegradable and toxic non-biodegradable substances. It creates a rift for the sustainable management in the country because it needs a separate treatment facility. The informal recycling captures maximum E-waste in India and treats it in uncontrolled conditions. It is primarily profit driven profession keeping other aspects secondary and select only more material containing electronic equipment for it. The recyclers in developed countries treat E-waste sustainably and convert it into resources by viable technologies; but in India, such infrastructure is inadequate to deal with copious E-waste of the country. In view of that this study has taken up this issue critically and proposed that its viable disposal is essentially required to separate the vii toxic metals from the E-waste so that the sustainable recovery of precious and base metals is ensured. The toxic metals should be separated from the stuff before undertaking the recuperation of other metals. In view of that the composition of metals in equipment has become significant before taking it up for metal retrieval out of it; else valuables and toxic metals will drain down in the waste and further leads to the irreparable damage to the public as well lose enormous resources and the exploitation of natural resources and pollutants loading on environment will enhance extremely. In India, the informal recyclers carry out the recycling of electronic equipment selectively and ignore the unfamiliar and unpopular equipment in E-waste. In view of that most of such metal potent equipment destines to open dumping of waste. The discarded mobile phone is one of the electronic equipment facing similar consequences in India. It is true that the mobile phone is one of the most popular electronic equipment in the world and in Indian perspective, public has adapted it as essential equipment as conventional need. But people are oblivious about its disposal after its useful life and dispose it of as and where basis. Presently, the waste base of discarded mobile phones in India is escalating with the users. Besides other electronic equipment, the informal recyclers presumed that the resources in discarded mobile phone is null irrespective of ample precious and other metals in it and ignore its potential in India. The composition of material in an equipment decides its sustainable disposal through infrastructure commissioned for it, because the auxiliary processes are to be planned as per material recovery needs. The mobile phone waste comprises of plastics, glass, and printed circuit board; however back up battery is detachable and can be removed easily for its separate treatment. In fact, each material can be recycled to a large extent depending upon the viable infrastructure capabilities. However, the outcome of the material varies depending upon both infrastructure efficiency as well material amalgamations, while it is manufactured. In mobile phone waste, the printed circuit board of mobile phone is the nodal component containing maximum amount of metal contents. The present study reinforces the mobile phone waste management by supplementing the requisite information about its composition of valuable material encompassing precious, base and toxic metals; plastics and glass. It explores these materials qualitatively and quantitatively in assorted mobile samples used by majority of people in India. It also facilitates to proceed for sustainable disposal of entire mobile phone waste. The hydrometallurgical processes are being employed to dissolve the metals of the samples and analysed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry methodology to conduct for metal contents assessment. The study identifies base, precious and toxic metals in the printed circuit boards in ten assorted samples. This study is significant as it provides metal composition of precious metals: gold, silver, base metals: copper, aluminium, iron and toxic metals: lead, manganese, tin, zinc and nickel of printed circuit boards of discarded mobile phone, which encourage the material recycling from mobile phone waste; also promotes the formal recycling, yields maximum material, release pressure upon the natural resources and reduce the pollutants loading on the environment thereby improve the quality of life and safe guard the public from maximum diseases caused by them. The coexisting precious metals and other material will be made available at less cost as the local mining is less cost effective comparably. The study explores a new local mining source of valuable metals. The material recovery from local mining would reduce exploitation of natural resources for the same amount of virgin material. The health index of the public will improve in the country. The study also introduces an innovative model to improve the E-waste management in the country. It involves all E-waste stakeholders and suitable for Indian environment. It sets a new trend for reliable and effective E-waste management in the country as management works in system and it provides an opportunity for participation to everyone. In view of this, public participation only increases the compatibility of the infrastructure, when system works. The innovative model spreads the base of sustainable E-waste management in the country.