E-waste: A Review
Electronic waste, or e-waste, are electronic products that have become unwanted or non-working, and hence are thrown into waste. As technology advances at such a high rate, many electronic devices become “waste” after a few short years of use as the users upgrade their devices very quickly. In fact, whole categories of old electronic items contribute to e-waste when new ones are available in the market, such as telephones being replaced by mobiles players, and mobiles are replaced every 2 years as better models are launched. E-waste is waste created from anything electronic: computers, TVs, air conditioners, mobile phones, VCRs, CD players, fax machines, printers, etc.
Electronic waste is rapidly filling the landfills of the globe. In the US, more than 100 million computers are discarded with less than 20% being recycled properly. Whereas, India just recycles 4% of the e-waste. Globally, as much as 60 million metric tons enter landfills every year. These electronics contain some form of harmful materials such as beryllium, cadmium, mercury and lead. Though these materials might be trace elements, but when summed up in volume, the danger to the environment is significant. Apart from adding harmful elements to the environment, improper disposal of e-waste is a missed opportunity. Almost all electronic waste contains some form of recyclable material, such as plastic, glass and metals.
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| Uncontrolled dumping of e-wastes |
Some Hazardous substances in E-wastes
Lead: Can be found in Solder, CRT monitor glass, lead-acid batteries. Lead exposure can cause impaired cognitive function, behavioral disturbances, attention deficits, hyperactivity, conduct problems, and lower IQ.
Mercury: Can be found in fluorescent tubes, tilt switches, and flat screen monitors. Health effects include sensory impairment, dermatitis, memory loss, and muscle weakness.
Cadmium: Can be found in light-sensitive resistors, corrosion-resistant alloys for marine and aviation environments, and nickel-cadmium (rechargeable) batteries.The inhalation of cadmium causes severe damage to the lungs and can also cause kidney damage. Cadmium can also hamper, learning, behavior, and neuromotor skills in children.
Sulphur: Can be found in lead-acid batteries. Health effects of sulphur include liver, kidney and heart damage, eye and throat irritation. It releases sulphuric acid, sulphur dioxide into the environment.
Brominated Flame Retardants: Used as flame retardants in plastics in many electronics. Health effects include impaired development of the nervous system, thyroid problems, liver problems.
Lack of awareness among many users about the ill effects of the end-of-life products. E-waste has become a major concern in our country. In order to reduce the adverse impact of e-waste on environment and health. There is a need to initiate sustained mechanism to create awareness in order to improve the unorganized sector for recycling e-waste.
As a consumer, one can take small steps in e-waste management by spreading the news about e-waste, the damages caused and all regarding e-waste to your friends, family and people at the workplace.
Take your computer or cell phone or any other electronic goods to your nearest e-waste recycling center if you you want to discard it. Never push off this idea thinking that a small gadget doesn’t matter. Even the tiny cell phone contains thousands of carcinogens that can cause severe damage to the environment.
As we can see from the review that e-waste is a major hazard to the environment. Awareness and recycling is hence required at a huge scale. We at Pyrocrat Systems LLP, under the guidance of Mr. Suhas Dixit recycle plastic and tire waste to make it into usable pyrolyis oil with a patented technoogy.
Read More:
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