Govt may ban import of e-waste

The government is considering banning the import of used computers and other electronic waste - coming primarily from developed nations such as US, Australia, Canada and parts of Europe - after several cases of e-waste smuggling came to light recently.

A decision is likely to be taken at the Economic Intelligence Council meeting scheduled for this month to be chaired by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The matter had come up for discussion at the coordination committee meeting of various economic intelligence agencies chaired by revenue secretary Sunil Mitra in mid-July. Mitra had then asked the director general of foreign trade to frame suitable changes in the policy to ban such imports.

The e-waste issue assumed significance after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized some containers in Chennai containing large quantity of such waste. The imports were made despite a prohibitory order in this regard. The half-a-dozen seized containers were filled with outdated computers and electrical waste. On further investigation, it was found that containers carried hundreds of tonnes of e-waste sourced from Australia, Canada, Korea and Brunei in violation of norms.

E-waste is being dumped in the country by developing nations using loopholes in domestic rules which allow NGOs and educational institutions to import such gadgets freely on the pretext of donations.

Conscious of the fact that huge shipments of e-waste generated in developing countries are finding convenient burial ground in India, the government had through a public notice on May 13, 2010 prohibited educational and other institutions from importing second hand computers, laptops and computer peripherals, including printers, plotters, scanners, monitors, keyboards and storage units. The step was short of a complete ban on such imports.

However, with Customs continuing to seize such illegal shipments, it seems the prohibition order has had little impact. Though the finance ministry is in favour of a complete ban, the commerce ministry does not seem too inclined for such stringent measures.

At the July meeting chaired by the revenue secretary, DGFT had mooted the idea of raising vigilance at ports and asking the Customs department to confiscate such imports if detected, instead of a complete ban.

Till the DGFT came up with the May 13 amendment prohibiting e-waste import, second hand computers and laptops were brought into the country using this clause that allowed such imports through donations made to educational institutions, registered charitable hospitals, public library, research and development organisations and community information centers.

Disposal of e-waste often leads to emission of dangerous gases like in the process of recovery of copper from e-waste dioxins are released in the environment. Toxic cyanide is released in the process of extraction of yellow metal from electrical waste and computer components.

Environmental agencies worldwide estimate dumping of e-waste in India is likely to go up by 500% in the next 10 years. Already, environment bodies estimate India generates nearly 4 lakh tonnes of e-waste annually which is likely to double in the next few years. The country, however, lacks effective disposal mechanism.
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India: A matter of waste

More than 500,000 tonnes of e-waste is generated in India each year while some developed countries also ship their waste there. Recycling electronic waste is big business in India, but at what cost to the environment and public health?

Following The Trail Of Toxic E-Waste

Where does all the electronic refuse our society generates end up? Some of it is shipped illegally from the U.S. to China, reports Scott Pelley, where it is harming the environment and people.

Source: CBS News

E-Waste Recycling Video

The companies Müller Guttenbrunn, Metran and MBA Polymers jointly work on the treatment of E-Waste. This films shows the techniques used to process these e-wastes with the following steps:

1. De-Pollution using a patented smasher, 2. Shreddering in campaigns for only E-Waste, 3. Ferrous metals separations, 4. Non Ferrous Metals separations and these non ferrous metals and printed circuit boards go to smelters and 5. the plastics rich fraction is pre-processed and subsequently recycled into tech plastics that can be re-used in durable products.

Source: Youtube.com

Imported Old Equipment Are Toxic Waste

India must stop importing old equipment (e-waste) from foreign countries because other countries use this as a means to dump their toxic waste. On Friday, various stakeholders ranging from manufacturers to recyclers unilaterally agreed that the import of old equipment for recycling or reuse must be deleted from the final
E-Waste (Handling & Management) Rules 2010. The stakeholders along with the Maharashtra E-Waste Association and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board debated the draft rules. Suggestions and objections from stakeholders were invited and will be sent to the Ministry of Environment and Forest within one week.

“For example, we don’t want foreign countries to provide computers as charity for schools in India. It’s the route for dumping into the country that is used as the final resting place,” said Satish Sinha, executive director, Toxics Link. “We should follow the rules of the Basel Convention that restrict transboundary movement of hazardous waste as India is a signatory to it. Even second-hand goods though permitted by the convention, must not be dumped here.”

The debate assumes significance because the Central Pollution Control Board in February said Mumbai topped the list of electronic waste producing cities in the country followed by Delhi. While in 2005, 146,800 tonnes of e-waste was generated in India, the number is is expected to increase to 800,000 by 2012.

Apart from the listed items that generate e-Waste such as large and small household appliances, toys, medical devices, electronic and electrical tools, there was also a consensus that the new rule should incorporate lighting equipment such as CFL bulbs and lights.

Unlike Europe and even China, the draft rules either do not define threshold limits of chemicals in materials that can be make its way into the country or they are much below those specified world over. This leads to dumping of low quality products in India.
Source: Hindustan Times

Flying Squads To Track E-waste

The Maharashtra Government will soon appoint flying squads to check the disposal of e-waste, which has a hazardous impact on the city’s environment.

An announcement in this regard was made by Minister of State for Environment, Sachin Ahir in the Legislative Council last week. “The flying squads are necessary to monitor disposal of e-waste in the city, as a report released by state pollution board indicates an alarming 50,000 tonnes of e-waste could be generated per year,” Ahir said.

The state has started disposal centres at Taloja, Butibori and Ranjangaon near Pune. Containers carrying e-waste are being tracked by GPS system to ensure waste is disposed properly, the minister said.

The Centre has come up with a draft proposal to be converted into an Act for proper disposal of e-waste and has invited suggestions. Mumbai generates 20,000 tonnes of e-waste and old computers account for 14,000 tonnes. The rest is generated by old TV sets, washing machines and refrigerators. 
Source: Mumbai Mirror

Maharashtra Association Will Help Draft E-Waste Policy

With the rise in use of electronic goods, the amount of e-waste produced has also risen to alarming levels. To address the issue, the Maharashtra E-Waste Association (Mewa) has been invited by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to get suggestions on the draft of the E-Waste (Handling and Management) Rules, 2010.

The initiative is being taken by Clean Sweep Forum (CSF), an NGO which has been advocating proper waste management for the last eight years.

The NGO, along with MEWA, is now organising a seminar with all the stakeholders to come up with an agreed set of comments and suggestions to be considered for the e-waste policy.

“We have been waiting for the government to formulate the rules since a long time. Since the last two years, we have been organising awareness programmes for the public, students and others on e-waste. It is imperative for us to study the draft rules and give our considered views on it as it will affect us directly,” said Raj Kumar Sharma, Convenor, CSF.

E-waste needs to be recycled and reused, say experts. However, there is no set policy on e-waste and most of its disposal is done by the informal sector.

“While developed countries have a process to dismantle and recycle, in India there is no such policy. Most of it goes to the ragpickers who then sell it to the informal industry in Saki Naka and Dharavi where cheap TVs or computer sets are made out of it,” said Sharma.
Source :DNA

E-waste Volume To Increase In Coming Years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India would be confronted with the threat of accumulation of E-waste in the coming years if necessary policy and regulations are not put in place to check its growth now, says a paper presented at the recently held 'Kerala Environment Congress-2010.'

The total e-waste in different forms in the country would now come to around more than 1.46 lakh tonnes per year and this is expected to exceed eight lakh tonnes by 2012, Kurian Joseph, Assistant Professor, Environmental Engineering, Centre for Environmental Studies, Anna University, Chennai said.

Stating that E-waste has given rise to new environmental challenges,Joseph said Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu,Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh generate 70 per cent of the total e-waste in the country.

Quoting a study by an NGO,he said Bangalore city with 1,322 software companies, 36 hardware units and business process outsourcing units disposes 8000 tonnes of waste per year.

The biggest concern with E-waste was the presence of toxic materials such as lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic, printer cartridge inks and toners that pose significant health risks, he said.

These components can contaminate soil, groundwater and air as well as affect the workers of the recycling units and the community living around it, he said.

Iron and steel were the most common materials found and accounted for half of the total E-wastes, followed by plastics and Non-ferrous metals, he said.

'Toxic substances and other harmful substances are usually concentrated in printed circuit boards' he said in the paper titled 'Electronic Waste Management-An Indian Outlook'.

'Though, the share of E-waste may not be alarming at this stage, it is necessary to take preventive steps to contain this, before it reaches unmanageable proportions', he said.

Advocating an E-waste Policy for the country, he said main objectives should be minimising E-waste generation,using the E-waste for beneficial purposes through environment friendly recycling process and ensuring environmentally sound disposal of residual waste.

Source: Economic Times

India's Poor Risk 'Slow Death' Recycling 'E-Waste'

NEW DELHI (AFP) – Young rag-pickers sifting through rubbish are a common image of India's chronic poverty, but destitute children face new hazards picking apart old computers as part of the growing "e-waste" industry.

Asif, aged seven, spends his days dismantling electronic equipment in a tiny, dimly-lit unit in east Delhi along with six other boys.

"My work is to pick out these small black boxes," he said, fingers deftly prising out integrated circuits from the pile of computer remains stacked high beside him.

His older brother Salim, 12, is also hard at work instead of being at school. He is extracting tiny transistors and capacitors from wire boards.

The brothers, who decline to reveal how much they earn a day, say they are kept frantically busy as increasing numbers of computers, printers and other electronic goods are discarded by offices and homes.

Few statistics are known about the informal "e-waste" industry, but a United Nations report launched in February described how mountains of hazardous waste from electronic products are growing exponentially in developing countries.

It said India would have 500 percent more e-waste from old computers in 2020 than in 2007, and 18 times more old mobile phones.

The risks posed to those who handle the cast-offs are clear to T.K. Joshi, head of the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health at the Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi.

He studied 250 people working in the city as recyclers and dismantlers over 12 months to October 2009 and found almost all suffered from breathing problems such as asthma and bronchitis.

"We found dangerously high levels -- 10 to 20 times higher than normal -- of lead, mercury and chromium in blood and urine samples," he told AFP.

"All these have a detrimental effect on the respiratory, urinary and digestive systems, besides crippling immunity and causing cancer."

Toxic metals and poisons enter workers' bloodstreams during the laborious manual extraction process and when equipment is crudely treated to collect tiny quantities of precious metals.

"The recovery of metals like gold, platinum, copper and lead uses caustic soda and concentrated acids," said Joshi.

"Workers dip their hands in poisonous chemicals for long hours. They are also exposed to fumes of highly concentrated acid."

Safety gear such as gloves, face masks and ventilation fans are virtually unheard of, and workers -- many of them children -- often have little idea of what they are handling.

"All the workers we surveyed were unaware of the dangers they were exposed to. They were all illiterate and desperate for employment," said Joshi. "Their choice is clear -- either die of hunger or of metal poisoning."

And he warned exposure to e-waste by-products such as cadmium and lead could result in a slow, painful death.

"They can't sleep or walk," he said. "They are wasted by the time they reach 35-40 years of age and incapable of working."

There are no estimates of how many people die in India from e-waste poisoning as ill workers generally drift back to their villages when they can no longer earn a living.

"The irony is that the amounts of gold and platinum they extract are traces -- fractions of a milligramme," said Priti Mahesh, programme coordinator of the New Delhi-based Toxic Link environment group.

"Computers, televisions and mobile phones are most dangerous because they have high levels of lead, mercury and cadmium -- and they have short life-spans so are discarded more," she said.

The Indian government has proposed a law to regulate the e-waste trade, but Delhi environment group the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said any legislation would miss the army of informal workers such as brothers Asif and Salim.

"The proposed law says only big firms should be in the business of recycling and dismantling," said Kushal Pal Singh Yadav, a CSE campaigner.

"This is not going to work because the informal sector already has a cheap system of collection, disposal or recycling in place -- so people will use that."

For Joshi, the sight of children working in appalling conditions taking computers apart is as potent a symbol of India's deep troubles as rag-pickers sorting through stinking household rubbish dumps.

"India needs laws which will protect workers' interests, especially the vulnerable and children. We have a lot to learn from Western societies about workers' rights," he said.
Source: Yahoo News

Discarded Electronics Could Be Next Medical Miracle

Researchers have discovered a way of taking a component of the fastest growing waste stream, e-waste, and transforming it into a beneficial medical use.

The University of York’s Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence presented findings from their research on June 23 suggesting the chemical compound polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA), a key element in televisions and computers with liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, can be used as an anti-microbial substance to combat bacterial infections such as Escherichia coli (E-coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (staff infection).

The liquid crystals contained in LCD screens are potentially hazardous, representing an increasingly hazardous material entering the waste stream as technology continues to advance and millions of LCDs are discarded each year.


European Union legislation prevents the disposal or incineration of electronic materials in landfills, and with little to no viable recovery techniques, it became clear to the researchers new solutions for LCDs were needed.

“The influence of LCDs on modern society is dramatic – it is estimated that 2.5 billion LCDs are approaching the end of their life, and they are the fastest growing waste in the European Union,” said Andrew Hunt of the York Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence.

“But we can add significant value to this waste. By heating then cooling the PVA and then dehydrating it with ethanol we can produce a high surface area mesoporous material that has great potential for use in biomedicine.”

The York research team had previously found a method of recovering PVA from television screens and transforming it into a substance for tissue scaffolds which aid in body part regeneration. Due to its compatibility with the human body, the PVA substance could also be used in pills and dressings designed to deliver drugs to targeted parts of the body.
Lori Brown is a staff member of Earth911.

Electronic Waste Management

In the 1970s, Gordon E. Moore theorized that computer processing power doubles about every 18 months, especially relative to cost or size. His theory, known as Moore’s Law, has proved largely true. Thinner, sleeker, and faster computers are regularly produced and sold as replacements for their larger, slower predecessors. While this is good news for the both the consumer and the manufacturer it results in an ever increasing source of electronic garbage.

And certainly this phenomenon is not limited to computers. Most consumer electronics and even unsophisticated household appliances are built with internal processors which are also doomed to eventual obsolescence. Each day, various types of consumer electronics are constantly being upgraded or completely scrapped in favor of technological advancements. In the process, scores of old VCRs, Walkman cassette decks and bulky video cameras become what is known as “e-waste” or electronic waste.

Certain e-waste items are particularly harmful. For instance, CRT-based computer and television monitors contain on average four to eight pounds of lead, a highly toxic heavy metal. Unfortunately, improper disposal of e-waste creates a significant burden on landfills because toxic substances can leach into the soil and groundwater. Absent recycling, the problem could escalate.

The total annual global volume of e-waste is expected to reach about 40 million metric tons. This amount is likely to increase because e-waste is growing at three times the rate of other municipal waste. Although e-waste accounts for only one to four percent of municipal waste, it may be responsible for as much as 70 percent of the heavy metals in landfills, including 40 percent of all lead. As individuals and corporations alike become more conscious of the increasingly unfortunate effects of this type of ecological pollution the question of how to properly handle e-waste becomes an important one. Where in the past consumers were happy to bury and forget all kinds of waste now they are concerned with the ultimate effects of such behavior.

Some governments are getting involved in the problem by passing laws or advocating changes in the waste management policies of the private sector. Government officials feel it is important that not just companies, but consumers are made aware of the issue, with many pressing for educational efforts geared at educating the general public about the dangers of ignoring and the potential benefits of recycling e-waste. Many corporations and waste management companies also feel it’s of the utmost importance that the average consumer understands which electronics need special care when it comes time to dispose or recycle them, pointing out that even though large companies do produce a large amount of e-waste the bulk comes from individuals.

One solution is that e-waste should not be considered waste. It is a resource. Useful materials such as glass, copper, aluminum, plastic and other components can often be extracted and reused. Some manufacturers have even referred to e-waste as a valuable source of materials. Many landfills and waste processing plants have instituted new procedures to assure that the valuable materials found in e-waste are not accidentally buried and forgotten. Waste management services in Australia, Asia, Europe and North America have begun concerted efforts to capture these precious resources rather than let them be discarded forever. Some companies around the globe even have made a business model based on the excavation of disused landfills. Recycling valuable materials form years gone by.

With an increasing array of environmentally-friendly options now available, people should consider recycling or donating their old electronic devices. With either choice, we can reduce the amount of e-waste and actually put our old items to good use.

William Wright writes articles for Veolia Environmental Services, http://www.veoliaes.com.au/industrial-services/waste-management/ a provider of effective and sustainable waste management in Australia, http://www.veoliaes.com.au/commercial-services/waste-collection-and-recycling with over 30 years experience in waste services in New South Wales. Veolia is an established industry leader on e-waste recycling in Adelaide. Visit http://www.veoliaes.com.au/ for more information.

Source: ArticleCity

Government to bear 50% Capex for e-waste recycling facilities on PPP mode

Mr Rajiv Gauba, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests proposed that “both Central and State Government to share 25% capital expenditure each for creating recycling facilities in the Public-Private-Partnership mode“ at the CII organized “National Forum on eWaste” on 26th May 2010 in New Delhi. He said “Government with support from Industry has to take a practical and pragmatic approach for effective implementation of the upcoming e-waste policy” and invited suggestions from all stakeholders.  He added that the draft policy is based on concept of extended producers’ responsibility and focuses on the infrastructure creation for e-waste refurbishing, recycling and awareness creation at all levels.

Mr Gauba said that e-waste generation is expected to touch 8 lacs tonne by 2012, which is 5 times growth in less than 5 years, even when the per capita generation of ewaste in India is very low in global comparisons. He complimented Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for creating a an interactive platform for multi-stakeholders at the opportune time to discuss the challenges, issues and bring ideas and suggestions for draft National Policy on e-Waste.

Dr Saroj, Director, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt of India, while discussing the draft policy on e-waste, said “As per India’s culture and heritage, the concept of positive reuse will be promoted through refurbishing and only something which cannot be reused must be recycled in a scientific manner.” She emphasized that the main focus should be on efficient collection centres that can be made through industry consortiums, state agencies etc. She also requested for comprehensive proposals for financial support systems in this regard.

Dr Saroj informed that the draft policy puts more responsibility on Producers and Dealers and it is suggested that Dealers for electronic products would need to be registered with State Pollution Control Boards and have efficient buy-back policies and mechanisms in place. She also said “MoEF does not want India to become a dumping ground on plea of charity”.

Mr. Kensaku Konishi, President & CEO, Canon India Pvt Ltd said “The electronics manufacturers’ and large users of IT & electronics products need to effectively participate in e-waste management programmes and cultivate an eco-friendly culture.” He added that “the need of the hour is to take a business approach which is socially responsible and economically logical – as we do at Canon and believe that we are building a better world for future generations.” He further said “Unique challenges of Indian unorganized sectors, skilling, training and awareness creation along with thoughtful refurbishing and dismantling – to extract precious metals in safest manner are some other areas to be worked upon.”

Ms Ritu Kappal, COO, Greenscape Eco Management Pvt Ltd applauded the fact that the Policy encourages producers to strengthen their reverse logistical processes and collaborate with authorized recyclers’ so that a framework develops for appropriate implementation of the policy”.

Some other key speakers and participants represented companies like HP, Nokia, Wipro, HCL, Ramky, MAIT, CEAMA, ELCINA, Toxic Links, Greenscape, E-Parisaraa, Greenpeace.

Guidelines For Environmentally Sound Management of Electronic Waste

Central Pollution Control Board: India
Guidelines For Environmentally Sound Management of Electronic Waste

CPCB Guidelines

Developing Nations Face Environmental Crisis From E-waste

Developing nations will face a major environmental and public health crisis from e-waste if they do not quickly put in place measures for safe recycling and disposal of electronics, the U.N. Environmental Program has warned.

E-waste refers to the problem of improperly disposed of electronics such as computers, televisions and cell phones. These devices are made with highly toxic metals, plastics and chemicals that can leach into the environment if not handled carefully.

Already, e-waste is a growing problem worldwide, especially in developing nations. The U.N. report notes that most e-waste in China is not properly disposed of. The most common disposal method consists of incineration in small, backyard recylclers to extract valuable metals contained within discarded devices. Yet the report's authors note that such recyclers recover metals at very low rates, while expelling large, steady toxic plumes into the sky. In contrast, modern industrial recycling facilities are able to recover gold, silver, copper, palladium, indium and other precious metals much more efficiently and with significantly less pollution.

China currently produces 2.3 million tons of e-waste, surpassed only by the United States' 3 million tons.

Demand for electronic devices is growing, with sales expected to increase dramatically across China, India, Africa and Latin America in the next 10 years. This is especially alarming given that disposal methods in these regions are still insufficient for even current levels of e-waste.

By 2017, e-waste from old computers alone is expected to increase to 500 percent above 2007 levels in India, and between to between 200 and 400 percent above these levels in South Africa and China. Waste from old cell phones is set to increase sevenfold in China and eighteenfold in India. Television waste is slated to increase by 1.5 to two times in both countries.

"This report gives new urgency to establishing ambitious, formal, and regulated processes for collecting and managing e-waste via the setting up of large, efficient facilities in China," said Achim Steiner director of the U.N. Environment Program.
Source: Natural News

Huge Amount of E-Waste Poisonous to All

Between 20 and 50 million tons of electronic wast (or e-waste) are produced annually around the world. This adds up to 5 percent of all waste, the same amount as plastic products.
The problem with e-waste is that a single product such as a cellphone or a computer contains between 500 and 1000 parts, many of which are made from toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium and hazardous chemicals, such as brominated flame retardants.
These chemicals are especially dangerous to workers who produce or dispose of such products, particularly children and pregnant women. Extremely low levels of exposure to lead and mercury can harm children and fetuses.
Cellphones and computers do not need to contain these chemicals to function. A few major companies (Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, and Sony) have pledged to remove these life-threatening components from their products. Others have made no comment on the subject.

(Some facts from Greenpeace: The average lifespan of computers in developed countries has dropped from six years in 1997 to just two years in 2005.

Mobile phones have a lifecycle of less than two years in developed countries.
183 million computers were sold worldwide in 2004 - 11.6 percent more than in 2003.
674 million mobile phones were sold worldwide in 2004 - 30 percent more than in 2003.

By 2010, there will be 716 million new computers in use. There will be 178 million new computer users in China, 80 million new users in India.)
Source: AllVoices

Urgent Need to Prepare Developing Countries for Surge in E-Wastes

Rocketing sales of cell phones, gadgets, appliances in China, India, elsewhere forecast.

Proper e-waste collection, recycling key to recovering valuable materials, protecting health, building new green economy.

Sales of electronic products in countries like China and India and across continents such as Africa and Latin America are set to rise sharply in the next 10 years.

And, unless action is stepped up to properly collect and recycle materials, many developing countries face the spectre of hazardous e-waste mountains with serious consequences for the environment and public health, according to UN experts in a landmark report released today by UNEP.

Issued at a meeting of Basel Convention and other world chemical authorities prior to UNEP's Governing Council meeting in Bali, Indonesia, the report, "Recycling - from E-Waste to Resources," used data from 11 representative developing countries to estimate current and future e-waste generation - which includes old and dilapidated desk and laptop computers, printers, mobile phones, pagers, digital photo and music devices, refrigerators, toys and televisions.

In South Africa and China for example, the report predicts that by 2020 e-waste from old computers will have jumped by 200 to 400 percent from 2007 levels, and by 500% in India

By that same year in China, e-waste from discarded mobile phones will be about 7 times higher than 2007 levels and, in India, 18 times higher.

By 2020, e-waste from televisions will be 1.5 to 2 times higher in China and India while in India e-waste from discarded refrigerators will double or triple.

China already produces about 2.3 million tonnes (2010 estimate) domestically, second only to the United States with about 3 million tonnes. And, despite having banned e-waste imports, China remains a major e-waste dumping ground for developed countries.

Moreover, most e-waste in China is improperly handled, much of it incinerated by backyard recyclers to recover valuable metals like gold - practices that release steady plumes of far-reaching toxic pollution and yield very low metal recovery rates compared to state-of-the-art industrial facilities.

"This report gives new urgency to establishing ambitious, formal and regulated processes for collecting and managing e-waste via the setting up of large, efficient facilities in China," says UN Under-Secretary-General Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP. "China is not alone in facing a serious challenge. India, Brazil, Mexico and others may also face rising environmental damage and health problems if e-waste recycling is left to the vagaries of the informal sector.

"In addition to curbing health problems, boosting developing country e-waste recycling rates can have the potential to generate decent employment, cut greenhouse gas emissions and recover a wide range of valuable metals including silver, gold, palladium, copper and indium - by acting now and planning forward many countries can turn an e-challenge into an e-opportunity," he added.

The report was issued at the Simultaneous Extraordinary Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions on enhancing their cooperation and coordination (ExCOP).

It was co-authored by the Swiss EMPA, Umicore and United Nations University (UNU), part of the global think tank StEP (Solving the E-waste Problem), which includes UNEP and Basel Convention Secretariat among its 50+ members. Hosted by UNU in Bonn, Germany, the think tank convenes experts from industry, government, international organizations, NGOs and science. A grant from the European Commission, Directorate-General for the Environment, funded the report's preparation.

The report cites a variety of sources to illustrate growth of the e-waste problem:

* Global e-waste generation is growing by about 40 million tons a year

* Manufacturing mobile phones and personal computers consumes 3 per cent of the gold and silver mined worldwide each year; 13 per cent of the palladium and 15 per cent of cobalt

* Modern electronics contain up to 60 different elements - many valuable, some hazardous, and some both

* Carbon dioxide emissions from the mining and production of copper and precious and rare metals used in electrical and electronic equipment are estimated at over 23 million tonnes - 0.1 percent of global emissions (not including emissions linked to steel, nickel or aluminum, nor those linked to manufacturing the devices)

* In the US, more than 150 million mobiles and pagers were sold in 2008, up from 90 million five years before

* Globally, more than 1 billion mobile phones were sold in 2007, up from 896 million in 2006

* Countries like Senegal and Uganda can expect e-waste flows from PCs alone to increase 4 to 8-fold by 2020.

* Given the infrastructure expense and technology skills required to create proper facilities for efficient and environmentally sound metal recovery, the report suggests facilitating exports of critical e-scrap fractions like circuit boards or btteries from smaller countries to OECD-level, certified end-processors.

Says Konrad Osterwalder, UN Under-Secretary General and Rector of UNU: "One person's waste can be another's raw material. The challenge of dealing with e-waste represents an important step in the transition to a green economy. This report outlines smart new technologies and mechanisms which, combined with national and international policies, can transform waste into assets, creating new businesses with decent green jobs. In the process, countries can help cut pollution linked with mining and manufacturing, and with the disposal of old devices."

Country Situations

The report assesses current policies, skills, waste collection networks and informal recycling in 11 representative developing economies in Asia, Africa and the Americas:

* China, India

* South Africa, Uganda, Senegal, Kenya, Morocco

* Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, Peru

It also outlines options for sustainable e-waste management in those countries.

The data includes equipment generated nationally but does not include waste imports, both legal and illegal, which are substantial in India, China and other emerging economies.

Broken down by type, the report estimates e-waste generation today as follows:

* China: 500,000 tonnes from refrigerators, 1.3 million tonnes from TVs, 300,000 tonnes from personal computers

* India: over 100,000 tonnes from refrigerators, 275,000 tonnes from TVs, 56,300 tonnes from personal computers, 4,700 tonnes from printers and 1,700 tonnes from mobile phones

* Colombia: about 9,000 tonnes from refrigerators, over 18,000 tonnes from TVs, 6,500 tonnes from personal computers, 1,300 tonnes from printers, 1,200 tonnes from mobile phones

* Kenya: 11,400 tonnes from refrigerators, 2,800 tonnes from TVs, 2,500 tonnes from personal computers, 500 tonnes from printers, 150 tonnes from mobile phones

The report also includes data on per capita sales of electrical and electronic goods. For example South Africa and Mexico lead in personal computer sales with the equivalent of 24 sold per 1,000 people. Brazil, Mexico and Senegal generate more e-waste per capita from personal computers than the other countries surveyed.

Way Forward

Developing vibrant national recycling schemes is complex and simply financing and transferring high tech equipment from developed countries is unlikely to work, according to the report.

It says China's lack of a comprehensive e-waste collection network, combined with competition from the lower-cost informal sector, has held back state-of-the art e-waste recycling plants.

It also notes a successful pilot in Bangalore, India, to transform the operations of informal e-waste collection and management.

Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Morocco and South Africa are cited as places with great potential to introduce state of the art e-waste recycling technologies because the informal e-waste sector is relatively small.

Kenya, Peru, Senegal and Uganda have relatively low e-waste volumes today but likely to grow. All four would benefit from capacity building in so-called pre-processing technologies such as manual dismantling of e-waste.

The report recommends countries establish e-waste management centers of excellence, building on existing organizations working in the area of recycling and waste management.

Existing bodies include those supported by the United Nations including the more than 40 National Cleaner Production Centers established by the UN Industrial and Development Organization and the regional centers established under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

As E-Waste Mountains Soar, UN Urges Smart Technologies To Protect Health

With the mountains of hazardous waste from electronic products growing exponentially in developing countries, sometimes by as much as 500 per cent, the United Nations today called for new recycling technologies and regulations to safeguard both public health and the environment.

So-called e-waste from products such as old computers, printers, mobile phones, pagers, digital photo and music devices, refrigerators, toys and televisions, are set to rise sharply in tandem with growth in sales in countries like China and India and in Africa and Latin America over the next 10 years, according to a report issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The study, Recycling – from E-Waste to Resources, launched at a meeting of hazardous wastes experts in Bali, Indonesia, predicts that by 2020 e-waste from old computers will have jumped by 500 per cent from 2007 levels in India, and by 200 to 400 per cent in South Africa and China, while that from old mobile phones will be 7 times higher in China and 18 times higher in India.

At the same time, most e-waste in China is improperly handled, much of it incinerated by backyard recyclers to recover valuable metals like gold, practices that release steady plumes of far-reaching toxic pollution and yield very low metal recovery rates compared to state-of-the-art industrial facilities.

“This report gives new urgency to establishing ambitious, formal and regulated processes for collecting and managing e-waste via the setting up of large, efficient facilities in China,” UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said. “China is not alone in facing a serious challenge. India, Brazil, Mexico and others may also face rising environmental damage and health problems if e-waste recycling is left to the vagaries of the informal sector.

“In addition to curbing health problems, boosting developing country e-waste recycling rates can have the potential to generate decent employment, cut greenhouse gas emissions and recover a wide range of valuable metals including silver, gold, palladium, copper and indium. By acting now and planning forward many countries can turn an e-challenge into an e-opportunity.”

The report, issued at a conference of parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions dealing with hazardous wastes ahead of UNEP’s Governing Council meeting in Bali, recommends that countries establish e-waste management centres of excellence, building on existing organizations working in the area of recycling and waste management.

China’s lack of a comprehensive e-waste collection network, combined with competition from the lower-cost informal sector, has held back state-of-the art e-waste recycling plants, it said, while noting a successful pilot in Bangalore, India, to transform informal e-waste collection and management.

Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Morocco and South Africa are cited as places with great potential to introduce state-of-the-art e-waste recycling technologies because the informal e-waste sector is relatively small. Kenya, Peru, Senegal and Uganda have relatively low e-waste volumes today but these are likely to grow. All four would benefit from capacity building in so-called pre-processing technologies such as manual dismantling of e-waste, the report says.

It notes that China already produces about 2.3 million tonnes of e-waste domestically each year, second only to the United States with about 3 million tonnes, while it remains a major dumping ground for developed countries despite having banned e-waste imports.

“One person’s waste can be another’s raw material,” said Konrad Osterwalder, Rector of the UN University (UNU), which was among the co-authors of the report together with the Swiss EMPA research institute and Umicore, an international speciality materials group. “The challenge of dealing with e-waste represents an important step in the transition to a green economy.

“This report outlines smart new technologies and mechanisms which, combined with national and international policies, can transform waste into assets, creating new businesses with decent green jobs. In the process, countries can help cut pollution linked with mining and manufacturing, and with the disposal of old devices.”

E -Waste Gyaan For Aam Admi

MPCB to conduct workshop on e-Waste management

Mumbaikars have been found guilty of flouting environmental norms with regard to disposal of e-Waste. So, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has decided to hold a one-day workshop for the aam admi or common man, to teach them e-Waste management. he workshop to be conducted at the MPCB office at Sion on July 16 will be open to all.

Y B Sontakke, regional officer (e-Waste) from MPCB said people will be taught to dispose e-Waste safely.
Citing a recent example, another official from MPCB said that tonnes of hazardous waste were found lying at Kharghar ground. "We are yet to find out, who dumped the material there," he added.

B K Soni, an expert on e-Waste recycling, said, "Representatives from both residential complexes and industries are invited. The purpose is to make people aware of the hazards of dumping e-Waste carelessly and the damage it can do to nature."

Approved Recycling plants in Mumbai
Bhiwandi: 2
Thane: 2
Pune: 2
Murbad: 1
Vasai: 1