E-waste Management: Issues and Strategies in managing e-waste in Pune region

Transcription

1 MIT-SOM PGRC KJIMRP 1 st International Conference (Special Issue) ISSN No.: E-waste Management: Issues and Strategies in managing e-waste in Pune region Mr. Sanket Dattatray Mistri*, Mrs. Smita Amit Kakade** Abstract E-waste describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling or disposal are also considered as e-waste. 80 to 85% of electronic products were discarded in landfills or incinerators, which can release certain toxics into the air. A new study published in Environmental Research Letters that took air samples from Taizhou of Zhejiang province in China - one of the largest dismantling areas in the country that uses 60,000 people to dismantle over two million tons of e-waste annually and explored how the chemicals found in that air affects human lungs. Solid waste management system in Pune has to bear an extra 30 per cent load of electronic waste (E Waste) not being segregated, collected or processed by government institutions. While the e-waste rules were implemented in 2011, even after three years the problem of domestic e waste disposal and recycling remains. This paper highlights the associated issues and strategies to address this emerging problem, in the light of initiatives in Pune. This paper presents e-waste management system in Pune with share responsibility for the collection and recycling of e-waste. Keywords:E-Waste, Collection, Issues, Strategies, Recycle, Disposal Introduction E-Waste for short or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is the term used to describe old, end-of-life or discarded appliances using electricity. It includes computers, consumer electronics, fridges etc. which have been disposed of by their original users According to the Basel Convention, (The fundamental aims of the Basel Convention are the control and reduction of transboundary movements of hazardous and other wastes including the prevention and minimization of their generation, the environmentally sound management of such wastes and the active promotion of the transfer and use of technologies.)wastes are substances or objects, which are disposed of or are intended to be disposed of, or are required to be disposed of by the provisions of national laws.1 Additionally, wastes are such items which people are required to discard, for example by law because of their hazardous properties. As various new technologies come in a market with additional features, Many electronic devices become a trash after few year of use. Our daily activities give rise to a large variety of different wastes arising from different sources. E-waste is of concern largely due to the toxicity of some of the substances if processed improperly. Informal processing of electronic waste in developing countries causes serious health and pollution problems. In industries management of e-waste should begin at the point of generation. This can be done by waste minimization techniques and by sustainable product design. The paper highlights the associated issues and strategies to address this emerging problem, in the light of initiatives in Pune.E- Waste is a term for electronic products that have become unwanted or not useful for people and have essentially reached the end of their useful life. E-Waste - In Brief Electronic waste, or e-waste as it is popularly called, is a collective terminology for the entire stream of electronic wastes such as used TVs, refrigerators, computers, mobile phones, etc. Computer waste is the most significant of all e-waste due to the gigantic amounts as well as the rate at which it is Mr. Sanket Dattatray Mistri*, Asst. Professor (MCA), Sinhgad Institute of Business Management and Research (SIBAR), Kondhwa (Bk.), Pune sanket.mistri@gmail.com Mrs. Smita Amit Kakade** Asst. Professor (MCA), Sinhgad Institute of Business Management and Research (SIBAR), Kondhwa (Bk.), Pune smita.kakade15@gmail.com 350

2 2015 generated. E-waste is of particular concern to India. At the consumer end of the supply chain is the issue of disposal of waste or used product. This entails disposal of packaging, computers, peripherals and consumables. In India computers and peripherals are recycled / reused much more than they are in developed countries. In the US, the computer systems are replaced on an average every three years. In the case of developing countries like India till the last 1-2 years affordability of computers was limited to only a socio-economically advantaged section of the population. Therefore, resale and reuse of computers was (and continues to be) high as does dependency on assembled machines. No reliable figures are available as yet to quantify the computers generating as waste. Increasingly as computers are becoming more affordable (even the branded machines), and there is greater access to technology, the turnover of machines could definitely be higher. Apart from the consumer end, another source of more obsolete computers in the market is from the large software industry where use of cutting edge technology, greater computing speed and efficiency necessarily increase the rate of obsolescence. E-waste contains significant quantities of hazardous waste, including lead, mercury and cadmium. Improper recycling and disposal operations found in different cities of India often involve the open burning of plastic waste, exposure to toxic solders, river dumping of acids, and widespread general dumping. As a result, pollutants are dumped into the land, air and water. As per country level Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) assessment study, Mumbai and Pune falls under the top ten cities that are generating maximum quantities and Mumbai alone generates maximum among all the cities of India. Total WEEE waste generation in Maharashtra is tons, out of this Navi Mumbai contributes tons, Greater Mumbai tons, Pune tons and Pimpri-Chinchwad tons. E-Waste in Pune According to DNA newspaper report, solid waste management system in Pune city has to bear an extra 30 per cent load of electronic waste (E Waste) not being segregated, collected or processed bygovernment institutions. While the e-waste rules were implemented in 2011, even after three years the problem of domestic e waste disposal and recycling remains as it is. According to Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Pune officials there are three e waste collection centres in the city and four e waste recyclers. Approximately 1000 Metric Ton (MT) of e waste was processed and recycled in these recycling units. As the MPCB did not carry any studies of e waste since 2008,the officials could not give any accurate figures and estimated that the e waste generation has increased from 3000 MT in 2008 to 7000 MT this year. DhavalJitkar, Director of EcocrediblesEnviro Solutions Pvt Ltd said that It is the waste coming from the IT belts of Hadapsar, Kharadi and Magarpatta areas which we collect the most. This waste usually has computers, copper and lead wires, laptops and other electrical equipments used in offices. While the MPCB has permitted Ecocredibles to recycle 2000 MT per year, the company has been able to recycle 150 MT waste this year. Solid Waste Department head Suresh Jagtap, The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC),said that, For Municipal Solid Waste, the industrial, institutional and commercial e-waste is not a problem. Around 500 MT to 1000 MT e waste generated in the city is of domestic nature, maximum 300 MT is being collected. Rest all is added to the municipal solid waste. The PMC is conducting awareness programs and campaigns for citizens to segregate their electrical waste. The PMC has made it compulsory for manufacturers of electronic and electrical equipment to collect e-waste generated from their products. In Pune, such a step is likely to reduce the burden on the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) which is finding it difficult to manage its e-waste (waste generated by improper disposal of electronic/ electrical equipment). The concept of Extended Producer Responsibility under the E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, makes it mandatory for manufacturers of electronic and electrical equipment to collect e-waste generated after the expiry of their products. This could be done by setting up collection centres 351

3 MIT-SOM PGRC KJIMRP 1 st International Conference (Special Issue) ISSN No.: or by taking back systems either individually or collectively. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has notified the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008, for proper management and handling of hazardous waste in the country. E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 were notified on May 12, 2011 and have come into effect from May Collection centres are required to obtain authorization from the respective state pollution control board within three months from the date of commencement of rules. Similarly, dismantlers and recyclers are required to obtain authorization and registration from the state pollution control board. E-waste generated is required to be sent to authorized and registered recyclers for environmentally sound disposal. The respective state pollution control board can take action as per the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) in case of a violation. Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipments (WEEE) is stored, processed, recycled, reused and finally disposed in a manner, which is detrimental to environment. Maharashtra state ranks first among top ten states generating WEEE in India. Among Indian cities, Mumbai ranks first among top ten cities generating WEEE in India. Along with Mumbai, Pune also ranks among the top Ten Indian Cities, which are repository of WEEE. Mumbai, the financial nerve centre of India, is also India s largest port city. The Mumbai-Pune industrial belt is one of the electronic items manufacturing hubsof the country. As a result, Mumbai is not only the port of import for new and used electronics; it is also home to a large user and manufacturer base, both generating large volumes of e-waste. Issue with E-Waste The IT industry has a prominent global presence today largely due to the software sector. Promotion of the software industry and protection of the hardware industry from external competition has resulted in this skewed growth. More recently however, policy changes have led to a tremendous influx of leading multinational companies into Pune to set up manufacturing facilities, R&D centres and offshore software development facilities. The domestic market is getting revitalized due to buoyant economic growth and changing consumption patterns. This growth has significant economic and social impacts. The increase of electronic products, consumption rates and higher obsolescence rate leads to higher generation of electronic waste (e-waste). The increasing obsolescence rates of electronic products added to the huge import of junk electronics from abroad create complex scenario for solid waste management in Pune. The Centre s move has come as a breather for the PMC. Repeated orders by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) notwithstanding, the PMC has failed to make a substantial provision for collecting and disposing of e-waste generated in the city. The MPCB report had pointed out that the total Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEE) in Maharashtra amounts to 20,270.6 tonnes, out of which Pune contributes 2, tonnes and PimpriChinchwad area contributes 1, tonnes. The MPCB report says that the obsolescence rate of cell phones in the city is two years, computers five years, TVs fifteen years and refrigerators seventeen years. This means, cell phones sold in Pune today will be e-waste only after two years. It is not a surprise that the Central Pollution Control Board has identified Pune as one of the top 10 cities generating e-waste. It is a fact the despite all efforts we have failed to manage our e-waste. Daily we collect all kinds of batteries, electric bulb, CFL lights, computers, handsets, mobile phone accessories, batteries, circuit boards and switches. We don t have a proper mechanism to dispose of e-waste. It is good that the government has now made producers accountable, said a senior PMC health official. As per TOR, there is hardly any attention paid to 352

4 2015 the management of the e-waste generated in this industrial belt, which incidentally also houses large number of Info-tech parks especially in New Mumbai and Pune. There is an urgent need to have a well orchestral mechanism on the collection, treatment and disposal of the e-waste in this region. Therefore, MPCB has identified e-waste as a priority area and has initiated the process to set up a formal workgroup for the Mumbai-Pune region. MPCB has taken certain initiatives to create awareness among various stakeholders on the e-waste and as a part of this exercise carried a feature article in the Indian Express. The Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has communicated to MPCB the resolution adopted by the standing committee of MCGM to manage the e-waste. This shows the keenness with which the municipality is interested in the e-waste management in Mumbai. In the light of the initiatives undertaken by MPCB, an urgent need to prepare an inventory of e-waste generated in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune-Chinchwad area has been identified so that an action plan for WEEE can be formulated for this region. Therefore, a rapid waste electrical and electronic equipments assessment study has been planned by MPCB for MMR, Pune and Pimpri- Chinchwad region. This report is being presented as draft final report for e-waste assessment in Mumbai, Pune and PimpriChinchwad region. The items covered in this assessment include personal computers, mobiles phones, televisions and refrigerators. Hazardous Characteristics: The Hazardous Wastes Rules, 1989, Amended 2000 categorize Hazardous Characteristics in following types: H6.1 Poisonous (Acute): Substances or wastes liable either to cause death or serious injury or to harm health if wallowed or inhaled or by skin contact. H8 Corrosives: Substances or wastes which, by chemical action, will cause severe damage when in contact with living tissues, or, in the case of leakage, will materially damage or even destroy, other goods or the means of transport; they may also cause other hazards. H10 Liberation of toxic gases in contact with air or water: Substances or wastes, which, by interaction with air or water, are liable to give off toxic gases in dangerous quantities. 23 H11 Toxic (delayed or Chronic): Substances or wastes which if they or inhaled or ingested or if they penetrate the skin, may involve delayed or chronic effects, including carcinogenicity. H12 Ecotoxic: Substances or wastes which if released present or may present immediate or delayed adverse impacts to the environment by means of bioaccumulation and/or toxic effects upon biotic systems. H13 Capable: by any means after disposal, of yielding another material, e.g., leach ate which possesses any of the characteristics listed above. Ambit of these sub clauses is so comprehensive that it will cover each steps of computer recycling from pre heating to final roasting of motherboard to recover mercury and other material from it. However each step of recycling involves occupational health risk to workers, people residing in surrounding area and environmental degradation in general. Open burning of the PVC coated wire and motherboard of computer for material recovery emits many toxic gases like Dioxin and Furan. Coming into direct or indirect contact of these gases causes various forms of cancer in human being. Analysis of schedules 2 and 3 of the Hazardous Wastes Rules, 1989 categorized some part of computer scraps as hazardous waste. However, the act is vague in dealing with import of whole junk computer sets. The rules do not clearly mention that it can be applied for import and export of e-wastes in form of junk desktop computers. In fact, whole of part A of the schedule 3 mentions at length items that could be traded irrespective of being of hazardous nature. The only provision is the ban on dumping. Any import or export must be carried out with prior permission of concerned authority. The new Schedule 6 added in May 2002, which prohibits trade of 28 listed items does not have any reference of junk computer or its parts. The sole purpose of act seems to be of regulatory nature and that too only to control indiscriminate and illegal tariff of hazardous waste. Part B of schedule 3 mentions lists of hazardous characteristic. The law prohibits trade of any substances having or showing resemblance to the hazardous characteristics as mentions in list. 353

5 MIT-SOM PGRC KJIMRP 1 st International Conference (Special Issue) ISSN No.: Import and export of hazardous waste/substances listed in part A of schedule 3 shall be prohibited if any of items have resemblance with items listed in Part B of same schedule. Strategies for E-Waste Management: 1. Recycling/Recovery System Most of the activity in MMR, Pune and PimpriChinchwad region involves physical dismantling by hammer, chisel, screw driver and bare hand. The most high- tech piece of dismantling equipment witnessed was an electric drill. The immediate objective of most of the operations involves dismantling and rapid separation of primary materials. The following materials were observed being separated for further recycling: Material containing copper: Including printer and other motors, wires and cables, CRT yokes, circuit boards, etc. Steel: Including internal computer frames, power supply housings, printer parts, washing machines, refrigerator, etc. Plastic: Including housings of computers, printers, faxes, phones, monitors, keyboards, etc. Copper: Extracted from transformer and CRT after their dismantling Circuit Boards: These come from many applications including computers, phones, disc drives, printers, monitors, etc. Each of these processes has been described below. 2. Disposal Field Investigations reveal that easy and approachable method for disposal of e-waste in Mumbai is throwing in Municipal dust bin which goes for land filling sites. Most of the components get extracted and only thing, which is left for disposal in landfills are ashes and plastic residues from charred IC chips, condensers etc. In Pune, PimpriChinchwad region, field investigations reveal that e-waste is transported to Mumbai from where it is supplied to other parts of India. Some part of the e-waste is again sent to Delhi for further processing and dumping to the land fill site. 3. Approach & Methodology for Inventorization Market Supply Method The market size of MMR, Pune, Pimpri and Chinchwad region has been estimated based on sales data. This sales data have been applied to a number of calculation methodologies to give theoretical waste arising for each of the selected items. Finally, using average weights and an average composition of the waste stream, total WEEE for MMR, Pune, Pimpri and Chinchwad has been extrapolated. Under this approach, the various indicators, which will represent market size, are given below: Market Sales data for above mentioned EEE s. Penetration Rate of listed EEE s Ownership data of listed EEE s The first step in the material flow model is to acquire sales data for the selected items. The sources of the data include government statistics, market research companies, industry associations etc., which give the authentic data. Next step is to establish penetration rate of EEE so as to calculate the ownership data for EEE s. Sources considered, includes government statistics, market research companies, industry associations. Ownership has been taken as a derivative of penetration rate but certain organization like Registrar General, Census of India and NCAER provided exact figure for ownership of selected EEEs. The Market Supply method was first used in 1991 in Germany for assessment of WEEE (IMS, 1991). It is based on the extrapolation of waste arising by using sales figures together with the typical lifetime of an appliance. As per this method, WEEE generated in a year can be represented by the following simple equation; WEEE Generation in year x = Sales n years previously (n = average life time of item) The method assumes that 100% of units sold in one particular year will become obsolete at the end of the average life. For example, in India 800,000 PC s were sold in A PC is assumed to have an average lifetime of 7 years, meaning that in the year 2004, 800,000 will become WEEE. This method assumes that the average variance in lifetime of 354

6 2015 items of EEE does not change very much, whereas in reality average lifetime may become shorter in the future. The variables required by the method Selected are: 4. Tracer Analysis: The objective of tracer analysis is to verify obsolescence rate in Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri and Chinchwad region through primary data collected through tracer walk along the E-waste trade value chain. The obsolescence rate can be verified through identification of WEEE stream and WEEE processes and tracking of tracer item in WEEE stream. The tracer selected for each electronic item in the study area is given in Table 5.18 and analysis for each item is given in subsequent section. Tracer for items of study S. No. Electronic Item Tracer 1. Cellular Phone LCD Screen 2. Personal Computer CRT 3. Television CRT 4. Refrigerator Compressor 5. WEEE Inventory in MMR, Pune and PimpriChinchwad Region Final inventory giving the quantity of E-waste from the four electronic items in MMR, Pune, Pimpri, Chinchwad region considering a combination of obsolescence rates confirmed through tracer technique is given below. Tracer analysis has indicated that WEEE/E-waste generated from cell-phones, PC and TV in Pune, Pimpri and Chinchwad region comes to MMR for dismantling, while refrigerator gets dismantled in Pune, PimpriChinchwad region. Conclusion In India, the quantity of electronic waste has now become a major problem. Disposal of e-waste is an emerging global environmental and public health issue, as this waste has become the most rapidly growing segment of the formal municipal waste stream in the world. E-waste or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) are loosely discarded, surplus, obsolete, broken, electrical or electronic devices. There exists an urgent need for a detailed assessment of the current and future scenario including quantification, characteristics, existing disposal practices, environmental impacts etc. Institutional infrastructures, including e-waste collection, transportation, treatment, storage, recovery and disposal, need to be established, at national and/or regional levels for the environmentally sound management of e-waste. For e-waste management many technical solutions are available, but to be adopted in the management system, prerequisite conditions such as legislation, collection system, logistics, and manpower should be prepared. References 1. Dr. B. J. Mohite India: Issues and Strategies in Managing E-Waste in India, March Agarwal R. (1998) India: The World s Final Dumpyard!, January, Basel Action News, Vol.1 at accessed on 14th September Anvy Mehta, DNA : E waste burdens Pune s waste management system, 4. KURIAN JOSEPH, ELECTRONIC WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA ISSUES AND STRATEGIES, 1-5th October The global E-Waste Problem : /news/ global-e-waste/ Maharashtra Polution Control Board s Assessment of Electronic Wastes in Mumbai-Pune Area ewastereport1.pdf 6. AnanyaDutta, TNN: Ranjangaon to get E waste Recycling Unit, Oct Dr.C.Subburaman, Tamilnadu, INDIA: E-Waste Hazardous: Impacts on Environment and Human Health, 15th April