By Tenzin K. Sherpa
Modernization and advancement of technology have introduced the problem of unsustainable production and consumption, and massive waste generation. There has been a drastic increase in the amount of waste produced across the globe, but efforts to tackle the problem have been insufficient.
A big threat is posed by a less-recognized type of waste called e-waste or Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE) which includes discarded materials from electronic appliances such as computers, phones, refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, etc. The excessive production of e-wastes and their improper disposal can have serious impacts on human health, and the environment. Developing nations, especially, face greater challenges with e-waste management.
India, for example, is “the third largest electronic waste generator in the world after China and the USA” but has the recycling capacity of roughly only “one fourth” of the waste (Mohan). It is crucial to take initiatives to endorse responsible e-waste management urgently, and doing so requires a collective effort from producers and consumers.
Along with an increasing rate of the production and consumption of electronic equipment, there has been a continuous growth in the amount of e-waste generated in the world. The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, (n.d.), reports that there has been an estimated 38% increase in e-waste produced globally from 2010-19 and, “if current trends continue”, “[g]lobal e-waste production...[could] reach 120 million tonnes per year by 2050” (UN environment programme, 2019). This rate of production, consumption, and disposal is unsustainable and strains the planet’s carrying capacity. A major aspect of this problem is that an alarmingly high percentage- more than 80% (DESA, n.d.)- of e-waste is neither reused nor recycled which results in the inefficient allocation of the planet’s limited resources.
E-waste comprises of many valuable resources such as metals, including prized ones like gold, silver, platinum, etc. However, since a large portion of the wastes end up in landfills where they are improperly disposed of, a considerable amount of the planet’s resources is wasted. Therefore, correcting this issue becomes an important factor to prevent the exhaustion of natural resources, and to achieve Goal 12 of UN Sustainable Goals of Responsible production and consumption.
Another significant problem associated with e-waste is its improper disposal and negative impacts on human health and the environment. E-waste may contain hazardous materials like lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, plastics, etc. (Pinto, 2008). These toxins have been linked to diseases such as cancer, and damage to lungs, kidneys, bone structure, nervous system, reproduction, growth of children, etc. (Joon, 2017). Thus, improper treatment of e-waste not only risks direct human exposure to harmful chemicals but also pollutes the air, water, and land, resulting in damaging effects on the ecosystem. This is a greater threat in developing countries like India where waste processing is largely done by the informal sector.
It is estimated that around 90-95% of e-waste is processed by the informal sector which is constituted by marginalized populations that use inefficient, dangerous, and polluting recycling techniques (Turaga et al., 136). The majority of the e-waste which ends up in landfills, instead of being reused or recycled, is treated without safety precautions or any personal protection equipment by untrained workers. Therefore, lack of proper treatment of the toxic materials pollutes the nearby surroundings and, thus, poses serious health threats to communities working and living in such areas.
An additional problem is the global waste trade. Developing countries already face difficulties with inefficient waste management, yet they are burdened with wastes from developed countries who find it more convenient to dispose of wastes by dumping them in other nations. Dumping in less developed nations just adds to more inefficient management of waste and loss of resources.
Like other wastes, e-waste can also be reduced and recycled to lessen environmental impacts. Efficient reduction and recycling methods can be achieved by endorsing more producer responsibility. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which is when producers take an active role in collecting and recycling end-of-life products, can significantly reduce the number of waste materials from the e-waste thrown out by consumers. In recent times, there have been more and more companies that have adopted these efforts aimed at promoting sustainability.
A company that has been actively pursuing this goal in India is Cerebra Integrated Technologies Limited, a public listed IT manufacturer, distributor, and service provider. Cerebra has one of the largest recycling facilities in the country and provides various services such as repair, refurbishment, and reuse of equipment, web-based trading, 100% recycling (with zero use of landfill), and training of technical personnel (Cerebra). Furthermore, Cerebra organizes an awareness program called Clean-Up Week as well.
In 2018, Cerebra conducted an e-waste collection drive, in partnership with other organizations, for a Clean Up week in seven major cities to raise awareness about the environmental and health hazards of e-waste and the proper waste management methods. At the end of the event, the organizers had recovered a staggering 11 metric tons of e-waste (TelanganaToday, 2018). The collection of such a large amount of waste was a victory for both the company and the environment as it means that none of the waste went to landfills and was instead recycled.
Established producers like Cerebra, because of the resources and funds available to them, are able to operate proper recycling facilities that can manage wastes more efficiently and safely. These facilities allow to salvage a larger percentage of resources like precious metals from e-waste; this process of “urban mining” is more energy-efficient than extracting metals from ores. Furthermore, these facilities also clear the problem of untrained personnel handling toxic wastes.
Producers’ role in overseeing end-of-life products, with services like takebacks and repair, can help limit the amount of waste generated from them. Moreover, if policies mandating this were instated, they could incentivize producers to build longer-lasting devices and equipment, and minimize the number of waste materials in their products. Thus, the responsibility of the production sector can also help to achieve the goal of sustainable consumption and production.
In developing countries like India, the recognition of the informal sector as a major contributor to waste management is a crucial step for developing a sustainable waste-management model. As discussed before, an undeniably large percentage of the waste is processed by workers who do not have access to personal protective equipment and do not know about correct disposal methods for e-waste. The problem of e-waste is, therefore, integrated with the problem of unorganized waste management.
Several non-profit organizations have realized this and are working to uplift the informal sector in the country. One such organization is the Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group. Chintan primarily focuses on consumption and waste issues and works with communities to advocate for environmental justice. A notable initiative of Chintan is its program to train informal recyclers who make a living by picking waste. Chintan provides several training modules that educate waste recyclers not only about the types, origin, and proper disposal methods of e-waste but also regarding other topics such as management of bank account, and legal which are important factors for those dependent on recycling as an income source literacy (https://www.chintan-india.org/ for-wastepickers).
Knowledge of efficient recycling helps the marginalized population working in the waste sector to maximize their profits and, at the same time, improve their health. Thus, with proper guidance and support, they can turn a challenge into an opportunity for health, social, and economic uplift.
Furthermore, Chintan also contributes largely to environmental conservation by managing “30 tons of solid and electronic waste every day in the Delhi region...” (https://www.chintan-india.org/what-we-do#looseend) which is the most populated region in India. Chintan accomplishes this by working with informal sector recyclers, thereby providing jobs to marginalized populations while simultaneously reducing the harmful effects of e-waste on the environment. Thus, Chintan’s efforts reveal that the gradual transformation of the informal sector may be a promising venture for the advancement of the economy and the waste management sector.
The most important role in achieving sustainability, arguably, is played by individuals. However, most people are unaware or unconscious about how irresponsible individual actions can add up to create bigger issues. This is the case observed in the problem of e-waste. Consumer ignorance has led to “[End of Life] appliances stockpiling in households” and thus making them “unavailable for collection and subsequent resource recovery” (Parajuly et al., 2019, p.17). Lack of awareness of the impacts of e-waste may also be a factor contributing to mass-consumerism trends and excessive generation of waste. Therefore, awareness programs to inform consumers- individuals and businesses- about the impending issue of e-waste are essential.
Programs targeting the collection process of waste management can prove an efficient method. One of such programs is Chintan’s “Pick My Trash” or PMT that incorporates door to door collection and awareness in Delhi. This kind of awareness can be efficient as consumers are contacted directly and informed about the best disposal methods for e-waste. However, programs funded by the government could prove more effective in raising awareness at a national level.
Rising amounts of e-waste is a global challenge that has impacts on every individual. Although there have been efforts from companies, organizations, and individuals, more active initiatives to counter the problem are still much needed. It must be understood that e-waste is an impending threat to the environment and that there should be stricter policies regulating them. The effort must come not only from governments of developing countries but also from the developed countries who have better resources to address the challenge.
References
Cerebra. (n.d.). E-waste Recycling. Retrieved from http://cerebracomputers.com/ewaste-Joon, V., Shahrawat, R., & Kapahi, M. (2017, September 7). The Emerging Environmental and Public Health Problem of Electronic Waste in India. Journal of Health and Pollution,7(15), 1-7. doi: 10.5696/2156-9614-7.15.1 Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6236536/
Mohan, V. (2020, July 4). India third largest e-waste generator in the world, capacity limited to treat only one fourth of its waste. Times of India. Retrieved from https://timesofindia. indiatimes.com/india/india-third-largest-e-waste-generator-in-the-world-capacity-limited-to-treat-only-one-fourth-of-its-waste/articleshow/76780611.cms
Parajuly, K., Kuehr, R., Awasthi, A. K., Fitzpatrick, C., Lepawsky, J., Smith E., Widmer, R., & Zeng, X. (2019). Future E-waste Scenario. StEP (Bonn), UNU ViE-SCYCLE (Bonn) & UNEP IETC (Osaka). Retrieved from https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500. 11822/30809/FutEWSc.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=ychintan-india.org/for-wastepickers
Pinto, V.N. (2008, August). E-waste Hazard: The Impending Challenge, Indian Journal of Occupational &Environmental Medicine, 12(2), 65-70. doi: 10.4103/0019-5278.43263. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2796756/
TelanganaToday. (2018, October 26). Cerebra green recovers 11 mt of waste. Retrieved from https://telanganatoday.com/cerebra-green-recovers-11-mt-of-e-waste
Turaga, R. M., Bhaskar, K., Sinha, S., Hinchliffe, D., Hemkhaus, M., Arora, R., Chatterjee, S., Khetriwal, D. S., Radulovic, V., Singhal, P., & Sharma, H. (2019). E-Waste Management in India: Issues and Strategies, Vikalpa: The Journal for Decision Makers, 44(3), 127-9162. doi: 10.1177/0256090919880655 Retrieved from https://greene.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020120983.pdf
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, DESA. (n.d). Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, Overview. Retrieved December 19, 2020, from https://sdgs.un. org/ goals/goal12
UN environment programme. (2019, January 24). UN report: Time to seize opportunity, tackle challenge of e-waste [Press release]. https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/un-report-time-seize-opportunity-tackle-challenge-e-waste
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