E-waste in this technological world is such a big and soon to grow Waste that has become a big crisis for the whole world. So what is E-Waste, Why is it a crisis for us? If you want complete information about this, then you have to read this post completely because here in this article I have tried to explain all the aspects related to E-Waste.
We are so advanced now that it is very difficult for us to think about our life without machines. Whether it is small or huge work, we have to depend on these machines. That’s because we are habitual or too dependant on the machine to make our lives more comfortable. Demand for day-to-day electrical and electronics goods has begun to meet our needs and which is emerging as the leading cause of E Wastes being born later.
E-Waste or Electronic Waste is called nothing but the same electrical goods which we dump or discard after using it. As our population is increasing, our needs are also increasing due to which, the amount of E-waste is also increasing. E-waste of about 50 million tons is being generated every year. Those who have not been managed properly, it can emerge as a major threat in the future.
What is E-Waste?
E-Waste is a full form of Electronic waste. These refer to those electronic goods that we used to be used for our convenience but now they do not use them anymore due to their defect. E-waste of nearly 50 million tons of e-waste is generated annually in the whole world. If they are not properly disposed of or recycled then they can become a major threat in the future. Since technology is getting a lot of advancement, old devices become obsolete by the arrival of new ones.
E-waste is made of any of our electrical or electronic goods such as computers, TVs, monitors, cell phones, PDAs, VCRs, CD players, fax machines, printers, etc. Most electronics, if they are not properly disposed of, they produce many harmful materials such as Beryllium, cadmium, mercury, and lead. These materials are not decomposed themselves, but they are emerging as a major threat to our environment. Therefore it is very important to recycle them properly and efficiently.
What are Main Sources of E-Waste
Well, there are lots of sources of E-waste, but for our understanding, they are classified primarily in 3 categories. Some of which are as follows: –
- White Goods
- Brown Goods
- Gray goods
- White Goods: This includes home-based home appliances such as air conditioners, washing machines, and air conditioners.
- Brown Goods: There are televisions, cameras, and so on.
- Gray Goods: Under this, computers, scanners, printers, mobiles phones are available.
What are the Main Reasons for E-Waste Generation
Increasing population due to which growing needs are one of the major causes of the emergence of E-Waste. Apart from this, there are other reasons which are making this a very big threat. They say that excess of anything is a disaster in itself. So let’s go over some of the main reasons.
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Development:
If we talk about it now, then it can be estimated that more than 1 billion personal computers in this world are used or available. In the same developed countries, their average lifespan is only 2 years. In the United States alone, there are more than 300 million computers.
Not only developed countries, now even in developing countries, but this technology also has been sold a lot, due to which there has been a considerable increase in the graph, which is gradually taking the form of wastage. From sources, it has been found that the use of computers and the usage of the internet has increased by more than 400% in developing countries.
This sudden increase has resulted in an increase in e-waste generated by them. From this one thing is clearly visible that, according to which the computer industry is growing so much in the name of development, in such a way that if it is not thought over its E-waste then it can become a major threat in the future.
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Technology:
Now it’s time for modern technology, which is growing lightning-fast speed. Due to this new technology, new products and appliances are coming onto the market. So that people do not want to use even the working old things. Those who have all these hands behind are big MNCs (Multinational Corporations). From now on, MNCs have become so powerful that they have the ability to change the entire market system of a country.
These are MNC’s, which always provide better technology for people. Right now, due to the good money being made by the Middle-Class families, they are always behind the new products, which are always increasing the quality of the companies, which will make them more sales. In such a situation, if its e-waste is not thought out then it can become a major threat in the future.
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Human Mentality:
It is providing more money power to the common people (middle class), which gives them the ability to buy more things. For example, the increase in the sales of computers, if it has not been used properly for a long time, then it eventually becomes E-Waste. Due to this money power, people want to use new things instead of their old things, and these old materials later become e-waste.
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Population:
Increasing population has increased the speed of all things. This is an easy way to be understood by the unitary method. If 1 man also buys baggage and in such a case what will happen if all buy. From this, we can conclude that the increase in the amount of e-waste has also increased significantly. The increasing population wants to buy new things in return for reuse of things. In such a situation, if its e-waste is not thought out then it can become a major threat in the future.
In such a situation, all these reasons are interlinked together, together with each other, and together they create a huge environmental concern.
Effect of E-Waste on Environment
E-waste, or electronic waste, is called waste which can be any electronic parts, computers, mobile phones, household electronics such as food processors, pressure, cookers. We still do not know what happens in these e-waste’s improper disposal environment, but it is obvious that their flow can take a dreadful form in large amounts. E-waste can spoil the soil, air, and water components in the environment. So let us know what is the end of their flow in our environment:
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Effects on air
A very common effect is caused by E-waste by air pollution. We all know that many such things are available in these electronic waste, wires, blenders and many others, to get this, people burn it, due to which air pollution is a common thing. However, air pollution can be harmful to our health. Regularly breathing in these toxins can lead to breathing difficulties and lung disease, so those working with this E-waste often wear protective clothing such as a half face respirator, to help protect themselves from air pollution.
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Effects on water
When these electronics contain heavy metals such as lead, barium, mercury, lithium (which are mobile phones and computer batteries), if they are not properly disposed of, these heavy metals can meet the soil and reach the groundwater channels. Which can be found later in the surface by visiting streams and small ponds. Local communities that depend on these water sources are the direct flows of these chemicals, which in turn cause them many diseases. In this way, it takes the form of water pollution in the future.
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Effects on soil
If the e-waste is not disposed of properly, then inherent toxic heavy metals and chemicals enter our “soil-crop-food pathway”, so that these heavy metals come in contact with humans. These chemicals are not biodegradable, it means that they stay in the environment for a long time, due to which the risk of exposure increases greatly.
These chemicals are very bad for humans and other living beings, which causes brain, heart, liver, kidney and skeletal system damage. With this, children are born disabled. If you say so, there is Soil Pollution, which can take a bigger step further.
How to Control E-Waste
There is no answer to this, but there are so many ways that we can control E-Waste. Here I have discussed some important ways.
- You can follow the laws and regulations made by the local government in which we have been told about the safe disposal of ethical and waste. Because e-waste can be a major threat to the environment, so many communities have arranged to place the electronics which are not required in certain drop-off locations, so that they can be properly controlled.
- With the donation of Electronic Products, we can reuse anything that can prevent the pollution to a great extent. This may be because the things you are not using are very important to anyone else.
- By the way, E-waste recycler is very much but finding out the correct recycler is a bit of a problem, but if we use a certified E-waste recycler it will reduce the pollution, and it is also safe for our environment.
If we all agree together that we will not let our environment deteriorate with E-Waste and use these electronic items judiciously as this E-Waste not only contaminate our environment but also disturb us.
What are the Benefits of Recycling
If they are properly managed with the help of recycling, E-waste can also become a secondary source of raw materials for us, along with it has many other benefits such as: –
- Economic Benefits: With these recovered materials, we can make great revenue.
- Environmental Benefits: This can also be a great source of natural resource conservation, and with this, a significant reduction in environmental pollution can also be brought.
- Social Benefits: Such a Recycling process also requires human labor which can lead to an employment generation.
Why Should We Recycle?
- The natural resources of this earth are completely limited and therefore we should take care that we should preserve it and use it carefully.
- This can prevent us from being landfill.
- With this, we can stop the earth from air, water, and soil pollution.
- In addition, this also creates an employment opportunity.
Measures to Recycle E-Waste
Electronic waste produces such dangerous chemicals such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, mercury etc. When we dispose of any gadgets and devices improperly, this waste can pollute our environment. These three pollute the water, the soil, and the air, so that we and many other creatures, there are many diseases in animals. 
How to Recycle E-waste:
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Consumer Recycling:
Electronic items not being used under Consumer recycling are sold to the needy or given in donation. In addition to these new products, an exchange is done only with manufacturers. In addition to this, they are given to a convenient recycler or refurbishing company.
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Scrapping / Recycling:
Several steps are followed during the scrapping of the e-waste recycling process: –
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Sorting:
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When the e-waste recycling plant comes in, these waste is manually shorted and the batteries are removed even if any laptops, HDD, and memories are sorted with it.
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Disassembly:
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After manual sorting, the second step is dismantling the manual of which it requires serious labor, as it is an intensive process. Then e-waste items are separated, in which they are categorized according to core materials and components. These dismantled items can be re-used for the second time. Metals to plastic are separated.
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First size-reduction Process:
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In this process, those pieces are shredding which cannot be properly dismantled. This means that those pieces are cut in the shape of a 2-inch diameter. With this, e-waste should be done in an equal manner.
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Second size Reduction Process:
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In this process, those pieces are divided once and into small pieces and if any dust comes out of it, then it is discarded in such a way that there is no harm to the environment.
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Over-band Magnet:
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All magnetic materials are separated from other e-waste debris by using an over-band magnet during this process.
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Non-metallic and metallic components separation:
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During this process, all metals and non-metallic components are separated from other e-waste debris. Here metals are sold according to the raw materials or it is Is used again to produce other products.
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Water Separation:
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This is the last step in which the plastic components are separated from the glass with the help of water. Once all the materials are isolated, those raw materials are re-used or resold.
Now these recycled components like glass (from monitors, phone screens, TV screens, etc.), plastic, metal, are easily reused.
Any plastic components that are retrieved are sent to recyclers, which they use to make other accessories such as fence posts, plastic sleepers, plastic trays, vineyard stakes, equipment holders, plastic chairs, and toys.
The metal which is also used to retrieve such as copper and steel is sent to them in recyclers to create new metal products.
What are the E-waste Management Tips?
Here We describe some E-Waste Management Tips to control it.
- Never get lost cell phones, do not put dumped systems into landfills. Rather send them to organizations where recycling is being done.
- Buy electronic goods from shoppers who take them back to recycle when they are defective.
- Observe the lifetime of your hardware types of equipment so that the e-waste can be reduced to a great extent.
- Large industries should buy recyclers, which they can use for a long time.
- Always support green engineering.
- Citizens always create a mood of using recycled products.
How To Minimization Effective Waste In Industries:
Here I will talk about some such processes so that we can make waste minimization better.
- Better inventory management.
- Bring modification in production-process.
- Reducing your volume.
- Recovery and reuse.
Electronic Waste (E-Waste) in India
India has now become the fifth largest e-waste producing nation in the whole world. Only about 70% of e-waste is generated from computing devices, 12% of the telecom sector, 8% from medical equipment, and 7% by electric equipment annually. The government, public sector companies, and private sector companies together produce more than 75% of electronic waste, only 16% come out of the individual household.
If there is a list of cities, then Mumbai is at the forefront and behind it is New Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai. State-wise Maharashtra is at the forefront and is behind Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. In these electronic waste, most lead is found, which is 40% and it contains more than 70% heavy metals. These pollutants have groundwater contamination, air pollution, and soil acidification also occur.
What is E-Parisaraa
E-Parisaraa Pvt. Ltd is India’s first government-authorized electronic waste recycler, which has started its operations since September 2005, and which specializes in handling, recycling and reusing of these e-waste and also an eco-friendly manner. Its main purpose is to properly dispose of and recycle E-Waste.
With this, there is another objective of e-Parisaraa as to how to create a chance to convert waste into valuable raw materials, which are used in socially and industrially beneficial raw materials such as valuable metals, plastics, and glass. To be. It should be used in such environmentally friendly technologies that are favorable to Indian Conditions.