Increasing incomes, urbanization, and the availability of affordable electronics have led to a significant increase in the adoption of devices such as smartphones, laptops, and household appliances in India. This surge in electronic ownership has permeated various sectors, including education, healthcare, and entertainment, highlighting the extensive reach of this trend. Consequently, the continuous evolution and introduction of new electronic devices has significantly reduced the lifespan of older gadgets, prompting frequent upgrades and resulting in the premature disposal of fully functional equipment to accommodate the latest software and features.
This reality underscores the pressing need for more stringent regulatory measures, enhanced infrastructure, and increased consumer awareness. The active participation of individuals in sustainable e-waste management is indispensable in addressing this burgeoning concern.
Electronic waste (e-waste) is when any electrical or electronic equipment is deemed unfit for its intended use. It includes all types of old, end-of-life , or discarded electrical or electronic items like phone, TV , laptop, solar panels and rejects from the manufacturing and repair process.
There has been a substantial surge globally, in e-waste. As per a joint report from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research ( UNITAR), 62 million tonnes of e-waste was produced in 2022. India stands second in terms of e-waste generation in Asia, with 4.1 million tonnes generated as of 2022, after China.
The Environmental and Health Impact of E-Waste
Electronic devices contain many harmful substances. While users are unlikely to encounter these substances during use, improper disposal methods can lead to the release of toxic materials into the environment. Improper disposal includes mixing e-waste with other household waste, scavenging for these from their mixed waste sites, dumping in land or water, open burning, acid baths, and manual disassembly. These activities pose both immediate risks and long-term effects on the environment and human health. They release toxic pollutants that contaminate the air, soil, dust, and water in recycling sites and nearby communities. Of particular concern are the toxic fumes from burning e-waste. Once these pollutants are released into the environment, they can spread over long distances, exposing even those individuals far removed from the original site.
Proper disposal methods, such as recycling and refurbishing, are essential to reduce these adverse effects. In India, where e-waste management is still developing, making informed decisions about buying electronics, and eventually disposing them, is vital to minimising its environmental and health impacts.
E-waste Regulations:
India is the only country in South Asia with e-waste regulations. E-waste processing in India is however mostly handled by the informal sector. For the current regulations to be fully effective, and enforceable, organising and formalising this sector becomes crucial.
In May 2011, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified the E-waste Management and Handling Rules, which were later updated in 2016 and renamed as the E-waste Management Rules. Subsequently, in 2022, batteries were removed from the E-waste Management Rules, and the new Battery Waste Management Rules were introduced. This rule covers all types of batteries, irrespective of their chemistry, shape, volume, weight, material composition, and usage. It applies to producers, dealers, consumers, and entities engaged in waste batteries' collection, segregation, transportation, refurbishment, and recycling.
The Right to Repair is a Government of India initiative, with the Right to Repair Portal launched in 2022 by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The objective of this framework is to allow consumers to repair their products on their own or at an optimal cost instead of buying new products, thereby reducing e-waste. This initiative also aims to harmonise trade between original equipment manufacturers, third-party buyers, and sellers, creating new job opportunities and boosting business for small repair shops.
The role of the conscious consumer:
As responsible consumers, we hold the power to make a significant impact. By embracing the reduce, reuse, and repair mindset over the use-and-throw culture, we can effectively reduce the improper disposal of electronic waste. Our active participation in proper e-waste recycling is key to curtailing both the quantum of waste, and the effects of mismanaging it.
Apart from the obvious environmental, and health hazards that we can address by being careful consumers, scientific e-waste disposal can also ultimately reduce consumer prices. This is because poor e-waste management contributes to the depletion of natural resources, leading to increased raw material costs and higher prices for new electronic products. Effective recycling practices can help counter this by allowing the extraction and reuse of vital minerals, addressing supply shortages, and ultimately reducing production costs.
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