E-Waste Management in India: Challenges and Opportunities
India generates over 50,000 tonnes of e-waste every month. This is not surprising as the e-waste generation rate has been growing at a steady rate of 23.7% per annum for the past ten years. With more than 150 million cell phones sold in India in 2017 alone, sadly the country sees more than 40 million units of discarded electronics each year. As the second-largest producer of e-waste in the world, India needs to develop effective waste management solutions and take responsibility for its own e-waste management. What is E-waste? E-waste stands for electronic waste and is typically produced as a result of us getting rid of, or throwing out things that are broken or no longer being used. Electronic waste usually consists of all different types of materials including metals, plastics, liquid crystal, mercury, lithium and inkjet cartridges (just to name a few). People don’t tend to like to see their things go to waste just because they no longer have any use for them. The good news is that it’s possible to reuse most of the valuable items found in electronic waste. This can be done by simply separating the different materials which make up e-waste and then using that same material proceeds to make new products altogether. Computers, servers, monitors, printers, scanners, compact discs (CDs), speakers, calculators, battery cells and mobile phones are examples of e-waste when they become unfit for their use. The presence of highly toxic substances like heavy metals (mercury and lead) and beryllium pose a put environment in danger. Challenges for E-waste Management in India E-waste recycling in India is primarily an informal sector activity. There are thousands of poor households making a living by salvaging materials from waste dumps. The common recycling practices for middle class urban households, particularly for waste paper, plastic, clothing and metal, is to sell out to small scale informal sector buyers. A lot of people in India turn to e-waste management as a way to provide for their families. However, there is a different situation in advanced countries where only authorized personnel are allowed to modify and repair electronic devices which may then be refurbished or dismantled. There is also no concept of consumers paying for disposal of the e-waste they generate. Opportunities of E-waste management in India: Nations across the globe with underdeveloped waste disposal systems lack the infrastructure and technical capacities needed to deal with e-Waste in a safe and efficient manner. E-Waste has been linked to a number of health issues so assisting developing countries become educated about the dangers posed by this waste is an important part of helping it all get cleaned up. However, many devices that contribute to e-Waste contain numerous toxic chemicals that aren’t currently regulated or monitored, meaning they often end up in landfills instead of being recycled properly. In India, the economics of e-waste management have created a potentially lucrative new sector in recycling. With the increasing number of upwardly-mobile families, more than 3 million households buy one or more electronic products per annum. Also growing is the informal recycling industry which currently recycles only 2% of total e-waste generated. Conclusion: E-waste management in India is becoming a serious issue, as more and more people are purchasing and using electronic devices. This blog has discussed ways to manage e-waste in India, but it is important to note that this blog is not an in-depth study of the topic. Instead, it is meant to give a brief overview of the topic, and we hope that you will use it as a starting point to learn more about e-waste management in India.
E-waste has become a pressing concern considering the sudden spike in the use of gadgets and electronic items.
Ways to Reduce Electronic Waste We are living in a fast-paced world and it is unthinkable to live a life without electronic devices. Our whole life is connected with computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and wearable devices as the computers allow the businesses to expand, develop networks and allow people to be in contact with the latest news. There are several uses for all the electronic devices and with each passing day, we are becoming more and more dependent on computers. But what is e-waste? E-waste consists of used electronic devices, wires, mobile phones, computers, home appliances, etc. It is important to reduce e-waste to help save the environment and also it helps people to develop, maintain and use all the electronic devices with utmost care. Read on to know about the ways which electronic waste can be reduced. Keep a check on what you buy: A lot of e-waste is generated because people just end up buying things that they don’t even need. So, before buying any electronic device, ask yourself, is this something that you really need, or are you just buying it to show off to your friends? If the answer is no, then half the battle is won already. Purchase electronic devices that can be recycled: Before purchasing new electronic devices, check whether they can be recycled or not. It can be known by the label Energy Star or by being approved by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). These days several companies are bringing awareness about the environment by making their products environment-friendly. Give away your used electronic devices: There is a saying which goes like this “The best thing to do with the best things in life is to give them away”, it can also be applied to all the used electronic devices. If there is an electronic device that you do not need anymore, then the best thing to do is to just give it away to someone who needs it, as in this way you will do a good deed and save the environment simultaneously. Recycle all your e-waste at a centre: If you’re tired of your old electronic devices and are ready to demolish them, then you must find a recycling center for electronic waste. You can’t simply throw away electronic waste like gadgets, computers, or any other phone if you want to ensure the health and safety of the people in the area around your home. E-waste is best recycled from the hands of those who use it improperly and should be handled by professionals who know how to reclaim precious metals from electronics. Repair Damaged Electronics at Home: Some electronic devices last for around 2 to 3 years before starting to fail. But, there are some ways in which you can improve the longevity of your electronics if you learn to recognize and resolve hardware problems that arise. There are various tutorials available online, just watch them and follow them step by step, and also buy some tools and you are good to go. Sell Electronics which are not required anymore: When you buy something new, it’s often easy to forget that you ever had that old device in your possession. When we upgrade our phones or buy a shiny new laptop, we tend to forget about the old one completely. But it turns out there are people who want the newer model, but don’t always have the money and want it! That’s why they’ll pay you good money for your current model of phone or computer and even take the time to head over to sites such as eBay, Olx, Cashify, and Quikr will reveal the opposite. Putting up your devices on these platforms at a reasonable cost means you’ll financially help them by not having to spend extra money for purchasing a brand new piece of equipment. The Bottom Line: Today more than ever we’re in a world where technology is constantly improving and growing. To stay ahead of the curve we must continue to say no to gadgets that are broken or have become unusable. Disposing of them by simply dumping them in a landfill is not the best way to help our environment in the future. If we recycle electronic equipment today by either donating it, repurposing it for future use or disposing of parts responsibly then we will be helping keep the world a safer place for our future generations.
E-Waste Recycling: A Boon to the Economy and Solution to E-Waste-Risk
As per the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP), global e-waste volumes soared by53% in the 2014–19 phase and reached 53.6 million metric tonnes. As per the report, onlyabout one-sixth of it reached e-waste (electronic waste) recycling facilities. The rest wasillegally dumped in lower-income or middle-income economies to be recycled by informalworkers. Even though e-waste is a rapidly increasing risk for global economies, the scale of recyclingis trying to match up. The ‘E-Waste Recycling Market’ report released by Market ResearchFuture claims that the e-waste recycling market will cross USD 99.67 billion by 2030,growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.2%.With humans’ ever-increasing insatiable demand for electronic devices and new-agegadgets, the only way to counter the rise in e-waste is to supercharge our endeavours torecycle them rapidly. What are the issues with increasing e-waste?Every one of us has some or the other accessory and product that would become useless inthe near future and transform into e-waste. While the usage of electronic devices is never aproblem, the fact that these contain a plethora of toxins, such as mercury, cadmium, lead,and more, which can be hazardous to our environment, is the cause of concern. How can e-waste recycling be a solution to the increasing e-waste problem?Most of these toxins and precious metals derived from e-waste can be prevented fromreaching landfills if we establish a process to recycle them. It would not only benefit theoverall balance of the ecosystem but also contribute to the betterment of people. Here is why e-waste recycling is critical for every economy: It helps keep electronic waste away from landfillsA robust e-waste recycling framework will prevent the same from reaching the landfillswhere it is known to cause contamination to soil, air, and waterways. Enabling the dumps tobe used for the purpose they were intended for would also make it easier to treat otherwaste types. Efficient recycling would lead to a reduction in the demand for virgin materialsGiven that most e-waste is inefficiently handled, most manufacturers avoid imbibing theraw materials produced from recycled waste. If we start taking recycling seriously, it willcurb the demand for virgin materials that put extra pressure on the earth’s ecosystem byincreasing greenhouse gas emissions. It helps in robust indigenous capacity buildingIt is a known fact that every economy is short of some rare earth material and ends upimporting them from those with excess supply. But if global economies start recyclingelectronic waste with greater proficiency, they would be able to curb their need to importthese materials and build their indigenous capacity for producing/extracting such materialsinstead. It helps in creating a synergy between the informal and formal sectorThose working in the informal sector specialise in e-waste collection at reasonable pricesfrom the customers. Having an e-waste recycling process in place would allow them topartner with the formal sector to undertake efficient dismantling and segregation, which isbeneficial for both the parties and the environment. Wrapping upWhile technological changes have undoubtedly contributed to reducing the overall wastegeneration, the growing demand for electronic items is not helping the case.It is imperative for manufacturers and others in the supply chain to establish stricter producttracking and introduce newer schemes that would enable them to create a circular valuechain globally and curb e-waste while improving recycling endeavours. The world isgradually starting to see e-waste not as a pollution creator but as more of a resource thatcan be a boon if adequately utilised
Recycling the Equipment at Your Data centre:
Looking at the current inventions around the globe in the IT space, data centre equipmentwill eventually become obsolete, and you will require new hardware to get the system up andrunning. What’s the best way to manage the E-waste of outdated equipment? Numerouscompanies are stockpiling end-of-life data centre hardware since they are unsure what to dowith it. Apart from the reality that this approach consumes valuable storage space that couldotherwise be employed for productive tasks, there are drawbacks to stockpiling outdatedprocessors, computers, disc drives, and other equipment. You’re well aware that your company deals with numerous sensitive information being an ITprofessional. Data on your old equipment mustn’t get misused, whether it’s data regardingprivate internal operations or personal information involving your clients. Data Centrerecycling is the most excellent option for E-Waste Management, but there are a few thingsyou should be aware of. What To Consider Before Recycling Your Old Equipment? Your organisation must compile an inventory of equipment for dismantling before discardingobsolete PCs, servers, and network infrastructure. Sticking to the asset checklist you submitto your Data Destruction Service provider is the most significant way to speed up thedisposal procedure. Apart from this, note down the following things: Understand Your Recycling Requirements. You can’t be sure that you are well-aware of every piece of hardware in your data centre,and you certainly don’t know which ones need to be replaced and which ones can be usefuluntil new equipment arrives. You should begin by reviewing your inventory and determiningprecisely what you require. Work With Reputable Professionals. Working with a reliable provider is the most critical decision when recycling your old datacentre equipment. You may rest assured that the procedure will run well if you work withtrusted professionals. Disk Eradication may be Essential. Disk eradication will be imperative if you have hardware containing customer-sensitivedetails to comply with laws such as PCI and HIPAA. A summary of eradication efficiency foreach disc may be required for verification purposes. Recycling Can Be a Cost-Effective Option. Whenever you think of eliminating your data centre equipment, data centre recycling is themost cost-effective alternative. There’s a chance you’ll be able to get some money back foryour old equipment, which can help cover the expense of getting new ones. It’s Essential to Follow Environmental Guidelines. Recycling is excellent for the environment, and organisations must follow standards whendiscarding electronic assets. Environmental restrictions are more than just guidelines, and ifyou don’t recycle properly, you could face serious legal consequences. When you recycle your data centre equipment properly, you are doing a great favour foreveryone (even your company). Your company and consumers will be unaffected, and you’llbe helping to achieve the goal of environmental protection. Further, by destroying ordisposing of the existing ones, you are creating an opportunity to leverage the newtechnology to help you stay competitive in your industry. Conclusion The above were some key points to consider regarding data centre recycling. Recycling indata centres is essential, and it is the responsibility of every company to handle it properly.One of the best moves you can make today is to include a reliable Data DestructionService. The right company will now help you recycle electrical and data centre equipment.The company can assist you with disposing of electronic waste, data centre equipment, and unused IT assets.
Where to Dispose of Electronics When You Have No Clue What to Do?
Putting electronic waste or e-waste into a landfill can cause damage to air, land, and water. Considering the negative effects of e-waste on the environment and humans, it is the need of the hour for people to find the best ways to dispose of e-waste. To make people aware of the negative impact of e-waste, many organisations are doing some great work. However, even today, there are many people who are not aware of where to dispose of e-waste. If you are one of them , this blog has all the required information about the safe disposal of e-waste. Local e-waste centre The best place to reach out for disposing of electronic waste is the local e-waste centre. With governments finally taking actions on e-waste, you can easily find these centres. To your good news, many centres also provide pick-up services that make things quite easy and convenient for people. Whatever things you may choose to dispose of, be it television, old phones, dishwashers, or even wires, these centres accept it all. Also, they follow advanced technology to ensure that the waste materials are disposed of properly. Trained people are used during the procedure to avoid any mishap. Benefits of disposing of e-waste When it comes to the benefits of disposing of e-waste in e-waste centres, there are many. One of the most important benefits is that it is a great way of saving energy. Also, your waste materials can be used to make new products. For making some electronic devices like the computer, a lot of fossil fuels are used, thus contributing to air pollution. However, when the e-waste materials are used to make new devices, the fossil fuels required are reduced, thereby benefiting the environment. Also, if the e-waste is properly disposed of, there is no risk of soil pollution and water pollution. E-waste, if not disposed of properly can release toxic metals that can be damaging to both soil and water. Final Thoughts As far as the future of e-waste disposal is concerned, people need to be more concerned about the seriousness of the issue, or else, the future would witness a damaged environment. Your future generations may be the sufferers of your carelessness and ignorance. The first step is making people aware of the hazardous impact of e-waste on the environment. People should reach out to the nearby e-waste recycling centres for all the required information. Also, the centres should be dedicated to bringing awareness among people and giving their best in the proper disposal of e-waste. If you are looking for an e-waste recycling centre, Namo eWaste offers both drop-off and pick-up services. Just reach out to them, and with the proper guidance and tips, dispose of your electronic waste safely without causing any harm to the environment. Click here for more details about Namo eWaste. It is never too late, let’s join hands together, and strive toward building a healthier planet.
Scary Effects of E-Waste on the Environment and Human Health
You must have heard of e-waste or electronic waste, and it has become a serious concern in the last few years. Talking about the negative effects of E-waste on human health and the environment, the list is unending. As far as the long-term impact of this hazard is concerned, more research is required. Considering the scary effects of E-waste, many recycling centres have been initiated in the last few years. The e-waste recycling centres put their efforts to protect human life and the planet from the impact of e-waste. Check out the scary effects of e-waste on the environment and human health: E-waste damages soil No matter what the region is, e-waste has a huge negative impact on the soil. According to the studies conducted, these waste materials release toxic metals that include lead, arsenic, etc. As these toxic metals get mixed up with the soil, the direct impact is on plants and vegetation growing from the soil. The situation worsens when humans and animals feed on these plants. As the heavy metals enter the human food supply, the impact is dangerous and can lead to severe health complications like birth defects, genetic diseases, etc. E-waste pollutes water It is vital for the e-waste to be disposed of properly, or else it may result in the pollution of water. Often industries tend to dispose of waste without treating it, and as a result, toxins start entering the groundwater. Groundwater is very important for every animal, and once it gets polluted, animals start showing signs of the negative effects. Apart from the animals, the human beings relying on the groundwater can easily be affected by toxins like mercury, lithium, barium, etc. E-waste pollutes air There are instances where the e-waste is burned by an incinerator, and it negatively impacts the air we breathe. It releases hydrocarbons into the air and makes the air unhealthy for human beings and animals. All animals and humans rely on air for oxygen which is their basic necessity, and e-waste can make this air poisonous. The increasing amount of hydrocarbons in the air contributes to the greenhouse effect. As e-waste tends to increase the greenhouse effect, it worsens the global warming situation too. What next? To sum up, by now, it is very clear that e-waste is devastating for our planet. Air, water, and soil are things very important for every human life, and causing any damage to these elements, can cause irreversible damage to the environment and human life. Although the long term effects are not yet known, the immediate impact of E-waste is dangerous. It is high time that we all need to take up the necessary steps to minimise the negative impact of E-waste. As a responsible citizen, you must get in touch with the E-waste recycling service centres. These centres are equipped with advanced technology and qualified technicians who are well-versed in the process of recycling. Delay no more, get in touch with these centres for the most feasible solution for your E-waste disposal and help the planet heal. Looking for a certified recycling centre? Namo eWaste is the best option. Click here for more details.
Haryana is one of the top states in the E-waste Management in India
Recently, it has been revealed that Haryana is doing well in terms of e-waste management than most other states in India. It is placed at the fourth position regarding the installed capacity of recycling plants. Its recycling capacity is 1.24 lakh tonnes annually. Uttar Pradesh leads the lot with an annual installed capacity of 4.94 lakh tonne. Uttarakhand is also ahead of Haryana with a 1.47 lakh tonne capacity. Tamil Nadu has a 1.32 lakh tonne capacity. The country has 468 authorised recyclers as well as dismantlers in 22 states with a total annual e-waste processing capacity of 13.86 lakh MT. The information was shared in the Lok Sabha by Ashwini Kumar Choubey, the Minister of State for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. As per the information shared by the minister, India produced a 10,14,961.2 tonnes of electronic-waste in 2021. It is a tremendous 31.6% up from the last year. It is noteworthy that out of this, only 22% of e-waste got recycled in the country. In 2017-18, India recorded 7,08,445 tonnes of e-waste generation and 7,71,215 tonnes of e-waste production in 2018-19 , which is up by 8.86%. The e-waste management guidelines and rules were formed in 2016 that are amended frequently with time. The Environment Ministry has categorized 21 types of EEE (electrical and electronic equipment) as e-waste. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) was made part of the 2016 e-waste management guidelines. According to which the electronics devices manufacturers and bulk consumers were made liable for collecting and channelling e-waste from individual consumers to authorised recyclers, plants, or re-processing units. The guidelines provide the authority for dismantling as well as recycling e-waste to authorised recyclers who have the facility for erasing data from the device. There are many e-waste management companies having plants in India that are busy cleaning the nation’s e-waste and Namo E-Waste is at the forefront of the same. India is the third biggest contributor of e-waste in the world mainly due to more number of smart device users and other factors. The latest recorded data says that India generates about 32 lakh tonnes of e-waste yearly. It is placed below China and the US in the list. With each passing year, the volume of e-waste generated is skyrocketing. Advancements in high technology have produced enormous amounts of e-waste which lie accumulated without being processed. The advent of advanced technology and efficient electronic devices is compelling people to discard the older ones within a short period. With each electronic device going to waste, the mission of making the country e-waste free is getting tougher. The solution in sight to reduce the pollution due to toxic e-waste is to use technology and implement stricter laws and regulations. E-waste Management capacity in North India
Indian Cities must find a fix for their e-waste just like Noida
The Noida Authority recently hired two e-waste management companies to deal with the e-waste produced in the city. However, the exercise wasn’t as easy as it appeared. E-waste Bins It was found that in the absence of a proper dumpsite for e-waste, people used to dispose of e-waste in an informal and unscientific manner. Therefore the Noida Authorities placed e-waste bins alongside the regular bins at various public places about two years ago. This was to segregate the recyclable e-waste from the regular waste. However, this move did not receive the desired response. The study revealed that because all electronic items have value in the scrap market, people did not want to share them for free. Worth of E-waste To give the consumers the worth of all e-waste, the authorities made amendments to their earlier move and fixed the prices of about 75 electronic items that figured the most in the e-waste. These items included copper wires, pen drives, mobile phones, laptops, headphones, washing machines, keyboards, and refrigerators. The price was fixed for individuals and bulk consumers like IT companies etc. The e-waste items were further divided according to their usability into non-functional and functional categories and their prices ranged from Rs 10- Rs 2500 per Kg. NOIDA- An IT Hub Noida is seen as the IT hub wherein companies regularly update their infrastructure and replace old IT hardware. Even the individuals in Noida replace their electronic items within a short period. Considering this the authorities hired two authorized recyclers and firms and people could reach out to them to dispose of their e-waste with price tags. All household items along with office hardware could be easily collected and sent for recycling to enable a sustainable ecosystem and resources. This time around the authorities received the desired response. Earlier when the authorities had placed e-waste bins at 21 places, without offering the monetary benefit to the consumers for disposing of e-waste, the response they received was poor. There was hardly any e-waste collected or recycled. Consumer Behaviour The practice revealed another side of consumers both bulk producers and individuals that they still find worth in their no-longer-in-use electronic items and do not want to just let them go without getting their dues. This is one of the reasons why the scrap market and informal methods of e-waste disposal are thriving in every city. All cities and local societies must learn from this move of NOIDA and hire authorized recyclers like Namo E-waste to collect the e-waste from the city and the societies after giving the worth of the e-waste to the consumers. We can enable sustainable resources with this practice, which is also the need of the hour. Hire Namo E-waste Namo e-waste, one of the best e-waste management companies in India, offers comprehensive, responsible and effective recycling services to dispose of e-waste in a scientific manner. The Company has skilled manpower and the finest technology to extract metals from e-waste after segregating the hazardous substances from the waste. The plants and machinery owned by the company are authorized by the Central Pollution Control Board. Namo E-waste’s facility is one of the most sustainable in India with zero waste discharge technology.
E-waste Management Habits of Indians and Their Awareness Level
Although 80 % of Indians are aware of the health hazards related to e-waste yet about 50 % of Indians hoard no-longer-in-use electronic devices in their homes according to a survey conducted by Cerebra Green and MAIT and published on the news portal, Economic Times & Indiatimes. The survey was carried out across the Indian cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad and gathered responses from about 600 people regarding their awareness levels concerning e-waste management and its disposal. The survey also threw some light on the disposal practices followed by these people with the reasons behind the same. Around 68 % of the respondents did not regard local waste collectors as an alternative for disposing of their e-waste. Many responded by saying that there is no local waste collector in their area for e-waste. Therefore, about 90 % of the respondents relied on online exchange programs and local retailers to dispose of their e-waste; abiding by the guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The Indian industries contribute to 70 % of the e-waste generated in India and households contribute to about 15 % of the e-waste. The remaining is counted as the end of shelf-life electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). The generation of e-waste in India had touched 3 million tonnes in 2018. It is worth noting that India is one of the countries that have the fastest growing fastest-growing consumer of electronic devices. Important Highlights from the survey: · About 80% of the respondents have knowledge regarding e-waste. · 50% of the respondents hoarded a minimum of 2 or more no-longer-in-use electronic items at home. About 30% hoarded 3-4 electronic items that should have been discarded and 20% of the respondents hoarded over 5 defunct devices. · Almost 50% of the respondents kept in their houses old electronic devices that were over 5 years old. Around 28% kept 3-4 years old electronic devices while about 23% were using two years or less old devices. · 72% of the respondents shared that the e-waste gathered in their area did not ask for e-waste from them. · 68% of the respondents shared that they did not give their e-waste to the local waste aggregator while 32% of the respondents shared that they did give their e-waste to the local collector. · About 82% of the respondents said that they never handed over their refrigerator, microwave or air conditioner, etc. to a local waste collector while 18% gave a positive reply to the same. · 47% of the respondents were making the use of their e-waste in online exchange programs, while they purchased a new one. 43% gave their e-waste to the local electronic retailers and 10% used it at the electronic brand outlets · 40% of the respondents had been using more than a five-year-old refrigerator, 37% were still having a two to five years old fridge. · 82% were interested in handing over their e-waste to unauthorized/authorized recyclers for free if they made sure to manage the e-waste properly without causing any environmental pollution. · 81% of the respondents understood about the dangerous fractions present in e-waste that require exceptional treatment for their safe disposal. However, 19% of the respondents did not know about this fact.
E-waste Helps Govt Make Money: Health Ministry Auctions E-waste Worth Rs 13 Lakh
In response to the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s drive for ‘Swachh Bharat,’ the Union Health Ministry recently auctioned the reusable e-waste worth a whopping Rs 13. Lakh. The e-waste included IT hardware like computers, printers, photocopying machines and other spare parts. After the auction was carried out The Union Health Ministry announced the details of the auction through a tweet. They said that furthering the cause of the Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat campaign, they auctioned the e-waste. The auction was conducted through the Central Procurement Portal. The e-waste included personal computers and other hardware which were lying unused in the office. Unused electronic items if remain unattended for long can cause harmful effects. By recycling or reusing electronic waste the government enabled sustainable resources. The move has been inspirational for people and E-waste management companies in India like Namo E-waste. If the government sets up such an example for others to follow to manage e-waste, the work of e-waste management companies reduces to a great extent as it creates general awareness among the public. We are living in a time when advancements in high technology have produced enormous amounts of e-waste which lie accumulated in offices and homes. And with each passing year, the volume of e-waste generated is skyrocketing. The quick production of advanced technology and efficient electronic devices is compelling people to discard the older ones within a short period. With each electronic device going to waste, the mission of making the country e-waste free is getting tougher. Even the devices that are in good working condition, e-waste? Many people wonder that the electronic devices that are in working condition but are lying unused do not mean they are e-waste. This is a wrong perception. If you have any electronic device placed in the house that has not been used for long, it could be harmful. It does not matter if it is kept safe or in a decent condition. If it is in a good condition it must be donated or given to a charity. It will be considered harmful because of the dangerous toxic chemicals that automatically leach from the metals present in the devices, especially the batteries. From IT and communication devices, home appliances, entertainment gadgets to electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) used for medical purposes and in other offices fall under the category of e-waste. The list of typical e-waste products appears perennial as it includes almost every electronic and electrical device that is commonly used. Is every e-waste hazardous? Generally, e-waste is considered harmful and dangerous because of leaking toxic chemicals from it. The basic composition of all electronic products contains a variety of harmful materials like lead, cadmium, beryllium, and mercury, which have the potential to cause some serious harm or damage to the precious environment and thriving wildlife. They harm the ecological balance by polluting various habitats. Leaching occurs when an e-waste item starts to break up into microscopic bits entering the landfill. And finally, these harmful traces of toxins seep into the ground under the landfill resulting in elevation of the number of toxic materials present in the groundwater. The apex health body, World Health Organization (WHO) by the United Nations has declared that risks are likely to go up after coming in direct contact with such toxic materials that leak from e-waste. Inhalation of toxic fumes is equally dangerous. The accumulation of toxic chemicals in our soil, clean water, and healthy food are detrimental to our health. Safe e-waste disposal Our government has set up a good example for others to follow, especially the bulk producers of e-waste.Recycling or donating the no-longer-in-use electronic devices aids in enabling sustainable ecosystems/resources. It always helps to dispose of e-waste through formal methods instead of dumping them out in the regular bin. The best solution is to hand over those devices to an authorized recycler or e-waste management firm skilled at performing safe recycling of e-waste products.
