Recycling old electronics keeps toxic components from contaminating the environment. Recycled improperly, however, they could end up polluting not only your area but also other countries.
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.”
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.”
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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
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
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Indian Government Proposes Ewaste Producer Responsibility
On 28 April 2010 the Government of India Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in New Delhi issued a draft rule on the management and handling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (called WEEE in Europe but e-waste in India) for a 60-day period of public consultation. The draft 'E-waste (Management and Handling) Rule 2010' is based on the Extended Producer Responsibility principle and is the first such legislation to be put forward by a developing country. According to Abhishek Pratap, Toxics Campaigner Greenpeace India, 'it will not only control the generation of waste at the end stage but also leads to green electronic products in the market.'
Under the proposals, producers would for the first time be responsible for the entire life-cycle of the product from design to waste. The draft rule also includes a provision for the reduction of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment to below prescribed limits and imposes a ban on the import of all used electronic equipment for charity purposes. These provisions are all issues on which Greenpeace India has been campaigning for the last four years. The draft rule is based on the recommendations made by Greenpeace together with the Indian Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology (MAIT), the German sustainable development promoter GTZ and the Indian environmental non-governmental organisation, Toxics Link, and support from all the major electronic companies in India. The Greenpeace campaign has already resulted in the setting up of a wide range of voluntary take-back and recycling programmes by major electronics manufacturers in India. This in turn has led to an increase in the number of green products on the Indian and global market.
However there are two aspects of the draft rule which Greenpeace believes require further refinement and clarity. The first is the legal ambiguity on financial responsibility of the producers for their historic and future waste – a loophole which Greenpeace fears could be exploited by the producers to duck their responsibilities. The second is the limits set for the reduction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. Instead of adopting the European Union limits which are considered a global standard, the Indian Government has chosen different ones: Greenpeace believes that non-adoption of the EU standard could be detrimental for the growth of the Indian electronics sector at an international level.
Greenpeace is inviting stakeholders to consultation events in different cities around India to provide feedback and suggestions for submission to MoEF.
Under the proposals, producers would for the first time be responsible for the entire life-cycle of the product from design to waste. The draft rule also includes a provision for the reduction of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment to below prescribed limits and imposes a ban on the import of all used electronic equipment for charity purposes. These provisions are all issues on which Greenpeace India has been campaigning for the last four years. The draft rule is based on the recommendations made by Greenpeace together with the Indian Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology (MAIT), the German sustainable development promoter GTZ and the Indian environmental non-governmental organisation, Toxics Link, and support from all the major electronic companies in India. The Greenpeace campaign has already resulted in the setting up of a wide range of voluntary take-back and recycling programmes by major electronics manufacturers in India. This in turn has led to an increase in the number of green products on the Indian and global market.
However there are two aspects of the draft rule which Greenpeace believes require further refinement and clarity. The first is the legal ambiguity on financial responsibility of the producers for their historic and future waste – a loophole which Greenpeace fears could be exploited by the producers to duck their responsibilities. The second is the limits set for the reduction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. Instead of adopting the European Union limits which are considered a global standard, the Indian Government has chosen different ones: Greenpeace believes that non-adoption of the EU standard could be detrimental for the growth of the Indian electronics sector at an international level.
Greenpeace is inviting stakeholders to consultation events in different cities around India to provide feedback and suggestions for submission to MoEF.
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E-waste Must Be Treated On A War Footing
DAVANAGERE: Electronic waste is posing danger to environment and there is an urgent need for its recycling and disposal, said A S Sadashivaiah, chairman of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).
He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating World Environment Day celebrations and the 60th annual conference of Association of Occupational Health Karnataka (AOHK) at JJM Medical College here recently.
"Over 10,000 tonnes of electronic waste is being generated daily in the state. Bangalore alone contributes over 50% of electronic waste (e-waste). A lot of toxic elements are being released to the environment. There is a severe threat to environment if the e-waste is not scientifically treated and disposed off," he said, adding that there is a possibility to recover some precious metals like gold, silver, platinum from e-waste. KSPCB has signed an MoU with a Belgium-based organization for recovering precious metals.
The KSPCB chief asked Davanagere DC P S Vastrad to impose a ban on the use of plastics less than 20 microns. Davanagere MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa inaugurated a training and research centre for occupational health under Bapuji Educational Association here on the occasion. He said necessary money and man power will be extended for the welfare of the people working in various industries.
AOHK president Dr Kanaka Rao, Dr Rajmohan, in-charge director of regional occupational health centre (Bangalore) and the members of AOHK were present. Over 200 delegates from medical colleges and industries took part in the event.
He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating World Environment Day celebrations and the 60th annual conference of Association of Occupational Health Karnataka (AOHK) at JJM Medical College here recently.
"Over 10,000 tonnes of electronic waste is being generated daily in the state. Bangalore alone contributes over 50% of electronic waste (e-waste). A lot of toxic elements are being released to the environment. There is a severe threat to environment if the e-waste is not scientifically treated and disposed off," he said, adding that there is a possibility to recover some precious metals like gold, silver, platinum from e-waste. KSPCB has signed an MoU with a Belgium-based organization for recovering precious metals.
The KSPCB chief asked Davanagere DC P S Vastrad to impose a ban on the use of plastics less than 20 microns. Davanagere MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa inaugurated a training and research centre for occupational health under Bapuji Educational Association here on the occasion. He said necessary money and man power will be extended for the welfare of the people working in various industries.
AOHK president Dr Kanaka Rao, Dr Rajmohan, in-charge director of regional occupational health centre (Bangalore) and the members of AOHK were present. Over 200 delegates from medical colleges and industries took part in the event.
Source: Times of India
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