GLOBAL AND INDIAN SCENARIO OF E-WASTE MANAGEMENT:

A REVIEW
Jhanvi Rakeshbhai Desai
Department of Environmental Engineering, Sarvajanik College of Engineering and Technology,
Surat, Gujarat, India

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ABSTRACT: Increasing trends of e-waste implication and hazard of indecorous handling could be a global
menace. Both the developed and developing countries like Republic of India are inquiring the matter of
e-waste management. The rapid growth of technology attended with up gradation in technical innovation and
high rate of degeneration in electronic industry has created e-waste as one of the quickest growing waste
streams in the world. ‘E-waste’, also referred to as Waste Electrical and equipment (WEEE), means that all
the electrical and electronic product which are reached the end of their ‘useful life’ or became obsolete. Due
to improper handling of E-waste, the hazards posed by this kind of waste have reached an alarming state at
international level. Some elements of certain e-wastes will be reused, refurbished, or recycled in an
environmentally acceptable manner to reduce their adverse environmental impacts. This review paper
highlights the hazards caused due to improper handling of E-wastes and also describes some acceptable
measures to be adopted for its management and safe disposal. It also discusses in brief regarding various
choices, which may be enforced using 4-R (reduce, reuse, recover and recycle) approach.

Keywords- E-waste, global E-waste, health hazards, environmental impact, Developing and Developed
countries, Management, Disposal.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. INTRODUCTION

Electronic waste or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) has become a primary question
of the 21st century. World’s largest and fastest growing manufacturing industry is electronic industry. The
generation of huge amount of discarded electrical or electronic device known as electronic waste (e-waste).
E-waste include end-of-life electronic equipment such as computers, laptops, TVs, DVD players,
refrigerators and freezers, mobile phones, MP3 players, etc. [1,2]. Per annum approximately 42 million tons
of global e-waste generated. Illegally developing countries such as India, China, Nigeria, Ghana and
Pakistan import about 50-80% of e-waste from developed countries. Today is more than 7billion industry a
report by United Nation University Prefict that by the year 2020, a growth of 500% would be observed in
india with respect to E-wate from old computers. During the same time, an enormous 7 times and 18 times
increase in E-waste production would be observed from scrap mobile phones in China and India [2,3].
The waste electrical or electronic equipment include all components, sub-assemblies, and consumables,
which are either a part or whole of such products at the time of discarding. The main materials found in
electric and electronic waste are ferrous material (38%), non-ferrous material (28%), plastic (19%), glass
(4%), other including wood, rubber, ceramic, etc. (11%). E-waste contain various item in different range
which make the e-waste more complex in nature. E-waste dismantled in to small components for recycle
treatment which can be categorized as hazardous and non-hazardous material. During recycling process
heavy metals such as lead Pb, mercury Hg, cadmium Cd, chromium Cr, plastics and circuit boards that
contain brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are emitted in to environment which are hazardous. Other
materials that can be present are arsenic, asbestos, nickel and copper may act as catalyst to increase the
formation of dioxins during incineration [1].
In China and India contamination from recycling of electronic waste is 80% higher than that in the rest
of the world. In India due to informal and improper recycling activities it has an urgent need for material

1
resources and a more number of people ready to work for very low salary. In Bangalore from e-waste
recycling recover gold by chemical leaching process. Because of improper processing heavy metals and
Pollutant were reported in areas such as New Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad Trichirappalli and
Gaziabad [3].
In the U.S. for collection of e-waste, for its recycle and reuse design new approaches and systems
which will reduce effect on environment by increasing reuse of appliances and parts, increase the recycling
of materials found in e-waste. In China about 3.3 million tons of waste electronic and electric equipment
generated in 2010. United States Environmental Programme reported approximately 70% of e-waste was
shipped illegally in to China annually. The Chinese government, scientist and public have to give more
attention for e-waste issues. Switzerland was the first country who implement system for the collection and
recycling of e-waste [4,5,6].
E-waste recycling and management facilities and their effect on natural environment was carried out
for Global and India. Analysing the current scenario of e-waste disposal and treatment in world. Manage e-
waste in formal, systematic and eco-friendly manner by recycle metals from waste and there is opportunity
of business, scope for students in developing sustainable models. To aware people about e-waste authorised
collection centres and authorized recyclers for the safe disposal. Provide proper e-waste disposal and
management methods which will not effect on environment and public health [6,7].

2. REVIEW METHODOLOGY

To understand e-waste rules, disposal practice, environment and health effect for awareness in
consumers. From study of published researches and collected information focusing on environmental effect
of heavy metals and other pollutants which are released from e-waste. The main objective of this study was
to assess the e-waste management scenario. Large numbers of people are migrated for employments which
are directing informal recycling activities. In India about 95% of informal e-waste recycling sector. As per
available research papers, reports and news informal sectors are systematically organised in India and
provide services for dismantling, collection, segregation and recycling of e-waste [3].

3. GLOBAL SCENARIO OF E-WASTE

Globally, various legal frameworks have been approved to regulate e-waste. The Basel Convention on
the Control of Trans boundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and its Disposal plays a significant role in
control the E-waste trade from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
countries to Non-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. The Europe
has taken a lead to protect the environment from hazards of E-waste in Europe by framing two important
rules, WEEE rule and Restriction of use of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in Electrical and
Electronic Equipment Regulations directives. Many countries have enforced WEEE rules with detailed
guidelines to assist the producers and consumers in understanding their duty to handle E-waste in
environmentally sound manner [1]:

3.1 China

In generation, there are primarily three forms of destinations for e-waste generated in China. Firstly,

used electrical and electronic product may enter into the second-hand markets. The majority of
Chinese folks would like to store their previous home appliances reception or workplace instead of dispose
them. Once given a substantial value, folks are willing to sell their e-waste. However because of an
enormous urban-rural gap within the economic development, these second-hand product would be probable
purchased by rural residents, effectively extending their time period. Secondly, they may be given to
poor folks in western China. In the past, organizations, corporations or people given obsolete electronic
appliances to hope faculties or poor areas. In laws on Recovery process of Waste Electrical and
Electronic product, such transferring behaviours are expressly prohibited. Finally, obsolete appliance can
be recycled by personal corporations for raw materials. Such recycler sometimes purchase WEEE
from house users at a relative low value, however they are doing not have skilled disposal
facilities; therefore, environmental pollution is especially caused by this channel of e-waste disposal [2,5].

2
 In China, the electronic waste is regulated by the Administration of Control of Pollution caused by
electronic information products. Accordingly, the designer and manufacturer of electronic information
product is required to design and manufacture electronic information products in accordance with national
industrial standards. The administration also has provision for penalty on importers, sellers, manufactures,
and designer of noncompliance of the laid-down standards [1,2,5].

3.2 UK

Working on consumers’ behaviour within the UK, question the widely-held belief that E-waste is
caused by a need for the most recent technology or innovation. Most of the consumers in Sharston and
Manchester, for instance, expressed their temperament to get products with a similar practicality once they
dispose their faulty electronics. Several discarded EEEs are either in excellent operating condition or
have only minor defects. However, those disposing their still operational products are willing to
get updated products. Shoppers are observed to have little information of disposal routes for E-waste apart
from public recycling facilities. Waste Electrical and electronic equipment, as derived from the WEEE
directive, associate degree EU directive, transcribed into UK legislation after being gone by Parliament in
2007. The legislation has place the responsibility of the coverage, financing, and treatment compliance
obligations on the operators (private sector) of the producer compliance schemes, instead on every individual
producer. Also, the operator is answerable for registering its members with the acceptable national regulator
and for providing the details of equipment made by the members. The producers, pre-processors and
exporters require getting registered with the producer compliance theme by paying the fee, which might be
used as an operational value for running the theme. The national regulator fixes the house WEEE quota for
every producer compliance theme and therefore, the operator needs to make sure that the WEEE assigned
must be treated using best offered treatment, recovery, and recycling techniques [1,2,3].

3.3 The United States

In the US, E-waste generated at the house is taken into account, legally, a non-hazardous waste with its
management remains for the most part a municipal responsibility and a state affair. Storage remains the
popular methodology to manage end-of- life house electronics in the country, followed by disposal with
solely a little portion recycled. Over 70% of obsolete client electronic devices are stored in storage on a
mean for 3–5 years. The financial responsibility for management of E-waste is entrusted to the shoppers,
instead of to the producers. As a consequence, ‘extended consumers’ responsibility (ECR)’ is supported
rather than EPR. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s information shows that regarding eightieth
people shoppers are willing to pay a fee of not more than 360 Rs. for recycling of obsolete electronics.
California is the first state in the country to frame e-waste law in which collecting the Advance
Recycling Fee (ARF) from the consumer at the time of purchase of new product. The system charges ARF
ranging from US Six dollar to US ten dollar for electronic items like TVs, laptops and monitors [2,5].

3.4 Switzerland

Switzerland is the earliest country in the world to establish a formal management system for E-waste
and nowadays, may be a leading country in E-waste assortment. The pioneering Swiss E-waste management
system is predicated on the principles of EPR—both operationally and lawfully inserting the financial and
physical responsibilities for the eco-friendly E-waste recycling, treatment and disposal pro-cesses on
EEE makers and exporters. The basic reason for the success of E-waste management initiatives in
the country has been its accountable, environmentally awaare and law lasting customers who come
back their discarded appliances to the selected retail-outlets or assortment points or directly transport E-
waste to the recyclers at regular intervals. Further, SENS and SWICO, are the core of Swiss E- waste take-
back system with over ninetieth of the E-waste from personal customers is collected and
treated below the management of one of these two take back schemes. Supported by a complicated
recycling Fee (ARF) that the customers pay whereas buying their EEEs, comprehensive take-back
and recycling system shave been established by both SENS and SWICO. ARF is a lot of a client instead
of an investor sponsored system, wherever a purchaser is significantly keener on paying a small price at the
time of purchase of a product than paying for the discarding of an item that's unworthy [2,7].

3
3.5 Germany

In Germany, taking the obsolete electronics to designated collection locations is considered a

household’s statutory duty. Else, the consumers have to pay in order to get their collected E-waste. Never the
less, Dimitrakak is argues that the E-waste collection system in Germany is yet to be entirely successful in
convincing consumers to hand over their used EEEs through dedicated routes meant for addressing the E-
waste crisis in the country. This often brings the whole E-waste collection schemes into question. For
instance, in spite of the obligation for separate collection and sorting, analyses reveal that E-waste
(especially small obsolete electronics) compose from 0.4% w/w up to 1.5% w/w of the household residual
waste stream. In Germany, the EAR project acts as an E-waste clearing house between municipalities and
producers, warranting monitoring and compliances so that producers accomplish their compulsions under the
German Elektro Ger¨ate Act [2, 3, 8].

3.6 Ghana

In Ghana, consumers dispose of their E-waste through informal scrap collectors. E-waste collectors
(mostly youth) execute door-to-door collections from different consumers such as private homes, institutions
etc. Previously the collectors did not have to pay anything for obsolete EEEs which have changed with
increasing competition fuelled by increasing youth unemployment and the entrance of collectors with more
potential. As a result, today, the waste has begun to attract a competitive price with primary observations
suggesting that a collector has to pay dollar 1–2.5 for an obsolete desktop computer. Further, at
Agbogbloshiein Accra (a globally infamous E-waste dumping site) heaps of inoperative old EEEs are
continually being dumped without any consideration to the environmental hazards and threats to the people
living in the vicinity. In a survey, Ghanaian participants displayed same level of awareness of the adverse
environmental and health impacts of the current E-waste management practices in Agbogbloshie (Greater
Accra), Koforidua (Eastern) and Kwadaso (Ashanti) irrespective of age, occupation or level of education
attained. Observed that male students are more environmentally aware than their female compatriot in
Ghana [2, 3, 8].

3.7 Nigeria

In Nigeria, there is no well-established collection, separation, storage, transportation, recycling,

disposal facilities and appropriate E-waste management program at present. E-waste handling system in the
country is largely informal. Residents are found to be willing to support and pay for sound E-waste
management in Okigwe and Isuikwuato towns. Consumers with higher income are observed to be more
likely to participate voluntarily in E-waste recycling programs [2, 3, 8].

3.8 Japan

The legal scenario in Japan on E-waste is analogous to the conditions in the European Economic

Community to an exact extent. From the year 2001, policymakers in Japan propagated a comprehensive
array of laws, rules and rules to convert E-waste into resources. The house Appliance exercise Law
(2001), as an example, permits customers to come their obsolete EEEs to makers for exercise. E-waste is
basically collected by merchandiser retailers from the customers and after transported to choose stockyards.
In different cases, customers directly get their E-waste to the selected stockyards or to the
municipalities within reach, where, municipalities are in command of the transportation of E-waste to the
stockyards of these initiatives lead to Japan being solely second to the EU in absolute volumes of E-waste
recycled, achieving a 70% recovery of households’ E-waste generation. however, one in all the most
important reasons behind 1/2 the out-of-use home appliances in Japan being exported
as used things was determined to be the actual fact that the customers are duty-bound to pay the exercise and
transportation prices once they discard their obsolete natural philosophy. Customers will avoid paying

4
the exercise and transportation expenses if they sell their obsolete home appliances to exporters. Such
reusable resource’s outflow will weaken Japan’s domestic system for exercise [2, 3, 8].

4. INDIAN SCENARIO OF E-WASTE

The problems associated with E-waste in Asian nation started egress once the first section of economic
relief, after 1990. Due to the stiff competition within the market of brand name, quality, price, and services
offered between the various Indian and Foreign companies, the electronic and shopper sturdy business grew
in Asian nation. Also, throughout the post-liberalization era, because of cheaper rate and increase within the
shopping for capability of the folks, there was a huge boom for the electronic merchandise business in Asian
nation, significantly for the house appliances (TV, white goods, washer, AC, ovens, etc.),
telecommunication, IT and computers.
Further, because of infrastructure reforms and e-governance, IT revolution in Asian nation is marked by
the appliance of information technology throughout an enormous approach altogether areas. Per TRAI,
Asian nation another 113.26 million new cellular customers in 2008, with a five million customer’s another
monthly. Cellular market grew from 168.11 million in 2003–2004 to 261.97 million in 2007–2008 (TRAI
2008–09). In 2006, microwave ovens and air conditioners registered a growth of regarding twenty fifth.
White goods sales amounted to four million in a year 2006–2007, and its production went up by
Revolutionary Organization 17 November as compared to the preceding year. Laundry machines, that have
invariably seen poor growth, have seen cheap growth in 2006. The penetration level of colored televisions
(CTVs) is exaggerated thrice by 2007.

25000

20000

15000

10000

5000

0
ra u sh es
h a l
l hi ka ra
t
es
h a b
ht ad de ng De ta ja nj
as il
N a ad e a
Gu ad Pu
ar Pr Pr t B rn Pr
ah Ta
m ra ar es Ka a
dh hy
M Utt W ad
An M

WEEE (Tonnes)

Figure 1. E-waste generation from top ten states of India

Source: Scenario of E-waste in India and application of new recycling approaches for E-waste management. A.Jayapradha.
s.l.: Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2015
These developments, beside endemic technological advancement, have junction rectifier to an
addition of wide gamut of E-waste churned out from Indian households, industrial establishments, industries,
and public sectors into the waste stream. Solid waste management, that's already a mammoth task in Asian
nation, has become a lot of adverse by the invasion of E-waste, notably laptop waste to Asian nation, from
fully different element of the world. So far, the preliminary estimates suggest that total WEEE generation in
Asian nation is or so one, 46,180 tonnes/year that's anticipated to exceed 800,000 tonnes by 2012.The top
states, in order of highest contribution to WEEE, include Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, uttar
pradesh, west bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab. Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore,
Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmadabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Surat, and Nagpur are city-wise ranking of largest WEEE
generators [1, 3, 4, 7].

4.1 Present E-waste management system in India

5
 In India, most of the operations associated with E-waste like collections, segregation, activity,
recycling, and disposals are performed manually. In the absence of adequate technologies and
instrumentality, most of the techniques used for the recycling/treatments of E-waste are very raw and
dangerous. Improper recycling and disposal operations found in different cities of India often involve the
open burning of plastic waste, exposure to poisonous solders, dumping of acids, and widespread general
dumping. As a result, pollutants are drop into the land, air, and water, which are the cause of serious
environmental issues in India. Also, the labours and employees utilized employed activity and recycling
units are poorly literate and uneducated, lacking the essential data concerning the intense activity and health
risks related to the operations. Most of the time, activity and employment operations are performed by the
employees without proper Personnel Protection instrumentality. Mostly hammers, chisels, hand drills,
cutters, electrical torch/burners, and a few time electrical drills were used for dismantlement the WEEE.
These operations are applied in very congested places within the Center of cities and slums. Mostly, the
dismantlement and employment areas are without any proper lighting and ventilation. In the absence of
appropriate techniques and infrastructure, the employees and laborers operating in such areas are vulnerable
to serious activity health hazards therefore, there's no organized or formal E-waste management system in
India.
In distinction to Switzerland, wherever customers pay a recycling fee, in India it's the waste collectors
who pay customers a positive value for his or her obsolete appliances. The small collectors, in turn, sell their
collections to traders who mixture and type completely different forms of waste then sell it to recyclers, who
recover the metals. The most important disadvantage of this Indian system is that the uncontrolled emission
of hazardous toxins that are going into the air, water, and soil. The health hazards from fumes, ashes and
harmful chemicals affect not only the employees who come into contact with the e-waste, but also the
environment [1, 3, 4, 7, 8].

5. CONCLUDING REMARK

The survey information and analysis provides a broad image that general client awareness is extremely
good but when it involves the disposal practices they're not alert to the collection centres, the rules and
proper disposal practices and therefore resulting in the mix it up with the solid waste and fail to dispose of it
an environmental friendly method. In the entire supply chain of E-waste, the attention of the buyer is of most
importance because it helps in developing a mind-set of reuse, repair and recycle which can facilitate proper
e-waste management to protect the livelihood, health, environment, and sustainable development. A tax
could also be mandatory for every unit of e-waste that is to be disposed of safely. This could promote the
makers to form the use of reusable, reclaimable and recoverable elements in their products. These measures
will bring down the quantities of WEEE and also, their adverse environmental and physiological impacts.

6. REFERENCES

1. E-waste scenario in India, its management and implications. Sushant B. Wath, P.S.Duttt, T. Charabarti.
s.l. : Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2010.
2. Review Emerging trends in consumers’ E-waste disposal behaviour andawareness: A worldwide
overview with special focus on India. Anwesha Borthakura, Madhav Govind. s.l. : Resources,
Conservation and Recycling, 2016.
3. Environmental pollution of electronic waste recycling in India: A Review. Abhishek Kumar Awasthi,
Xianlai Zeng, Jinhui Li. s.l. : Environmental Pollution, 2016.
4. E-waste consciousness and disposal practices among residents of Pune city. Viraja Bhat, Yogesh Patil.
s.l. : Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2013.
5. Exploring e-waste management systems in the United States. Ramzy Kahhata, Junbeum Kima, Ming
Xua, Braden Allenbya, Eric Williamsa,b, Peng Zhanga. s.l. : Resources, Conservation and Recycling,
2008.
6. Present status of e-waste disposal and recycling in China. Lin Weia, Yangsheng Liub. s.l. : Procedia
Environmental Sciences, 2012.
7. A comparison of electronic waste recycling in Switzerland and in india. Deepali Sinha-Khetriwala,
Philipp Kraeuchib, Markus Schwaninger. s.l. : Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 2005.

6
8. Contamination by trace elements at e-waste recycling sites in Bangalore, India. Nguyen Ngoc Ha a,
Tetsuro Agusa a,b, Karri Ramu a, Nguyen Phuc Cam Tu c, Satoko Murata a,. s.l. : Chemosphere, 2009.