E-Waste Global

Govt may ban import of e-waste

2010-09-14T02:09:00.000-07:00

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 The half-a-dozen seized containers were filled with outdated computers and electrical waste.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.
[source]

India: A matter of waste

2010-09-14T02:04:00.000-07:00

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?

Go Green — With Every Opportunity

2010-07-28T21:48:00.000-07:00

Energy conservation measures that enable TCS to help itself, others.

TCS, has analysed and measured its employees' per capita carbon footprint, and worked towards reducing it by 20 per cent from its 2006 levels.
M. Ramesh
R. Ravikumar

If you look at it from an ecology perspective, the role of information technology divides in a ratio of 98:2. The ‘2' refers to the contribution of IT to the emission of greenhouse gases and what the industry should do about it. The other 98 per cent is an area where IT can play a role in helping other industries bring down emissions, and generally live a green life.

The first 2 per cent is responsibility, the other 98 per cent is business. As the world goes green, there is a huge role and business opportunity for IT to help in the process.

The green thrust across the world is opening up new areas of operations to the IT industry. Europe, for instance, has avowed to produce 20 per cent of the electricity it needs from renewable sources, by the year 20:20. This ‘20:20:20' movement calls for an addition of 30,000 MW of wind power capacity, most of which will come offshore.

To take the example of ‘wind' further, the offshore technology is still emerging and a lot of money is being sunk into perfecting the machines and the foundation they stand on and in fact there are efforts put into making them towable. Imagine the amount of work that would need to be done at the back offices, where the R&D is developed and perfected.

And if you get into other renewable energy (RE) sources — solar, wave, geothermal and so on — the quantum of work that is due to be done is enormous — and so is the opportunity to the (Indian) IT industry.

Tata Consultancy Services, for one, has spotted this opportunity. It has created a vertical to address this area — the ‘Eco Sustainability Service'. The unit is busy selling its services.

Samir Menon, Head – Client Relationships, Eco Sustainability Service, TCS, lists out four areas where the IT industry will be able to straightaway chip in — design and development where IT can provide modelling and simulation services, enhancing efficiency of existing systems, maintenance (a big cost and an opportunity especially in offshore wind farms) and understand customer requirements, which is a bit of an MIS.

This, of course, is for starters. There is plenty more to do as we go along. For instance, decommissioning, an issue an(y) industry would need to address upfront, but is mostly not being done now. As technology improves and you want to replace your legacy system with a better one, you wouldn't want to be grappling with an unforeseen eWaste issue, notes Menon. The IT industry (itself a eWaste generator) can hardly afford not to go green itself, regardless of the fact that its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is only 2 per cent. The technology of virtualisation has helped enormously, as you could telescope a host of servers into one and thereby save space, material and, importantly, air-conditioning.

IT starts at home

There are many other areas too where the IT industry can shrink its carbon footprint.

TCS again has done a few things in this direction. Lakshminarasimham Srinivasan, Head – Strategic Business Unit, Eco Sustainability Services, TCS, has analysed and measured its employees' per capita carbon footprint, and worked towards reducing it by 20 per cent from its 2006 levels. “Our target is to reduce it by 25 per cent by 2012,” he says. The company's server Consolidation & Virtualisation in data centres resulted in 79 per cent savings in power consumed by servers in 2008-09. Usage of power-efficient monitors resulted in a drop of 57 per cent in monitor power during the year. On per capita basis, it works out to 15.6 per cent reduction.

There is a lot an IT company can do to reduce its carbon footprint, says Srinivasan. TCS, for instance, replaced all its CRT monitors with TFT monitors. It introduced ‘desktop hibernation' to reduce wastage of energy during non-office hours.

Time and temperature control on air-conditioners and provision of intelligent light sensors, minimising use of halogen and other energy-intensive lighting, use of non-conventional energy resources such as solar water system and bio-digester also helped in a big way.

Importantly, “we cut down on travel by deploying over 200 video conferencing units,” says Srinivasan.

In 2008-09, TCS saw a 42 per cent drop in paper consumption, which it achieved by measures such as providing duplex printing by default to all printers and replacing paper and plastic cups with ceramic mugs. It is not inconceivable that like TCS, the other IT biggies have their own programmes, regardless of whether or not they have created a business unit to capture green business. However, there is not much evidence of the medium and small IT companies being sensitised to this business opportunity. For them, it is time to get cracking.

mramesh@thehindu.co.in

Source: Business Line

Following The Trail Of Toxic E-Waste

2010-07-23T04:26:00.000-07:00

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

Bio Waste Management Short Film

2010-07-23T04:08:00.000-07:00

Fruit and vegetable waste can be used as Fermented Edible products, Animal Feed, Ethanol, Production of Bio-gas and producing Electricity by Bio - Methanization Plant, Compost making, etc...

Waste Management and Recycling

2010-07-23T03:59:00.000-07:00

Concern over our environment has seen a massive increase in recycling globally which has grown to be an important part of modern civilization.

As a society we manage to produce a vast amount of materials that are just thrown away, waste management is the collection of these materials in order to recycle them and as a result decrease their effects on our health, our surroundings and the environment. Practices in waste management are different the world over, dependent on certain issues such as how developed the nation is, if it is a city or rural area and so on. The management of waste is not only the responsibility of governments and the manufacturer, but also an individual’s duty. Waste management is an issue that has to be dealt with daily in order to control the huge amounts of waste currently passing through our towns and cities.

Australia is one such country that is giving attention and priority to how it handles its waste, and this has resulted in the emergence of companies offering environmental services for resource recovery and recycling. To reduce the impacts of waste and unwanted resources on the environment it is important to educate the populace about waste items and how they can be processed or recycled.

There are several resource recovery systems in place and facilities that have been developed to deal with these issues. Natural recovery systems make use of of food, organic and green waste and are then dealt with in in-vessel compost systems, whilst materials collected for recycling include glass, plastic bags, metals and paper. Automated and manual methods are used to sort materials from construction sites, such as brick, tiles and concrete and after being sorted are re-used for road base and construction materials. E-waste (electronic waste) comes from items such as old computers which are taken apart in order to recover materials like cabling, aluminium, copper, glass and plastics. Bioreactor landfills are deployed to generate green energy through the capturing of biogas from municipal waste. There is also help provided for councils to award innovative technologies which can be used to recover recyclables.

We can all help out when it comes to waste management and recycling products. It may not seem effective to recycle products as a household, but put all those households together and you will produce a result. It is each person’s responsibility to do what they can to conserve resources, reduce landfill volumes and produce new materials using less energy. Some cities in developed nations keep a record of their resource recovery systems in order to identify if they are working effectively, evaluate them and update them if necessary, this information can then be passed onto other areas or nations to help them in the recycle challenge. Deciding to recycle is a simple step and surprisingly easy to start. If you are unsure where to begin there are lots of resources, including the local environmental sector, who will be eager to teach you how to recycle your leftover waste and check on the internet too for information.

Michiel van Kets provides articles for Renee Fry who is the owner of Veolia Australia’s environmental services leader in all facets of waste management and recycling in Australia.

E-Waste Recycling Video

2010-07-23T03:57:00.000-07:00

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

Report: Global Market for E-Waste to Reach $11.4 Billion by 2014

2010-07-21T22:57:00.000-07:00

Nonexistent in 1989, e-waste is currently the fastest-growing waste stream in the world.

(BCC Research: Wellesley, MA) -- According to a new technical market research report, “Electronic Waste Recovery: Global Markets (MST037B)” from BCC Research, the global market for electronic waste (e-waste) materials was an estimated $8.5 billion in 2009, but is expected to increase to nearly $13 billion in 2014, for a 5-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9 percent.

The largest segment of the market, made up of recycled metals, is expected to reach $11.4 billion in 2014, after increasing at a CAGR of 8.8 percent from the estimated 2009 value of $7.5 billion.

The segment made up of recycled plastics was estimated to be worth $976 million in 2009, and is expected to increase at a CAGR of 10 percent to reach nearly $1.6 billion in 2014.

The smallest segment of the market, recycled silica, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1 percent, from $4.9 million in 2009 to $6.9 million in 2014.

It’s remarkable to think that e-waste did not exist before 1989, and now it is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. For purposes of this report, e-waste is described as discarded, surplus, obsolete, or broken electrical or electronic devices. This includes all components of the waste stream, including metals, plastics, silica, and other materials. On average, e-waste equals between 3 and 5 percent of the solid waste stream in developed countries. Of that e-waste, approximately 75 to 85 percent ends up in landfills or is incinerated, and is not recycled.

The global municipal solid waste stream (MWS) was estimated in 2009 at nearly 400 million tons.

A concerted effort to reclaim discarded e-waste from the MWS is being undertaken by almost all countries, with varying degrees of success. This study forecasts future global markets for recovery, reuse, and disposal of e-waste.

Part of this analysis focuses on producer responsibility for appropriate recovery and disposal. With rapidly shifting global regulatory trends, led by the European Union’s directives, worldwide changes in the material composition and end-of-life treatment of electric and electronic equipment are being mandated. These policies are compelling manufacturers to migrate to nontoxic materials, at the same time they require manufacturers to manage the life cycles of those materials.

This report is targeted primarily at those engaged in the design, manufacture, sale, use, recovery, and disposal of electric and electronic equipment. The market analysis can be of use to senior decision makers, business development managers, and investment professionals, including engineers, product development managers, and economic analysts.

BCC Research is an information resource producing high-quality market research reports, newsletters, and conferences. BCC's market research reports explore major economic, scientific, and technological developments in industrial, pharmaceutical, and high technology organizations. Industry analysis and market forecasts for advanced materials, high-tech systems and components, nanotechnology and novel processing methods are at the forefront of the company's expertise.

An Inconvenient Truth: Al Gore Documentary On Global Warming

2010-07-18T23:06:00.000-07:00

Al Gore's Documentary on Global Warming:
Everything are changing !the Earth is getting worse.Human life are damaged.

Imported Old Equipment Are Toxic Waste

2010-07-18T22:53:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-18T22:45:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-12T21:41:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-08T23:25:00.000-07:00

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

Managing E-Waste; India poised for EPR?

2010-07-06T21:47:00.000-07:00

It’s time we do not bank totally on producers. Rather, the government should help in setting up collection and disposal facilities for e waste. B K Soni, chairman, Eco Recycling Ltd, discusses this and more with ET bureau.

“If e waste were not hazardous, it would still be a nuisance but it would no longer be deadly & destructive to human health & viable ecosystems. If the manufacturing was done cleanly without hazardous inputs & processes, it would be possible to overcome the worst of the high-tech environmental nightmare” — Jim Puckett in Exporting Harm: The High-Tech Trashing of Asia, published by the Basel Action Network.

The above words speak volumes on e-waste and how the problem of managing such waste could be detrimental to the global eco system. Like many agencies and countries around the world, there is a growing consciousness on the issue in India.

The government has drafted new rules that make a producer of electrical and electronic equipment responsible for the collection and appropriate disposal of e-waste generated at the end of life of its products. The draft called E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2010 was made public on the website of the Ministry of Environment and Forests in May and was considered necessary for ‘public interest’.

Side by side with these rules, the government has also decided to fund establishment of e-waste treatment facility as part of its waste management programme for 140 highly contaminated sites in the country.

However, the two decisions do not seem to be converging at any point though both revolve round e-waste. While the financial package stands to be a move merely on paper with no amount of commitment attached to it, both the decisions should have been clubbed together and made public for better tackling of the issue.

Also, the fact that the draft rules are aimed at ‘the interest of the public’ only, points to the fact that animals and plants, which stand to suffer from hazardous materials in e wastes, have not been included. Such a rule seems to have neglected the environmental problems at a larger scale.

On whether the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) concept (stated in Chapter II, responsibilities of producers, point number 3), will be an effective tool to meet the objectives remains to be ascertained. In reality, this seems to be a move in keeping with the EPR rules in the EU or the US.

In India, EPR could stand for ‘Environment Protection Ruled out’ as the larger cause of environment is missing. This seems an impractical move on behalf of the government. If e wastes are known to have several recoverable material then why is it termed as ‘waste’?

Waste in context to electronic devices have seen the process of change in the form of commodity to product and product to commodity. If this be the case, then there seems to be no ‘waste’.

It seems to be a move with vested interests whereby what can be reused is also termed as waste.

The draft rules suggest registration of refurbishers, dealers and other intermediaries. Is it in reality for the Pollution Control Board or other nodal agencies to ‘regulate’ so many entities?

In drafting this rule, the main point of logistics has been ruled out. If the chain begins at the manufacturer’s level and moves on to the dealer and then to the consumer, one main aspect of ‘intermediaries’ such as the transporter who works for the dealer or the repairing company that the dealer has access to, are also part of the process before recycling happens.

These ‘support services’ have no direct link to the producer while the rules say that all such support services also need to be registered. The intention of the government seems defocused here.

For effective implementation of rules, it is imperative to register only the producers and recyclers. As 90% of the recycling process gets over at the dismantling level, then where is the need of having a separate set of dismantlers and recyclers?

As material flow is not so high, not everybody needs to be involved in 100% recycling. Rather, 10% can be outsourced. Question also arises if e waste is already part of the Hazardous Waste Rules of 2008, then where was the need to draft new set of rules?

While there’s no significant difference in the two, the present set of rules seem much more diluted in nature and is largely aimed at protecting the interests of brand manufacturers.

E waste being hazardous, government should be focusing more on inventory movement rather than focus on commercial transactions.

The government should support the recycler to reach a level of self sustainability. If rules need to be implemented what is needed is creating of awareness and building on the existing facilities. Government role should end at the breakeven point and stretch no further.

It could help management of e waste through other proactive means such as concessional loans, duty free imports of machinery or private-public equity support. One big support that the govt can extend is to give recyclers the inventory of e waste it has rather than auctioning and giving the same to kabadis. One-fourth of the country’s e waste production is in govt departments. This could well be given to recyclers.

An enhanced number of recyclers are sure to tackle better the problem of e waste. Companies such as Eco Recycling Ltd have kept in mind environment issues while calling for an end to greediness and selfish motives.

It is time for a fresh call. One of the major challenges before the recycler needs to be addressed immediately. Selling of e waste to kabadis for highest gains should be stopped.

The right time for EPR has not yet come to India. It’s better not to bank completely on producers. Rather the govt should help in setting up collection and disposal facilities.

What remains to be seen is the intention of the government and the involved parties to aid e waste management in the best possible manner.

Eco Recycling Limited (Ecoreco)

Ecoreco provides full spectrum of activities covered under e waste management — right from collection from the door steps of the manufacturers/customers, segregation of remarketable components/equipment, dismantling of end of life equipment, shredding to reduce sizes and ultimate disposal of hazardous substances with the help of designated facility to avoid any negative impact on the environment and ecology and to meet the requirement prescribed by the MOEF/CPCB for the disposal of Hazardous Waste Management.

The company has developed the first-of-its-kind-in-India “Recycling on Wheels” facility for safe & secured destruction of data devices containing confidential & personal information at the client premises itself.

Ecoreco is now ready to commercialise yet another innovation of extraction of precious metals out of the printed circuit boards & other complicated components.

On implementation of this integrated facility, the printed circuit boards and other components which are being presently exported to Europe, will stay in India. Ecoreco invites one and all to become a member of Green Enterprise. Just log on to www.ecoreco.com and do your bit!

(The auhor B K Soni is chairman of Eco Recycling Ltd)
Source: Economic Times

E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2010

2010-07-06T04:54:00.000-07:00

The Central Government considers it necessary in the public interest and to enable the recovery and/or reuse of useful material from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), thereby reducing the hazardous wastes destined for disposal and to ensure the environmentally sound management of all types of waste electrical and electronic equipment. These rules may be called the E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2010. They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

Draft E Waste Rules 2010

Source: Ministry of Environment and Forest

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

2010-07-05T22:48:00.000-07:00

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

How to become an e-Stewards Recycler

2010-07-05T04:12:00.000-07:00

The e-Stewards Certification program combines a highly rigorous, mainstream verification system with the highest standard for electronics recycling. This standard (the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronics®) fully incorporates ISO 14001, the global standard for environmental management systems. All Certified e-Stewards Recyclers will therefore be both ISO 14001 certified and meet industry-specific requirements for globally responsible recycling and refurbishment of electronic equipment.

If a company or organization wishes to become certified, the following are steps typically taken to achieve e-Stewards certification. Details follow:

    * Review the Standard
    * Review the Licensing Agreement
    * Get quotes from Certifying Bodies to conduct the audits
    * Evaluate costs
    * Prepare
    * Schedule Stage 1 audit
    * Address any issues identified
    * Schedule Stage 2 audit
    * Execute BAN’s Marketing and Licensing agreement
    * Receive Certification
    * Promote your company as a Certified e-Stewards Recycler!

Here are the details:

   1. Review the e-Stewards Standard and supporting materials. This should include reviewing the current Sanctioned Interpretations of the Standard, to understand any clarifications or changes to the Standard. Note: there is a fee for the full standard although you may view the free, non-ISO version for information which is for information purposes only.
   2. Review the requirements for multi-site organizations (see below), if applicable, and the e-Stewards Recycler Licensing Agreement with BAN, which is signed after the completion of the audit process
   3. Optional: conduct a gap analysis between your current system and operations and what is needed to operate in conformance with the e-Stewards Standard.
   4. Set up, document, and internally evaluate your environmental management system to operate in conformance with the e-Stewards Standard including ISO 14001. Operate your EMS long enough to obtain necessary records.
   5. 3-6 months prior to readiness for auditing, request bids from one or more e-Stewards Certification Bodies (CB) for auditing services, including all e-waste locations in developed countries, and the 3 year audit cycle (see “Multi-site e-Stewards Recyclers” below). If your organization is already ISO 14001 certified, request information on transferring your existing ISO 14001 certification and therefore reduced costs for your initial e-Stewards audit.
   6. Contract with a CB of choice and schedule the Stage 1 audit, to determine readiness for the Stage 2 audit.
   7. Schedule and complete the Stage 2 audit, and resolve all non-conformities identified during the audit. This may require a return audit.
   8. Sign a marketing and licensing agreement with BAN, and pay an annual fee based on annual revenue generated by e-waste operations. Plan your marketing strategy, with support from BAN.
   9. Receive accredited certification of operations to ISO 14001 and e-Stewards Standard.
10. Begin marketing your operation(s) as a certified e-Stewards company.

After initial certification, auditors return annually at a minimum, to perform surveillance audits (at lower costs) and to ensure consistent conformity with the Standard over time. The certification is for a three years period, as is typical for ISO certifications. After this, a new 3 year audit cycle begins.
Multi-site e-Stewards Recyclers:

Companies/organizations with e-waste recycling operations at multiple locations are required to have all locations certified to the standard within 18 months of the issuance of the first certificate for any individual site, and must commit to and contract with its certifying body for certification of all its operational sites at the outset. This certification can be held either in the form of individual site certificates or in a single multi-site certificate which encompasses all sites.
e-Stewards program costs

There are three costs associated with e-Stewards Certification:

   1. Internal preparation costs
   2. Contracting with a Certifying Body for the audits
   3. The Marketing and Licensing Fee required to use the e-Stewards brand

For complete information on evaluating costs, see e-Stewards Recycling Certification Costs.

Discarded Electronics Could Be Next Medical Miracle

2010-07-05T02:58:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-05T01:40:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-03T01:26:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-03T01:16:00.000-07:00

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

CPCB Guidelines

Where does e-waste end up?

2010-07-02T00:22:00.000-07:00

Many old electronic goods gather dust in storage waiting to be reused, recycled or thrown away. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that as much as three quarters of the computers sold in the US are stockpiled in garages and closets. When thrown away, they end up in landfills or incinerators or, more recently, are exported to Asia.

Landfill

According to the US EPA, more than 4.6 million tonnes of e-waste ended up in US landfills in 2000. Toxic chemicals in electronics products can leach into the land over time or are released into the atmosphere, impacting nearby communities and the environment. In many European countries, regulations have been introduced to prevent electronic waste being dumped in landfills due to its hazardous content. However, the practice still continues in many countries. In Hong Kong for example, it is estimated that 10-20 percent of discarded computers go to landfill.

Incineration

This releases heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury into the air and ashes. Mercury released into the atmosphere can bio accumulate in the foodchain, particularly in fish - the major route of exposure for the general public. If the products contain PVC plastic, highly toxic dioxins and furans are also released. Brominated flame retardants generate brominated dioxins and furans when e-waste is burned.

Reuse

A good way to increase a product's lifespan. Many old products are exported to developing countries. Although the benefits of reusing electronics in this way are clear, the practice is causing serious problems because the old products are dumped after a short period of use in areas that are unlikely to have hazardous waste facilities.

Recycle

Although recycling can be a good way to reuse the raw materials in a product, the hazardous chemicals in e-waste mean that electronics can harm workers in the recycling yards, as well as their neighbouring communities and environment.

In developed countries, electronics recycling takes place in purpose-built recycling plants under controlled conditions. In many EU states for example, plastics from e-waste are not recycled to avoid brominated furans and dioxins being released into the atmosphere. In developing countries however, there are no such controls. Recycling is done by hand in scrap yards, often by children.

Export

E-waste is routinely exported by developed countries to developing ones, often in violation of the international law. Inspections of 18 European seaports in 2005 found as much as 47 percent of waste destined for export, including e-waste, was illegal. In the UK alone, at least 23,000 metric tonnes of undeclared or 'grey' market electronic waste was illegally shipped in 2003 to the Far East, India, Africa and China. In the US, it is estimated that 50-80 percent of the waste collected for recycling is being exported in this way. This practice is legal because the US has not ratified the Basel Convention.

Mainland China tried to prevent this trade by banning the import of e-waste in 2000. However, we have discovered that the laws are not working; e-waste is still arriving in Guiya of Guangdong Province, the main centre of e-waste scrapping in China.

We have also found a growing e-waste trade problem in India. 25,000 workers are employed at scrap yards in Delhi alone, where 10-20000 tonnes of e-waste is handled each year, 25 percent of this being computers. Other e-waste scrap yards have been found in Meerut, Ferozabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai.

(C)UNEP

Source: Greenpeace

Developing Nations Face Environmental Crisis From E-waste

2010-07-01T21:47:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-01T21:36:00.000-07:00

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

Dumped Electronic Items Could Poison The Soil

2010-07-01T21:32:00.000-07:00

Registered recyclers in the UAE are calling for compulsory recycling of yesterday's must-have electronic gadgets, known as e-waste, which if dumped in landfills can leach poison.

As few retailers have a ‘take-back' policy for broken, unwanted electronic goods, coupled with the fact most residents expect a financial reward for their environmental stewardship, the overall concept of recycling — e-waste or otherwise — needs improvement.

Enviroserve, a Dubai-based electrical goods recycler, has already processed 260 tonnes of e-waste this year compared to the 300 tonnes of e-waste for 2009 alone. "Around 40 per cent was mobile phones," said Zornitza Hadjitodorova, e-Waste Division Manager at Enviroserve. They have now launched a home pick-up service for old electrical items to be recycled.

Charity drives often collect old computers for poor nations on the assumption it will help inhabitants "catch up." A few of these hand-me-downs arrive in a usable condition after some refurbishing, but more often the recipients wind up footing the bill for their disposal, reports have shown.

"There is a huge moral aspect in trading old electronic waste. Some companies collect and ship in bulk without sorting through what works and what will collapse within months. We do not trade so we know where it's going," she said. "There needs to be a legislation on obligatory recycling, and more sorting at the plant by waste management companies," added Hadjitodorova.

A Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2009 report showed a huge growth in smart phones, 3G mobile handsets and big screen LCDs. But where can you throw away old equipment?

Rashid Karkain, head of environment planning in the environment department at Dubai Municipality, said e-waste is classified as hazardous waste.

Electronics contain toxic substances such as mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, and beryllium that pose a hazard to both humans and the environment.

Dubai Municipality is planning to compile a report on how to minimise waste in Dubai. Although not complete yet, research has shown that the majority of e-waste is reusable.

Currently 17,000 waste containers are collected from the streets and dumped at landfill. "It is not easy or practical to inspect each and every container," he said. While e-waste from residential areas is not a threat or problem, it still happens that it gets dumped in landfill, he said.

When old TVs and computers are improperly discarded they can shatter and release dangerous amounts of lead into the ground or water table. Extreme care must be taken to dispose of electronic goods in an ecologically sound manner.

The municipality has a free service to remove bulky waste from homes, however a Gulf News survey of branded electronics stores in the UAE found only two of six actually offer to responsibly dispose off obsolete electronic goods.

Plug-Ins Electronic's Go Green programme will take back most electrical items in exchange for a Dh20 voucher. A customer service agent said TVs, DVD players and even microwaves are taken back.

At Sharaf DG, while the company itself does not recycle, clapped-out computers are refurbished and then donated in collaboration with Dubai Municipality.

No ‘take back' or recycling initiatives exist at Jacky's, Jumbo Electronics, LG Lifestyle or Harman Kardon.

Where to recycle e-waste

* Plug-Ins take electronic waste to be recycled in exchange for Dh20 vouchers.

* Sharaf DG will accept old computers, refurbish and donate them. Computers should be brought to Times Square branch.

* Enviroserve offer free home pick ups of 50kg of electronic waste call 800 33232

* Dubai Municipality refurbishes old computers and will pick up bulky waste call 800 0900

Dangers of e-waste

Up to 38 separate chemical elements are incorporated into electronic waste items

* Lead is toxic to the kidneys, accumulating in the body and eventually affecting the nervous and reproductive systems. Children's mental development can be impaired by low-level exposure to lead.

* When burned, PVC produces dioxins, some of the most hazardous carcinogens known.

* Brominated flame retardants have been linked to fetal damage and thyroid problems.

* Barium produces brain swelling after a short exposure. It may cause weakness in muscles as well as heart, liver, and spleen damage.

* Hexavalent chromium damages kidneys, the liver, and DNA. Asthmatic bronchitis has been linked to this substance.

* Mercury is known to harm developing fetuses and is passed through the mother's milk to newborns. In adults it can cause brain and kidney damage.

* Beryllium causes acute or chronic beryllium disease, a deadly ailment affecting the lungs.

* Cadmium is a carcinogen and long-term exposure leads to kidney and bone damage.

-(Source: National Geographic)