Showing papers on "Electronic waste published in 2011"

E-waste scenario in India, its management and implications

Abstract: Electronic waste or E-waste comprises of old, end-of-life electronic appliances such as computers, laptops, TVs, DVD players, refrigerators, freezers, mobile phones, MP3 players, etc., which have been disposed of by their original users. E-waste contains many hazardous constituents that may negatively impact the environment and affect human health if not properly managed. Various organizations, bodies, and governments of many countries have adopted and/or developed the environmentally sound options and strategies for E-waste management to tackle the ever growing threat of E-waste to the environment and human health. This paper presents E-waste composition, categorization, Global and Indian E-waste scenarios, prospects of recoverable, recyclable, and hazardous materials found in the E-waste, Best Available Practices, recycling, and recovery processes followed, and their environmental and occupational hazards. Based on the discussion, various challenges for E-waste management particularly in India are delineated, and needed policy interventions were discussed.

Electronic Waste: A Growing Concern in Today's Environment

Abstract: Over the recent past, the global market of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) has grown exponentially, while the lifespan of these products has become increasingly shorter. More of these products are ending up in rubbish dumps and recycling centers, posing a new challenge to policy makers. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the e-Waste problem and to put forward an estimation technique to calculate the growth of e-Waste.

Assessing Worker and Environmental Chemical Exposure Risks at an e-Waste Recycling and Disposal Site in Accra, Ghana

Abstract: Background. It is estimated that 20–50 million tons of electric and electronic waste (e-waste) is generated per year of which 75–80% is shipped to countries in Asia and Africa for recycling and dis...

Global disposal strategies for waste cathode ray tubes

Abstract: The collection and management of waste electrical and electronic appliances around the world, and the possible negative environmental consequences have been an issue of current debate. Cathode ray tubes (CRTs) used as display screen for computer monitors and televisions contains large quantities of lead, estimated at between 0.5 and 4 kg, depending on the size of the CRT and has been identified as the most polluting of all electronic waste components. Having failed the tests used in the toxicity characterization of solid wastes, CRTs have been declared ‘hazardous’ and subsequently banned from landfills and incinerators in most developed countries. Presently, large quantities of CRTs are generated globally with only few developed countries having effective take back and sound management program. Meanwhile, large quantities of CRT-containing devices are being moved across frontiers into developing countries in the name of ‘reuse’ and ‘bridging the digital divide’. With near absence of recycling infrastructure for electronic wastes in most developing countries, waste CRTs are disposed of with MSW at open dumps and unsanitary landfills. This paper reviews the current practices in the management of CRTs around the world, with emphasis on the role of regulations, availability of recycling infrastructure, recycling/reuse routes, and export into developing countries. Inappropriate disposal of waste CRTs creates the opportunity for large-scale environmental contamination with heavy metals, especially lead. Appropriate disposal routes are required globally in the management of CRTs in order to mitigate environmental contamination and human exposure to toxins.

Prospective impacts of electronic textiles on recycling and disposal

Abstract: Summary Electronictextilesareavanguardofanemerginggenerationofsmart products. They consist of small electronic devices thatare seamlessly embedded into clothing and technical textiles.E-textiles provide enhanced functions in a variety of unob-trusive and convenient ways. Like many high-tech products,e-textiles may evolve to become a mass market in the future.In this case, large amounts of difficult-to-recycle products willbe discarded. That can result in new waste problems.This article examines the possible end-of-life implicationsof textile-integrated electronic waste. As a basis for assess-ment, the innovation trends of e-textiles are reviewed, andan overview of their material composition is provided. Next,scenarios are developed to estimate the magnitude of futuree-textilewastestreams.Onthatbase,establisheddisposalandrecycling routes for e-waste and old textiles are assessed inregard to their capabilities to process a blended feedstock ofelectronic and textile materials. The results suggest that recy-cling old e-textiles will be difficult because valuable materialsaredispersedinlargeamountsofheterogeneoustextilewaste.Moreover,theelectroniccomponentscanactascontaminantsin the recycling of textile materials.We recommend scrutinizing the innovation trend of tech-nological convergence from the life cycle perspective. Tech-nology developers and product designers should implementwaste preventative measures at the early phases in the devel-opment process of the emerging technology.

The influence of collection facility attributes on household collection rates of electronic waste: The case of televisions and computer monitors

Abstract: In the US, household electronic waste collected for recycling is primarily by voluntary drop-off at designated collection facilities. This study examines the influence of specific collection facility attributes (recycling fees charged, number of days open, and driving distance) on the household collection rate of e-waste in the US state of Maine. Data were collected for household computer monitor and television collection for 92 municipal waste transfer facilities representing 30% of the state's population for one year. Results suggest that recycling fees are negatively correlated with the number of televisions and computer monitors collected; furthermore, the more frequently facilities were open, the more televisions and computer monitors were collected per capita. The distance from the facility had no correlation, which prompted an analysis of whether the existence of a curbside collection system in the municipality was influential. Results show a negative correlation between computer monitor and television collection and a municipality having recycling (but not e-waste) curbside collection. Based on the results of this study, policymakers may be able to increase the collection rate of household e-waste by eliminating or lowering recycling fees, expanding collection days and hours to increase convenience, and/or considering curbside collection of e-waste.

Hydrometallurgical process for extraction of metals from electronic waste-part ii: development of the processes for the recovery of copper from printed circuit boards (pcb)

Abstract: Rapid technological development induces increase of generation of used electric and electronic equipment waste, causing a serious threat to the environment. Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs), as the main component of the waste, are significant source of base and precious metals, especially copper and gold. In recent years, most of the activities on the recovery of base and precious metals from waste PCBs are focused on hydrometallurgical techniques as more exact, predictable and easily controlled compared to conventional pyrometallurgical processes. In this research essential aspects of the hydrometallurgical processing of waste of electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) using sulfuric acid and thiourea leaching are presented. Based on the developed flow-sheet, both economic feasibility and return on investment for obtained processing conditions were analyzed. Furthermore, according to this analysis, SuperPro Designer software was used to develop a preliminary techno-economical assessment of presented hydrometallurgical process, suggested for application in small mobile plant addressed to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Following of this paper, the described process is techno-economically feasible for amount of gold exceeding the limit value of 500ppm. Payback time is expected in time period from up to 7 years, depending on two deferent amounts of input waste material, 50kg and 100kg of WEEE per batch.

Institutional Disposition and Management of End-of-Life Electronics

Abstract: Institutions both public and private face a challenge to develop policies to manage purchase, use, and disposal of electronics. Environmental considerations play an increasing role in addition to traditional factors of cost, performance and security. Characterizing current disposition practices for end-of-life electronics is a key step in developing policies that prevent negative environmental and health impacts while maximizing potential for positive social and economic benefits though reuse. To provide a baseline, we develop the first characterization of quantity, value, disposition, and flows of end-of-life electronics at a major U.S. educational institution. Results of the empirical study indicate that most end-of-first-life electronics were resold through public auction to individuals and small companies who refurbish working equipment for resale or sell unusable products for reclamation of scrap metal. Desktop and laptop computers sold for refurbishing and resale averaged U.S. $20-100 per unit, with computers sold directly to individuals for reuse reaching $250-350 per unit. This detailed assessment was coupled with a benchmarking survey of end-of-life electronics management practices at other U.S. universities. Survey results indicate that while auctions are still commonplace, an increasing number of institutions are responding to environmental concerns by creating partnerships with local recycling and resale entities and mandating domestic recycling. We use the analyses of current disposition practices as input to discuss institutional strategies for managing electronics. One key issue is the tension between benefits of used equipment sales, in terms of income for the institution and increased reuse for society, and the environmental risks because of unknown downstream practices.

Hazardous Waste Management and Corporate Social Responsibility: Illegal Trade of Electrical and Electronic Waste

Abstract: Taking electrical and electronic waste as its field of observation, this study investigates the illegal trade in hazardous waste from developed countries toward developing countries. Despite increased legislation, the problem of waste in developed countries, far from being treated upstream, is largely shifted downstream by exporting it to developing countries. The two interpretations we offer, economic and institutional, enable us to show how cost constraints on waste management in developed countries coupled with the shortcomings and nonapplication of the legislation lead to socially irresponsible behavior. We then go on to suggest that the involvement of stakeholders could be one way of stamping out practices of this kind.

Chapter 20 – Electronic Waste

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of electronic waste, current status of the management of electronic waste (e-waste), and recycling technologies for the recovery of metals from end-of-life electronic equipment. Because of the ever increasing generation of e-waste and the hazardous nature of this waste stream, e-waste is an emerging issue. Many countries have drafted legislation to improve the reuse, recycling, and other forms of recovery of such waste. Electronic waste is significantly heterogeneous and complex in terms of the type of components and materials. However, copper and precious metals make up more than 80% of the value for most of the e-waste samples. This indicates that the recovery of precious metals and copper may remain as the major economic driver for a long time. The hierarchy of treatment of e-waste encourages the reuse of the whole equipment first, remanufacturing, then recovery of materials by recycling techniques, and as a last resort, disposal by incineration and landfilling. Recycling of e-waste can be broadly divided into three major steps—selective disassembly, targeting, and singling out hazardous or valuable components for special treatment; mechanical and metallurgical processing to upgrade desirable materials content; and refining recovered materials that are retreated or purified by using chemical (metallurgical) processing so as to be acceptable for further use in their original application.

Electronic Waste: A Case Study

Abstract: WEEE (waste from electrical and electronic equipments) comes under a special category of waste which is the result of industrialization and ever increasing demand of electronic products in daily life. With increasing usage waste production is also increasing. Now, the situation is alarming as a huge quantity of waste is generated by India as well as other countries. The condition in India is much worse because about 80 percent of the e-waste generated in the US is exported to India, China and Pakistan under the name of charity. Only 3% of total WEEE-waste generated is recycled properly in India. The rest of it is handled by workers who work with bare hands, without masks under unhygienic conditions, informally recycling tons of e-waste for about 12-14 hours a day. It causes both environmental as well as health problems. No. of laws are framed but none is able to stop this informal recycling. In this paper, national and international e-waste scenario is discussed along with hazards caused by e-waste and bit about its recycling.

Electronic Waste and Human Health

Abstract: The increased use and turnover of information and telecommunications technology leads to the emerging global problems of both the contamination of environment and food chains by electronic waste, or e-waste, and the management of valuable materials in large amounts of disposed electronic devices. Aspects related to e-waste environmental pollution and human exposure are discussed, with special emphasis on such different scenarios as crude recycling, disposal, and illicit dumping. Besides occupational and direct local exposure, e-waste represents a crucial source for severe environmental and environment-to-food chains contamination by cocktails of toxicants, mainly toxic chemical elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and persistent organic pollutants, thus generating hazardous exposure for the general population, including generations to come. The main long-term health effects (e.g., endocrine and neurotoxicity) of e-waste-related pollutants are summarized, along with available data on their levels in both environmental and human matrices, so as to address the risk assessment of e-waste, especially in developing countries scenarios.

A survey on Electronic waste management in Coimbatore

Abstract: The IT industry has been one of the major drivers of change in economy over the last few decades and has contributed significantly to the digital revolution. New electric and electronic equipmantys have infilterated all aspects of our daily life providing us with more comfort , health and security. The same technology that has made our lives better is on the downside creating more toxic problems for our society. With the growth of IT and related industries the usage and disposal of electrical and electronic equipment is all set to increase, which in turn will increase the quantity of ewaste generated, therefore it has become imperative to study the ewaste management practices that are being adopted. Coimbatore is set to become the next important IT destination after Chennai in Tamil Nadu, with the growth of IT industry and the economic growth the use of electric and electronic products are stet to increase, as the usage increases so will the quantity of ewaste generated. Ewaste is of immense interest owing to the following factors such as increase in volume of ewaste due to changes in technology, it is relatively new form of waste that has to be dealt with when compared to municipal or biomedical wastes. The technique for safe disposal is still being evolved, the quantity of waste is enormous, and the components present in ewaste is not uniform for all kinds of wastes. The types of wastes that come under this category are varied. There are plenty of useful materials that can be recovered and reused. Most importantly the health and environmental effects due to the toxic substances that are a result of improper handling and disposal of ewaste is a cause for major concern.

Conservation criminology and the global trade in electronic waste: Applying a multi-disciplinary research framework

Abstract: The global trade in electronic waste destined for recycling, disposal or reuse (E-waste) poses a significant risk to human health and the natural environment from improper recycling and disposal. H...

Sustainability and E-waste Management Scenario in India

Abstract: Electronics industry is one of fastest growing manufacturing industry in India. But the increase in sales of electronic goods and their rapid obsolescence has resulted in generation of electronic waste, which is popularly known as e-waste. The e-waste has become a matter of concern because of the presence of toxic and hazardous substances present in electronic goods and if not properly managed, it can have adverse affects on environment and human health. In India, the e-waste market is mostly unorganized and companies are neither registered nor authorized and operate informally. At most of the places e-waste is treated as municipal waste because India does not have any dedicated legislation for management of e-waste. Currently, ewaste handling is regulated under “The Hazardous Materials (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movements) Rules, 2008”. However, there are some companies which are authorized by government for the scientific and environmental friendly management and treatment of e-waste. But due to the involvement of unorganized sector in management of e-waste, there is improper handling of e-waste due to involvement of unskilled workers and absence of adequate technologies. Moreover, companies are more focused on financial profits rather than social or environmental concerns. Hence, there is strong need to adopt sustainability practices to tackle the growing threat of ewaste. This paper reviews e-waste generation, e-waste management scenario in India, global sustainability practices and sustainability issues in management of e-waste due to personal computers (PCs) and mobile phones. KeywordsE-waste, India, PCs and mobile phones, Sustainability.

Reuse of EEE/WEEE in UK: Review on functionality of EEE/WEEE at the point of disposal

Abstract: The rapid growth in the electronics sector and use of technology in general has inevitably resulted in the generation of vast amounts of waste in the form of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE). These wastes are often highly complex, integrated and toxic and consist of valuable substances such as gold and copper. Driven by legislation and economics the Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling industry has improved its recycling rates, reduced the environmental impact of WEEE and increased efficiency in the recycling loop. However, a much more cost effective approach is to re-use WEEE or its sub-assembly components. The problem, dealt with in this paper, is that very little is known or understood about why consumers discard WEEE and its functionality at the point of disposal. Furthermore, if the proportion of re-use is to increase there has to be technical data about failure modes of equipment. This paper will review the functionality of the white household goods at the disposal point and its impact on the reuse rate as well as providing technical data on the failure modes of 100 microwave ovens.

Managing E-Waste in India: Adoption of Need Based Solutions

Abstract: Near to two decade after the Basel Convention (BC) under United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), most of the nations are still working for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) or E-waste disposal programme. The 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; which 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 (http://www.basel.int/). In the 1990s the focus was set on the control over toxic substances by means of smart design for recycling and manual disassembly of hazardous components in the recycling phase itself. Experiences of the last ten years show that electronic waste policies should serve multiple and broader societal goals. Developments in shredding and separation technologies have led to the realisation that dismantling as such does not bring the desired toxic control, as it depends much more on the destination of disassembled components, and there are relatively high costs involved. The recovery of valuable materials and energy preservation has also become much more important. There is an obvious change in thinking and approach to WEEE (Puja Sawhney et. al. 2008). This paper presents the preliminary findings of a research study to identify the various popular methods of managing e-waste in India and reasons for employing those methods.

Design of the expense allocation mechanism in e-waste recycling deposit system under EPR framework

Abstract: In order to address the serious issue of informal e-waste recycling in China, though carefully analyzing correlative monetary, information and product flow for China's e-waste special fund administration, we propose to establish a framework of a deposit refund system under the EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) principles. The deposit refund system can increase the incentives of consumer recycling and ensure the construction of a formal recycling channel. Given the economic responsibilities of the multiple parties involved, we also come up with an optimized design of the reverse supply chain expense mechanism for e-waste recycling. In addition, after analyzing the concept and the core role of the deposit fund, we introduce it as a corresponding parameter in the supply chain model. This research extends a typical reverse supply chain model to one that involves manufacturer, third-party recycler, and consumer, as while as considers government decision and consumer activities. The proposed expenses allocation incentive mechanism is constructed on the foundation of the supply chain optimization theory. This research provides a new perspective on supply chain analysis by focusing on the issues of e-waste recycling, its environmental impacts, and incentives to informal recycling in China. Meanwhile, this study also takes into account the appropriate role of the Chinese government and the influence of the deposit fund to the supply chain and is intended to resolve the problem of the shared responsibility in e-waste recycling.

WEEE reuse trials in Ireland

Abstract: Reuse/refurbishment trials for WEEE in Ireland are undertaken to establish the potential for reuse that exists using the established waste management systems. Preliminary findings have clearly shown two WEEE categories with the highest potential for reuse: (1) white goods (B2C) and (2) IT and telecoms (B2B). Early indications show white goods from retailers having a larger portion of appliances with potential for reuse compared to other sources, i.e. civic amenity sites and kerb side collections. ICT equipment source is generally three to four years old with a high potential for reuse.

Electronic Waste Recycling for Developing Economies

Abstract: This article reviews the progress of electronic waste recycling around the world and emphasises the need to give more economic importance to this sector in the developing nations. Two cases are considered for determining a model of recycling under the present constraints. These alternative models can provide a basic foundation for laying out the respective roles of producers and consumers for economic recycling of this waste. Following the Basel Convention in 1992, measures on the proper disposal and/or recycling of solid waste, particularly those hazardous to the environment, have been one of the prioritised areas of environmental economic a ctivity for the developed nations. A r ecent development (starting around the early 2000s) has been the search for appropriate strategies for disposal of electronic waste (e-waste), and to put forth plans for implementing economic and environmentfriendly recycling of this waste. The importance of the latter has been identified and positive measures undertaken from the perspective of demand and supply in many developed countries as well as in emerging economies like India and China. However, the problem persists in the developing nations: proper disposal of e-waste is still not in practice, let alone accepting an economic and scientific method of recycling it. The backbone of electronic waste recycling is the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme first introduced in Switzerland in 2003. It places the burden of recycling on the producers and hence delineates a recycling market as part of the intermediate goods market of the economy. Most European countries and some south-east Asian nations have followed this model while in California, where recycling has taken on an important role, the consumers have to pay a surcharge. In whatever form the recycling sector is organised, many developed n ations have demarcated a sector which functions smoothly if the relevant agents, i e, the consumers and the producers play their respective roles. For instance, in Cali fornia, a recycling fee is collected from consumers to fund a programme that in turn redistributes recovery and recycling payments to “qualified entities” to cover the costs of collecting and recycling electronic waste (Wolfington and Maranto 2008). In Maine and in Minnesota, it is the “producers pay” (PP) principle in practice. In Maine which was the first US state to introduce the PP principle, Wagner (2009) found that the three year e-waste recycling programme has resulted in a significant decline in disposal and an increase in environmentally sound recycling.

Recycling of metal bearing electronic scrap in a plasma furnace

Abstract: The recycling of electronic waste and the recovery of valuable components are large problems in the modern world economy. This paper presents the effects of melting sorted electronic scrap in a plasma furnace. Printed circuit boards, cables, and windings were processed separately. The characteristics of the obtained products (i.e., alloy metal, slag, dust, and gases) are presented. A method of their further processing in order to obtain commercial products is proposed. Because of the chemical composition and physical properties, the waste slag is environmentally inert and can be used for the production of abrasives. Process dusts containing large amounts of carbon and its compounds have a high calorific value. That makes it possible to use them for energy generation. The gas has a high calorific value, and its afterburning combined with energy recovery is necessary.

Method and System for Recycling an Electronic Article

Abstract: Disclosed is an environmentally responsible method for recycling electronic waste. The method optimizes the transportation and delivery of electronic waste to a recycling facility utilizing plasma gasification. The method tracks and categorizes the e-waste while billing manufacturers for the electronic waste received for recycling. In the process, the electronic articles are dismantled where certain valuable components are removed and recycled. The remaining e-waste proceeds to the plasma gasification process for metal extraction and gas production.