Electronic Waste

Published on 05 Apr 2025

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is the term used to describe abandoned or outdated electronic equipment and devices. According to the World Counts, more than 50 million metric tons of e-waste is generated globally every year, averaging some seven kilograms of e-waste per capita.

Causes of Electronic Waste

• Short Product Lifespan: The short lifespan of many electronic equipment is caused by rapid shifts in customer preferences and technology.

• Example: According to the EEA, studies on smartphones, TVs, washing machines, etc. show that these product types all have average actual lifetimes that are at least 2.3 years shorter than their designed or desired lifetimes.

• Lack of Recycling Infrastructure: The accumulation of electronic waste is facilitated by inadequate facilities for appropriate recycling and disposal.

• Example: According to WEEE Forum, 20 billion tons of invisible e-waste are sent to landfill each year

• Globalization of Electronics Manufacturing: Improper disposal practices may arise from the outsourcing of electronics production to nations with lax environmental legislation.

• Rapid Technological Advancements: The development of e-waste is facilitated by the continual upgrading of electronic gadgets, which renders previous models obsolete.

Effects of Electronic Waste

• Hazardous to human health: Communities may be seriously at risk for health problems if exposed to dangerous materials from e-waste, such as lead, mercury, and brominated flame retardants.

• Example: Exposure to lead from e-waste recycling activities has been associated with reduced neonatal behavioural neurological assessment scores, increased rates of ADHD, behavioural problems

• Environmental Pollution: Harmful chemicals and heavy metals are released into the environment by improper disposal techniques, such as burning or dumping e-waste, poisoning soil and water.

• Example: Chlorinated toxins found in chicken eggs at Agbogbloshie, Ghana

• Resource Depletion: Valuable resources are found in electronic equipment, and their loss due to inappropriate disposal adds to the depletion of these resources.

• Data Security Risks: Poor methods of deleting or destroying data might result in data breaches and jeopardize private or sensitive information.

Government initiatives and policy measures

• E-waste (management) rules 2022: To manage e-waste in an environmentally sound manner and put in place an improved Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime for e-waste recycling wherein all the manufacturer, producer, refurbisher and recycler are required to register on portal developed by CPCB.

• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Guidelines: Technical specifications and recommended procedures for the collection, transportation, storage, and disposal of e-waste are included in these guidelines.

• Sound Management of waste Disposal (SMWD): BPCL has issued a directive on E-Waste Management across their organisation for effective management including timely disposal in line with the statutory requirements.

• Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA): They published a report emphasizing the importance of rethinking e-waste management and explore opportunities to harness its potential.

International initiatives

• Basel Convention: It aims to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects resulting from the generation, transboundary movements and management of hazardous wastes and other wastes.

• StEP Initiative (Solving the E-Waste Problem): It is a multi-stakeholder initiative strongly supporting strategic approaches towards sustainability such as circular economy and zero waste/emissions.

• Global E-Waste Statistics Partnership (GESP): It aims to collect worldwide e-waste statistics and raise visibility on the importance of tracking e-waste.

Way Forward

• Formalizing E-waste Collection: To formalize and regulate the process, a full regulatory framework for e-waste collection is required, including mandatory registration and licensing of collection sites and recyclers.

• E-Waste ATMs: Installing E-Waste ATMs in public places where people can deposit their outdated electronic gadgets in exchange for small financial incentives.

• Public Awareness Campaigns: Public awareness programs should be conducted by the government to inform businesses, consumers about the significance of properly disposing of and recycling e-waste.

• Comprehensive Audit Trails: Accountability and compliance require thorough audit trails and documentation to be established at every stage of the e-waste disposal process.

• Promotion of Green Electronics: The environmental impact of electronics can be decreased by promoting the manufacture and purchase of environmentally friendly and sustainable gadgets.

Case study

• E-waste Management in Japan: The organizers of the Tokyo Olympics collected 47,000 tons of tech waste and 5,000,000 cell phones to make 5,000 medals for the games. Gold, silver, and bronze metals were extracted from the e-waste.

Tags:
Environment

Keywords:
Waste management e waste Pollution

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Environment and Climate Change