{"id":129125,"date":"2021-08-27T20:26:04","date_gmt":"2021-08-27T14:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=129125"},"modified":"2021-08-28T17:37:43","modified_gmt":"2021-08-28T12:07:43","slug":"dealing-with-the-discarded-e-waste-management-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/dealing-with-the-discarded-e-waste-management-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Dealing with the discarded: E-Waste management in India"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source<\/strong>: Down To Earth<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Relevance<\/strong>: Managing the e-waste problem in India<\/p>\n

Synopsis<\/strong>: Technology plays a dominant role in our lives. But the increase in its use, coupled with extreme consumerist behaviour has come with some ill-effects on the environment, like generation of e-waste. Analysis of the e-waste issue, associated problems and measures needed.<\/p>\n

Context<\/strong><\/h5>\n

India is the third-largest producer of e-waste after China and the United States. More than 95% of this waste is handled by informal sector.<\/p>\n

According to a Central Pollution Control Board<\/strong> report, in financial year 2019-2020, India generated 1,014,961.2 tonnes of e-waste for 21 types of EEE. This unprecedented generation of e-waste<\/strong> is a cause of concern.<\/p>\n

What is e-waste?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The International Telecommunication Union<\/strong> defines e-waste as,<\/p>\n

all items of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and its parts that have been discarded by its owner as waste without the intent of re-use.<\/em><\/p>\n

Such items include cooling and freezing equipment like refrigerators, televisions, monitors, laptops, notebooks and tablets etc.<\/p>\n

Challenges<\/strong><\/h5>\n
    \n
  1. First problem lies with the nature of the material used<\/strong>. The e-waste stream contains hazardous substances<\/strong> such as lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), mercury, polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and valuable substances such as iron, steel, copper, aluminum and plastics.<\/li>\n
  2. Second, hazardous materials require special treatment<\/strong> and cannot be dumped in landfill sites.<\/li>\n
  3. Third, decomposing e-waste is an expensive<\/strong> process.<\/li>\n
  4. Fourth, E-waste releases harmful chemicals<\/strong>, such as lead, on burning, which adversely impacts human blood, kidney and the peripheral nervous system.<\/li>\n
  5. Lastly, a Comptroller and Auditor General of India report found that over 75 per cent of state bodies were not implementing hazardous waste<\/strong> laws.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Measures needed<\/strong><\/h5>\n

    By consumers<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Efficient use of electronic devices by regularly maintaining them.<\/li>\n
    2. There is a need to break consumerist patterns<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    3. Revaluate choices and use one multi-purpose device.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      By Tech-giants<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. All tech companies should mandate their customers<\/strong> to buy new technology only after exchanging old electronic<\/strong> products for the new ones.<\/li>\n
      2. Hardware stores and companies should offer incentives<\/strong> and discounts<\/strong> to customers who give away their old electronic devices.<\/li>\n
      3. Tech companies and sellers should collaborate with e-waste disposing companies for their proper disposal.<\/li>\n
      4. Adopt smart ways to recycle old products by outsourcing contracts to e-waste disposal.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        By the government<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Activities such as recycling, exchange and incentives can be sanctioned by government laws where in they can provide companies tax benefits<\/strong> for recycling of e-waste.<\/li>\n
        2. Implementations of legislations to regulate<\/strong> the disposal and management of e-waste in India, like\n