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Electronic Waste: Hazardous Trash
ince the nineties, the boom in information technology in India has significantly affected the lifestyle and commodity use pattern. The mobile and PC population in India has thereafter experienced an accelerated growth. The electronic industry thrives on rapid technology change leading to accelerated discards of older models. Generally, electrical and electronic products nearing or at the end of their useful life are called e-waste. While in the US number of discarded personal computers (PCs) is 30 million each year, in India this number is close to 2 million. The open burning and toxic dumping pollute the land, air and water and exposes people to poisonous emissions and effluents. The health and economic costs of this trade are neither borne by the developed countries nor by the waste brokers who benefit from the transaction. Country level assessments of 2004 reports that in India around 5228 tonnes of e-waste is imported illegally and 146180 tonnes of indigenous e-waste are generated annually (Greenpeace India, 2004). Computer e-waste contains a number of toxic substances such as lead and cadmium in circuit boards; lead oxide and cadmium in monitor cathode ray tubes (CRTs); mercury in switches and flat screen monitors; cadmium in computer batteries; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in older capacitors and transformers; and brominated flame retardants on printed circuit boards, plastic casings, cables and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cable insulation that release highly toxic dioxins and furans when burned to retrieve copper from the wires. Handling of various e-wastes are associated with a number of occupational hazards like breaking and removal of copper yoke of CRTs which may lead to silicosis; desoldering and removing computer chips may cause inhalation of tin, lead and mercury; chemical stripping of chips and gold plated components may cause acid contact with eyes resulting in permanent injury and inhalation of mists of acids, chlorine and sulphur dioxide; and open burning of computer wires to recover copper and other parts may lead to inhalation of brominated and chlorinated dioxins and potential carcinogens like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Provisions of the Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules 1989 (2002), Public Liability Act 1991, Guidelines for Safe Road Transport of Hazardous Chemicals, 1995 and The National Environmental Tribunal Act, 1995 indirectly manage the problem of e-wastes in India. However the policies and regulations governing the movement of e-waste in India need to be revisited to arrest the inflow of unwanted goods. A study by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) concerned with the management and handling of e-waste in Delhi established the e-waste trade value chain by identifying the stakeholders, estimating the e-waste quantity and also the trade economics. A national level Working Group on e-waste was formed in 2004 by the CPCB. The group comprises representatives of the government (CPCB, MoEF, SPCBs), NGOs, Industry Associations and experts in the field. The working group is currently carrying out an assessment of current Indian scenario including city level assessments and the projections for the future of electronic goods and the corresponding e-waste. Other GOI initiatives include several sensitization workshops held across the country to address the issues of environmentally sound management (ESM) and e-waste handling. The GOI has also set up a model waste recycling facility near Bangalore involving a private entrepreneur. An inventory of the sources of e-waste in the waste streams of the industry will help designate appropriate roles and responsibilities to all the stakeholders and identify good practices for e-waste management. Capacity building and strengthening local knowledge, particularly of the small businesses, will contribute to the improvement of the quality control in the repair or refurbishment workshops. Development Alternatives (DA) has initiated an environmental audit and code of conduct adoption program for lead manufacturers and is in the process of organising regional stakeholder consultations involving manufacturers, regulators, recyclers on this issue. DA is currently introducing a module on e-waste and its environmental and health impacts, and the desirable management practices at city level. q
Arupendra Nath Mullick
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