E-WASTE

A Project Report
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the
Requirements for the subject Green Computing

FIRST YEAR B.Sc. (INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY)

By

Gupta Shailesh, Roll no: 13

Tiwari Gaurav, Roll no: 52

Under the esteemed guidance of

Prof. R.G. Kulkarni

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

SMT.CHANDIBAI HIMATHMAL MANSUKHANI COLLEGE
(Affiliated to University of Mumbai)
ULHASNAGAR, 421003 MAHARASHTRA 2018-19

I
 SMT. CHANDIBAI HIMATHMAL MANSUKHANI COLLEGE
(Affiliated to University of Mumbai)
ULHASNAGAR-MAHARASHTRA- 421003

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Certificate

This is to certify that the project entitled E-WASTE is a bonafide work of Shailesh Gupta
bearing Seat.No: 13 and Tiwari Gaurav bearing Seat.No :52 submitted in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the subject Green Computing for First Year Sem II B.Sc.
( INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY) from University of Mumbai.

Subject Guide Head, B.Sc. (IT)

Date: College Seal :

II
 ABSTRACT

"E-waste" is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their "useful life."E-
wastes are considered dangerous, as certain components of some electronic products containmaterials
that are hazardous, depending on their condition and density. The hazardous content ofthese materials
pose a threat to human health and environment.

Discarded computers,televisions. VCRs. stereos, copiers, fax machines, electric lamps, cell phones,
audio equipment and batteries if improperly disposed can leach lead and other substances into soil
andgroundwater. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled in anenvironmentally
sound manner so that they are less harmful to the ecosystem. This paperhighlights the hazards of e-
wastes, the need for its appropriate management and options that can be implemented.

Here, we have done work on our topic “E-WASTE”. We discuss about how e-waste is generated, what
the sources of e-waste are and what e-waste is consist of. We have also explored, how it is dangerous
for human health and environment and how we can recycle e-waste.

III
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE SURVEY OF E-WASTE 3
CHAPTER 3 E -WASTE 7
3.1 Major Sources
3.2 Indian Scenario
CHAPTER 4 CLASSIFICATION 12
4.1 Components of E-waste 14
4.2 Composition Of E-waste 14
4.3 Health effects of Some Common Constituents in E-waste 15
4.3.1 Lead 20
4.3.2 Cadmium 23
4.3.3 Mercury 17
4.3.4 Chromium iv 17
4.3.5 Plastic(PVC) 17
4.3.6 Brominated Flame Retardants(BFRs) 17
4.3.7 Barium 17
4.3.8 Beryllium 17
4.3.9 Phosphor and Additives 18
4.4
Need For Guidelines For Environmentally Sound 18
Management
CHAPTER 5 METHODOLOGY FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND 20
MANAGEMENT OF E-WASTE
5.1 E-Waste Composition And Recycle Potential 20
5.2 Assessment Of Hazardousness Of E-Waste 23
5.3 Recycling, Reuse And Recovery Options Of E-waste 23
5.4 Treatment &Disposal Of E-Waste 24
5.4.1 Landfilling 24
5.4.2 Incineration 25
CHAPTER 6 STRATEGIES FOR COMBATING E- WASTE 26

IV
 6.1 Legislation 26
6.2 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) 26
6.3 Reduction In Use Of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) 27
CHAPTER 7 CASE STUDY OF RECYCLING AND DUMPING OF E- 28
WASTE
7.1 Materials And Methods 29
6.1.1 Sampling Sites 29
6.1.2 Sample Collection and Preparation 30
7.2 Sample Analyses 30
7.3 Result And Analysis 31
6.3.1 Sediments 31
6.3.2 Soil 36
CHAPTER 8 CONCLUSION 43
REFERENCES 45

V
 List of Figures

Fig no. Title Page no.

3.1 Sources of E-waste 8

4.2 Compositions of E-waste 10

List of Tables
Table no. Title Page no.

4.1 Components of E-waste 13

4.2 Possible Hazardous Substances in Components of 14

E-waste
5.1 Average Weight and Composition of Selected 20
Appliances (Typical)

5.2 Recoverable Quantity of Materials in a Refrigerator 21

5.3 Recoverable Quantity of Materials in a Personal 21
Computer
5.4 Recoverable Quantity of Materials in a Television 22
7.1 Concentration of PAHs in Sediment (μg/kg dry wt) 32
7.2 Concentration of PCBs in Sediment (μg/kg dry wt) 33
7.3 Heavy Metal Concentration in Sediment 35
(mg/kgdrywt)
7.4 Concentration of PAHs in soil (μg/kg dry wt) 36
7.5 Concentration of PCBs in soil 37
7.6 Heavy Metal Concentration in Soil Samples (mg/kg) 39

VI
 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

The electronic industry is the world’s largest and fastest growing manufacturing
industry in the world. The increasing “market penetration” in developing countries,
“replacement market” in developed countries and “high obsolescence rate” of electrical
and electronic goods make electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) one of the fastest
growing waste streams. E-waste is valuable source for secondary raw material but
harmful if treated and discarded improperly as it contains many toxic components such as
lead, cadmium, mercury, polychlorinated biphenlys etc. (Bandyopadhyay, 2010).

The quantity of e-waste generated in developed countries equals 1% of total solid

waste on an average and is expected to grow to 2% by 2010 (UNEP Manual, 2007).In
United States alone, 1,30,000 computers and 3,00,000 cell phones are trashed each day
(Anderson, 2010).The developed countries use most of the world’s electronic products
and generate most of the E-waste (Basel Action Network, 2002). Rather than treat e-
waste in an environmentally friendly manner, the developed countries are finding an easy
way out of the problem by exporting these wastes to developing economies especially,
South Asian countries (Basel Action Network, 2002).

The import of e-waste to the developing countries is in violation of the ban imposed
by Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes
and their Disposal, as e-waste come under the definition of hazardous waste (Basel
Convention, 1992).Following this, our country, a party to the convention, banned the
import of hazardous waste including e-waste into the country. But a major source of e-
waste in India is illegal imports (Sathish, 2006).

The major portion of the e-waste generated domestically as well as illegally imported
are recycled in crude manner leading to pollution of the environment. Lack of legislation
in our country at present is aiding this hazardous form of recycling. Therefore there is
urgent need to frame and implement rules for regulating this waste and to find

1
 environmentally sound, economically viable methods for recycling and disposing of
this necessary evil. The necessity of environmentally sound management of e-waste is
brought out with the help of a case study of uncontrolled dumping of e-waste.

What is E-Waste? WEEE Directive (EU, 2002a) Electrical or electronic equipment

which is waste including all components, sub-assemblies and consumables, which are
part of the product at the time of discarding. Basel Action Network E-waste encompasses
a board and growing range of electronic devices ranging from large household devices
such as refrigerators, air conditioners, cell phones, personal stereos, and consumer
electronics to computers which have been discarded by their users.

2
CHAPTER 2 : LITERATURE SURVEY OF E-WASTE

In a study by Jalal Uddin (2012), Through innovative changes in product style below
EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY (ERP), use of environmentally friendly
substitutes for dangerous substances, these impacts can be mitigated.
A legal framework must be there for imposing EPR, RoHS for attaining this goal.
Adoption of environmentally sound technologies for usage and employ of e-waste at the
side of EPR and RoHS offers workable answer for environmentally sound management
of e-waste. Manufacturers & suppliers need to set goals for reducing electronic waste.
Encourage them to buy back old electronic products from consumers, disposing bulk e-
waste only through authorized recyclers and send non tradable e-waste to authorized
private developers for final disposal. According to Vijay N. Bhoi et al. (2014), most of
the waste is inherently dangerous. It will degrade to provide leachate, which can
contaminate water, and make lowland gas, that is explosive.

Additionally, owing to the risks related to lowland sites, there are currently terribly
strict needs on the development, operation and medical care of such sites. Most designing
authorities desire a figured out quarry to be used for landscaping instead of a lowland
web site that nobody desires in their “back yard”.
Product style should be used to assist to reduce not solely the character and quantity
of waste, however conjointly to maximise end-of-life utilization. Makers, retailers, users,
and disposers ought to share responsibility for reducing Prestige e-Journal of
Management and Research Volume 4, Issue 1 (April, 2017) ISSN 2350-1316 58 the
environmental impacts of merchandise.
A product-centred approach ought to be adopted to preserve and shield setting.
Kuehr and Williams (2003) stated that an increasing market for reused PCs in developing
countries is allowing people to own PCs and access technology at more affordable prices.
Moreover, charitable organizations, such as Computer Mentor, Computer Aid, World
Computer Exchange, Computers for Schools and others are expanding their boundaries

3
and providing used and refurbished computers to organizations (e.g., schools) around the
world.

Furthermore, reuse also reduces the environmental impacts of technological artifacts

by increasing their life spans and thereby reducing the demand for new equipment.
Ramzy Kahhat, et al., (2008) stated in his article that some states are adopting e-waste
regulations, but so far the U.S. does not have a federal regulation that addresses the
complete e-waste situation, including residential and non-residential sectors. Federal
level policies and regulations present the best way to address the e-waste situation (U.S.
GAO, 2005) as they will overcome the lack of regulations in most states and will
standardize regulations and policies in the country.

This will create a more efficient national e-waste management system. In this
scenario, the e-Market for returned deposit system will be the mechanism for residential
customers to dispose of their devices in a way that motivates collection, recycle and reuse
of e-waste. In a 2011 report, "Ghana E-Waste Country Assessment", found that of
215,000 tons of electronics imported to Ghana, 30% were brand new and 70% were used.
Of the used product, the study concluded that 15% was not reused and was scrapped or
discarded. Sivakumaran Sivaramanan (2013) confirmed that the public awareness and
cooperation of manufactures are essential for the advancement of e-waste management
system. And also it is the responsibility of government to allocate sufficient grants and
protecting the internationally agreed environmental legislations within their borders.

Licensing of certification like estewardship may ensure the security to prevent illegal
smugglers and handlers of e-waste. As e-wastes are the known major source of heavy
metals, hazardous chemicals and carcinogens, certainly diseases related to skin,
respiratory, intestinal, immune, and endocrine and nervous systems including cancers can
be prevented by proper management and disposal of e-waste. Prestige e-Journal of
Management and Research Volume 4, Issue 1 (April, 2017) ISSN 2350-1316 59
According to Peeranart Kiddee et al.

4
 (2013) e-waste can be managed by developing eco design devices, properly collecting
e-waste, recover and recycle material by safe methods, dispose of e-waste by suitable
techniques, forbid the transfer of used electronic devices to developing countries, and
raise awareness of the impact of e-waste. No single tool is adequate but together they can
complement each other to solve this issue. A national scheme such as EPR is a good
policy in solving the growing e-waste problems.
Yamini Gupt & Samraj Sahay (2015) suggested that financial responsibility of the
producers and separate collecting and recycling agencies contribute significantly to the
success of the extended producer responsibility-based environmental policies. Regulatory
provisions, take back responsibility and financial flow come out to be the three most
important aspects of the extended producer responsibility. Presence of informal sector
had a negative impact on the regulatory provisions.
In Sukeshini Jadhav (2013) observed that proper e waste management will help
efficient sourcing and collection right upto extraction and disposal of material, ensuring
that e-waste will turn into lucrative products and business opportunity.
The manufacturers have to take responsibility for adopting the guideline for
manufacturing sound environment product and sustainability management should be
started from the product manufacturing stage i.e raw material selection, product and
process design can be the important factors for the designed for environment practices,
which can facilitate the recycling and reuse. Manufacturer should also try and initiate a
take back program to handle the waste so that proper management and disposal of e-
waste can be done.

This way as 60% e-waste is coming from industry, can contribute to a very large part
of Electronic waste management collection and establishing clean e-waste channels.
UNEP (2010) report predicts that by 2020, E-waste from old computers in India will
increase to 500%; from discarded mobile phones will be about 18 times high; from
televisions will be 1.5 to 2 times higher; from discarded refrigerators will double or triple;
than its respective 2007 levels. Considering the growth rate, studies show that the volume
of E-waste will reach nearly 2 million MT by 2025.

5
 Samarkoon M.B. (2014) in his study states that improper handling of e-waste can
cause harm to the environment and human health because of its toxic components.
Although the current Prestige e-Journal of Management and Research Volume 4, Issue 1
(April, 2017) ISSN 2350-1316 60 emphasis is on end-of-life management of e-waste
activities, such as reuse, servicing, remanufacturing, recycling and disposal, upstream
reduction of e-waste generation through green design and cleaner production must be
introduced to enhance a sustainable e-waste management system for Sri Lanka.

Xinwen Chi et al. (2010) in their study gathered information on informal e-waste
management, in China and identifies some of the main difficulties of the current Chinese
approach. Informal e-waste recycling is not only associated with serious environmental
and health impacts, but also the supply deficiency of formal recyclers and the safety
problems of remanufactured electronic products.
Experiences already show that simply prohibiting or competing with the informal
collectors and informal recyclers is not an effective solution. New formal e-waste
recycling systems should take existing informal sectors into account, and more policies
need to be made to improve recycling rates, working conditions and the efficiency of
involved informal players.
A key issue for China’s e-waste management is how to set up incentives for informal
recyclers so as to reduce improper recycling activities and to divert more e-waste flow
into the formal recycling sector. Shubham Gupta et al. (2014) studied that in developing
countries like India, China, Indonesia, Brazil, commercial organizations tend to focus
more on economic aspects rather than environmental regulations of e- waste recycling.

6
 CHAPTER 3: E-WASTE

E-waste is the popular name for discarded electrical and electronic equipment with
all of their peripherals at the end of their life. E-waste comprises of wastes generated
from used electronic devices and household appliances which are not fit for their original
intended use and are destined for recovery, recycling or disposal. Such wastes
encompasses wide range of electrical and electronic devices such as computers, hand
held cellular phones, personal stereos, including large household appliances such as
refrigerators, air conditioners etc.

2.1 MAJOR SOURCES

Individuals and Small Businesses: The useful span of a computer has come down to
about two years due to improved versions being launched about every 18 months. Often,
new software is incompatible or insufficient with older hardware so that customers are
forced to buy new computers.

Large corporations, Institutions and Government: Large users upgrade employee

computers regularly.

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs):OEMs generate e-waste when units

coming off the production line do not meet quality standards, and must be disposed off.
Some of the computer manufacturers contract with recycling companies to handle their
electronic waste, which often is exported.

Besides computers, other major e waste source is the cellular phone.

7
 FIGURE 2.1: Sources of E-waste

2.2 INDIAN SCENARIO

The electronics industry has emerged as the fastest growing segment of Indian
industry both in terms of production and exports. The share of software services in
electronics and IT sector has gone up from 38.7 per cent in 1998-99 to 61.8percent in
2003-04. A review of the industry statistics show that in 1990-91,hardware accounted for
nearly 50% of total IT revenues while software's share was 22%. The scenario changed
by 1994-95, with hardware share falling to 38%and software share rising to 41%. This
shift in the IT industry began with liberalization and the opening up of Indian markets
together with which there was a change in India’s import policies vis-à-vis hardware
leading to substitution of domestically produced hardware by imports.

8
 By the end of financial year 2005-06, India had an installed base of 4.64 million
desktops, about 431thousand notebooks and 89 thousand servers. According to the
estimates made by the Manufacturers Association of Information Technology (MAIT),
the Indian PC industry is growing at a 25% compounded annual growth rate. The e-waste
inventory based on this obsolescence rate and installed base in India for the year 2005 has
been estimated to be 146180.00 tonne.
This is expected to exceed 8,00,000tonne by 2012. There is a lack of authentic and
comprehensive data on e-waste availability for domestic generation of e-waste and the
various State Pollution Control Boards have initiated the exercise to collect data on e-
waste generation.

Sixty-five cities in India generate more than 60% of the total e-waste generated in
India. Ten states generate 70% of the total e-waste generated in India. Maharashtra ranks
first followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi,
Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab in the list of e-waste generating states in
India.

In our country, currently some units have registered with the Ministry of Environment
and Forests as possessing environmentally sound management facilities for recycling of
e-waste. The list of units registered with Ministry of Environment and Forests/Central
Pollution Control Board as recyclers/reprocessors having environmentally sound
management facilities is given below in table 2.1(Ministry of Environment and Forests,
2010):

9
Table 3.1List of Recyclers/Reprocessors having registration of the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, Govt. of India

Sl. Name of the Unit Waste permitted and Quantity Registration Valid up to
No. allowed
ANDHRA PRADESH

1 Ramky E-waste Recycling e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 28/07/2011

Facility (Ramky Engineers Ltd.) Schedule IV of Hazardous Waste
Maheswaram (M) R.R.Distt (Management, Handling
&Transboundary Movement)
(HW(M,H&TM))Rule,2008 -
10000 MTA

2 Earth Sense Recycle Pvt. Ltd. e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 30/08/2015
Rangareddy District Schedule IV of HW(M,H&TM)
Rule,2008- 1800 MTA

HARYANA
1 Earth Sense Recycle Pvt. Ltd. e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 29/08/2015
Gurgaon Schedule IV of HW(M,H&TM)
Rule,2008 - 1200 MTA

KARNATAKA
1 Ash Recyclers, Unit-II e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 01/12/2010
Bangalore Schedule IV of HW(M,H& TM)
Rule,2008 - 120 MTA

2 New Port Computer Services e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 31/01/2011

(India) Private Limited, Schedule IV of HW(M,H& TM)
Bangalore Rule,2008 – 500MTA

3 EWaRDD& Co., e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 04/03/2011

Bangalore Schedule IV of HW(M,H& TM)
Rule,2008 – 600MTA

4 E-R3 Solutions Pvt. Ltd., e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 17/05/2011

Bangalore Schedule IV of HW(M,H& TM)
Rule,2008 – (only printer
cartridge) – 1,20,000 units

10
MAHARASHTRA

1 Eco Recycling Limited, e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 25/04/2011

Thane Schedule IV of HW(M,H& TM)
Rule,2008 – 7200MTA

2 Earth Sense Recycle Pvt. Ltd., e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 27/10/2010
Thane Schedule IV of HW(M,H& TM)
Rule,2008 – 360MTA

3 Hi Tech Recycling India (P) Ltd., e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 29/04/2011
Pune Schedule IV of HW(M,H& TM)
Rule,2008 – 500MTA

RAJASTHAN
1 Green Eco Management Pvt. e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 04/03/2011
Ltd., Alwar Schedule IV of HW(M,H& TM)
Rule,2008 – 450MTA

TAMILNADU

1 Trishyiraya Recycling India Pvt. e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 01/12/2010

Ltd., Chennai Schedule IV of HW(M,H& TM)
Rule,2008 – 740MTA

2 TESAMM Private Limited, e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 08/12/2010

Kancheepuram Schedule IV of HW(M,H& TM)
Rule,2008 –30,000MTA

3 Global E-waste Management and e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 02/05/2011

Services, Kancheepuram Schedule IV of HW(M,H& TM)
Rule,2008 – 387 MTA

UTTAR PRADESH
1 TIC Group India Pvt. Ltd., e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 01/12/2010
Noida Schedule IV of HW(M,H& TM)
Rule,2008 – 1000 MTA

UTTARKHAND

1 Attero Recycling Private Limited, e-Waste as per the Sl.No.18 of 15/07/2011

Haridwar Schedule IV of HW(M,H& TM)
Rule,2008 – 12,000 MTA

11
 CHAPTER 4: CLASSIFICATION OF E-WASTE

4.1 COMPONENTS OF E-WASTE

E-waste has been categorized into three main categories, viz. large household
appliances, IT and Telecom and consumer equipment. Refrigerator and washing machine
represent large household appliances, personal computer monitor and laptop represent IT
and Telecom, while television represents consumer equipment. Each of these e-waste
items has been classified with respect to twenty six common components, which could be
found in them. These components form the “building blocks” of each item and therefore
they are readily “identifiable” and “removable”. These components are metal,
motor/compressor, cooling, plastic, insulation, glass, (Liquid Crystal Display) LCD,
rubber, wiring/ electrical, concrete, transformer, magnetron, textile, circuit board,
fluorescent lamp, incandescent lamp, heating element, thermostat, BFR-containing plastic,
batteries, fluorocarbons (CFC/HCFC/HFC/HC), external electric cables, refractory
ceramic fibers, radioactive substances and electrolyte capacitors. The kinds of
components, which are found in refrigerator, washing machine, personal computers (PC)
and televisions, are described in table 4.1.

From table 4.1 it can be seen that the range of different items seen in e-waste is
diverse. However, e-waste from these items can be dismantled into relatively smaller
number of common components for further treatments.

12
 Table 4.1 Components of E-waste

Refractory ceramic fibres

Radioactive substances
BFR containing plastic

Electrolyte capacitors
CFC,HCFC,HFC,HC
Motor/ compressor

Incandescent lamp
Fluorescent lamp
Wiring/electrical

Heating element

Electric cables
Circuit board
Transformer

Thermostat
Magnetron
Insulation

Concrete

Batteries
Cooling

Rubber

Textile
Plastic
Metal

Glass

LCD
CRT
Large household appliances
Refrigerator √ √ √ √ √ √ - - √ √ - - - - - - √ - √ √ - √ √ - - -

Washing √ √ - √ - √ - - √ √ √ - - - √ - - √ √ - - - √ - - º
Machine
IT & Telecom
Personal √ √ - √ - - - - - √ - √ - - √ - - - - - √ - √ - - -
Computer
(base & keyboard)
Personal - - - √ - - √ √ - - - - - - √ - - - - - - - √ - - -
Computer
(monitor)
Laptop - √ - √ - - - √ √ - - √ √ - - - √ √ - √ - √ - - -

Consumer equipment
Television √ - - √ - - √ - - √ - √ - - √ - - - - √ - - √ - - -

13
4.2 COMPOSITION OF E-WASTE

Composition of e-waste is very diverse and differs in products across different

categories. It contains more than 1000 different substances, which fall under “hazardous”
and “non-hazardous” categories. Broadly, it consists of ferrous and non-ferrous metals,
plastics, glass, wood & plywood, printed circuit boards, concrete and ceramics, rubber
and other items. Iron and steel constitutes about50% of the e-waste followed by plastics
(21%), non ferrous metals (13%) and other constituents. Non-ferrous metals consist of
metals like copper, aluminium and precious metals e.g. silver, gold, platinum, palladium
etc. The presence of elements like lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium and
hexavalent chromium and flame retardants beyond threshold quantities in e-waste
classifies them as hazardous waste. The possible constituents of concern found in the
three main categories described in 3.1 are given in table 4.2.

Table 4.2 Possible Hazardous Substances in Components of E-waste

Component Possible hazardous content

Metal
Motor/compressor
Cooling Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)
Plastic Phthalate plasticizer, brominated flame retardants (BFR)
Insulation Insulation ODS in foam, asbestos, refractory ceramic fiber
Glass
Cathode Ray Tube Lead, Antimony, Mercury, Phosphor
Liquid Crystal Display Mercury
Rubber Phthalate plasticizer, BFR
Wiring / electrical Phthalate plasticizer, BFR, Lead
Concrete
Transformer
Circuit Board Lead, Beryllium, Antimony, BFR
Fluorescent lamp Mercury, Phosphorous, Flame retardants
Incandescent lamp
Heating element
Thermostat Mercury
BFR-containing plastic BFRs
Batteries Lead, Lithium, Cadmium, Mercury
CFC,HCFC,HFC,HC ODS
External electric cables BFRs, plasticizers
14
 Electrolyte capacitors Glycol, other unknown substances

The substances within the above mentioned components, which cause most concern
are the heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and chromium(VI), halogenated
substances (e.g. CFCs), polychlorinated biphenyls, plastics and circuit boards that contain
brominated flame retardants (BFRs). BFR can give rise to dioxins and furans during
incineration. Other materials and substances that can be present are arsenic, asbestos,
nickel and copper. These substances may act as catalysts to increase the formation of
dioxins during incineration.

4.3 HEALTH EFFECTS OF SOME COMMON CONSTITUENTS IN E-WASTE

The health effects of heavy metals and certain compounds found commonly in
components of e-waste are described below:

FIGURE 4.3: Components In E-Waste

4.3.1. Lead

Lead is used in glass panels and gaskets in computer monitors and in solder in printed
circuit boards and other components.

15
 Lead causes damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems,
kidney and reproductive system in humans. It also affects the endocrine system, and
impedes brain development among children. Lead tends to accumulate in the
environment and has high acute and chronic effects on plants, animals and micro
organisms (Metcalf & Eddy, 2003).

4.3.2. Cadmium

Cadmium occurs in surface mounted device (SMD) chip resistors, infra-red detectors,
and semiconductor chips. Some older cathode ray tubes contain cadmium.
Toxic cadmium compounds accumulate in the human body, especially the liver,
kidneys pancreas, thyroid (Metcalf & Eddy, 2003, Basel Action Network, 2002).

4.3.3. Mercury

It is estimated that 22 % of the yearly world consumption of mercury is used in

electrical and electronic equipment. Mercury is used in thermostats, sensors, relays,
switches, medical equipment, lamps, mobile phones and in batteries. Mercury, used in
flat panel displays, will likely increase as their use replaces cathode ray tubes.

Mercury can cause damage to central nervous system as well as the foetus. The
developing foetus is highly vulnerable to mercury exposure (Metcalf & Eddy, 2003).
When inorganic mercury spreads out in the water, it is transformed to methylated
mercury which bio-accumulates in living organisms and concentrates through the food
chain, particularly via fish (Basel Action Network, 2002).

4.3.4. Hexavalent Chromium/Chromium VI

Chromium VI is used as corrosion protector of untreated and galvanized steel plates

and as a decorative or hardener for steel housings.

16
 Chromium VI can cause damage to DNA and is extremely toxic in the environment.
Long term effects are skin sensitization and kidney damage(Metcalf & Eddy, 2003).

4.4.5. Plastics (including PVC)

The largest volume of plastics (26%) used in electronics has been poly vinyl chloride
(PVC). PVC elements are found in cabling and computer housings. Many computer
moldings are now made with the somewhat more benign acrylonitrile butadiene (ABS)
plastic. Dioxins are released when PVC is burned (Basel Action Network, 2002)..

4.4.6 Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs)

BFRs are used in the plastic housings of electronic equipment and in circuit boards to
prevent flammability. BFRs are persistent in the atmosphere and show bioaccumulation.
Concerns are raised considering their potential to toxicity (Basel Action Network, 2002).

4.4.7. Barium

Barium is a soft silvery-white metal that is usedprotect users from radiation.

Studies have shown that short-term exposure to barium causes brain swelling, muscle
weakness, damage to the heart, liver, and spleen(Basel Action Network, 2002).

4.4.8. Beryllium

Beryllium is commonly found on motherboards and finger clips.

Exposure to beryllium can cause lung cancer. Beryllium also causes a skin disease that is
characterised by poor wound healing and wartlike bumps. Studies have shown that
people can develop beryllium disease many years following the last exposure. It is used
as a copper-beryllium alloy to strengthen connectors.
Barium is a soft silvery-white metal that is used to protect users from radiation.

17
4.4.9. Phosphor and additives

Phosphor is an inorganic chemical compound that is applied as a coat on the interior of

the CRT faceplate. Phosphor affects the display resolution and luminance of the images
that is seen in the monitor.

The phosphor coating on cathode ray tubes contains heavy metals, such as cadmium, and
other rare earth metals, for example, zinc, vanadium as additives. These metals and their
compounds are very toxic. This is a serious hazard posed for those who dismantle CRTs
by hand.

4.4 NEED FOR GUIDELINES FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND

MANAGEMENT

The saying waste is misplaced wealth is true in the case of e-waste. The recyclability
of e-waste and the precious metals that can be extracted from the waste make recycling
a lucrative business. But recycling using environmentally sound means costly business
and so majority of the e-waste is recycled via the informal sector. Informal recycling
involves minimal use of technology and is carried out in the poorer parts of big cities.
The standard recycling drill involves physically breaking down components often without
any protective gear, burning poly vinyl chloride (PVC) wires to retrieve copper, melting
of lead and mercury laden parts. The extraction of gold and copper requires acid
processing. The plastic parts, which contain brominated flame retardants (BFR) are also
broken into small pieces prior to recycle. All these processes release toxic fumes into
the atmosphere and polluted water into soil and water bodies leading to contamination.
Most of those who work in the recycling sector are the urban poor with low literacy
lacking awareness of the hazards of the toxic e-wastes. Children and women are
routinely involved in the operations. Most of the work is done by bare hands. Waste

18
components which do not have resale value are openly burnt or disposed off in open
dumps (Kurian, 2007).

Rapid pace of product obsolescence resulting in short life span of computers and
other electronic equipments coupled with exponential increase in consumption of such
products will result in the doubling of waste over next five to six years. The toxicity of
constituents in e-waste, lack of environmentally sound recycling infrastructure and the
large scale current practice of informal recycling highlight the urgent need for guidelines
for environmentally sound management of e-waste.

19
CHAPTER 5:METHODOLOGY FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND
MANAGEMENT OF E-WASTE

5.1. E-WASTE COMPOSITION AND RECYCLE POTENTIAL

The composition of e-waste and its recyclable potential is specific for each appliance. In
order to handle this complexity, the parts/materials found in e-waste may be divided broadly
into six categories as follows:
Iron and steel, used for casings and frames
Non-ferrous metals, especially copper used in cables, and aluminum
Glass used for screens, windows
Plastic used as casing, in cables and for circuit boards
Electronic components
Others (rubber, wood, ceramic etc.)

Overview of the composition of the appliances in the three categories mentioned earlier is
given in table 5.1.

Table 5.1 Average Weight and Composition of Selected Appliances (Typical)

Appliances Average Fe % Non Fe- Glass Plastic % Electronic Others

weight weight metal % weight components %
(kg) % weight % weight weight
weight
Refrigerators and 48 .0 64.4 6 .0 1.4 13 .0 0.2 15.0
freezers
Personal computer 29.6 20.0 24 15 23.0 17.3 0.7

TV sets 36.2 5.3 5.4 62 22.9 0.9 3.5

The recovery potential (typical values) of items of economic value from refrigerator,
personal computer and television are given in tables 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 respectively.

20
Table 5.2 Recoverable Quantity of Materials in a Refrigerator

Material Type % (by weight)

CFCs 0.20

Oil 0.32

Ferrous Metals 46.61

Non-Ferrous Metals 4.97

Plastics 13.84

Compressors 23.80

Cables/Plugs 0.55

Spent Foam 7.60

Glass 0.81

Mixed Waste 1.30

Total 100.00

Table 5.3 Recoverable Quantity of Materials in a Personal Computer

Elements Content (% of Content Recycling Recoverable weight of

total weight) (Kg) efficiency (%) element (kg)
Plastics 23 6.25 20% 1.251
Lead 6 1.71 5% 0.086
Aluminum 14 3.85 80% 3.084
Germanium 0.0016 0.00 0% 0
Gallium 0.0013 0.00 0% 0
Iron 20 5.57 80% 4.455
Tin 1 0.27 70% 0.192
Copper 7 1.88 90% 1.696
Barium 0.0315 0.01 0% 0
Nickel 0.8503 0.23 0% 0
Zinc 2 0.60 60% 0.360
Tanialum 0.0157 0.0046 0% 0
Indium 0.0016 0.00047 60% 0.00026
Vanadium 0.0002 0.00 0% 0

21
Beryllium 0.0157 0.0046 0% 0
Gold 0.0016 0.00047 99% 0.00043
Europium 0.0002 0.00 0% 0
Tritium 0.0157 0.00 0% 0
Ruthenium 0.0016 0.00047 80% 0.00035
Cobalt 0.0157 0.0047 85% 0.00363
Palladium 0.0003 0.00 0077 95% 0.000077
Manganese 0.0315 0.01 0% 0
Silver 0.0189 0.0156 98% 0.00504
Antimony 0.0094 0.00 0% 0
Bismuth 0.0063 0.00 0% 0
Chromium 0.0063 0.00 0% 0
Cadmium 0.0094 0.00 0% 0
Selenium 0.0016 0.00047 70% 0.0003
Niobium 0.0002 0.00045 0% 0
Yttrium 0.0002 0.00 0% 0
Mercury 0.0022 0.00 0% 0
Arsenic 0.0013 0.00 0% 0
Silica 24.8803 6.77 0% 0

Table 5.4 Recoverable Quantity of Materials in a Television

Elements % by weight Recoverable Weight of

element (Kg)
Aluminium 1.2 0.4344
Copper 3.4 1.2308
Lead 0.2 0.0724
Zinc 0.3 0.1086
Nickel 0.038 0.0138
Iron 12 4.344
Plastic 26 9.412
Glass 53 19.186

Silver 0.000724

Gold 0.000362

5.2. ASSESSMENT OF HAZARDOUSNESS OF E-WASTE

22
 The hazardous nature of e-waste is determined by identifying the e-waste category
item (identification includes the waste items and year of manufacture), identifying the e-
waste composition or its components, identifying possible hazardous content in the e-
waste and identifying whether the e-waste component is hazardous or the entire e-waste
item is hazardous.

5.3.RECYCLING, REUSE AND RECOVERY OPTIONS

The composition of e-waste consists of diverse items like ferrous and non ferrous
metals, glass, plastic, electronic components and other items and it is also revealed that e-
waste consists of hazardous elements. Therefore, the major approach to treat e-waste is to
reduce the concentration of these hazardous chemicals and elements through recycle and
recovery. In the process of recycling or recovery, certain e-waste fractions act as
secondary raw material for recovery of valuable items. The recycle and recovery includes
the following unit operations.

(i) Dismantling
Removal of parts containing dangerous substances (CFCs, Hg switches, PCB); removal
of easily accessible parts containing valuable substances(cable containing copper, steel,
iron, precious metal containing parts, e.g. contacts).

(ii) Segregation of ferrous metal, non-ferrous metal and plastic

This separation is normally done in a shredder process.

(iii) Refurbishment and reuse

Refurbishment and reuse of e-waste has potential for those used electrical and electronic
equipments which can be easily refurbished to put to its original use.

(iv) Recycling/recovery of valuable materials

23
Ferrous metals in electrical are furnaces, non-ferrous metals in smelting plants, precious
metals in separating works.

(v) Treatment/disposal of dangerous materials and waste

Shredder light fraction is disposed of in landfill sites or sometimes incinerated
(expensive), CFCs are treated thermally, PCB is incinerated or disposed of in
underground storages, Hg is often recycled or disposed of in underground landfill sites.

5.4. TREATMENT & DISPOSAL OF E-WASTE

The presence of hazardous elements in e-waste offers the potential of increasing the
intensity of their discharge in environment due to landfilling and incineration. The
potential treatment &disposal options based on the composition are given below:
1) Landfilling 2) Incineration

5.4.1. Landfilling

The literature review reveals that degradation processes in landfills are very
complicated and run over a wide time span. At present it is not possible to quantify
environmental impacts from E-waste in landfills for the following reasons:
 Landfills contain mixtures of various waste streams
 Emission of pollutants from landfills can be delayed for many years
One of the studies on landfills reports that the environmental risks from landfilling of e-
waste cannot be neglected because the conditions in a landfill site are different from a
native soil, particularly concerning the leaching behavior of metals. In addition it is
known that cadmium and mercury are emitted in diffuse form or via the landfill gas
combustion plant. Although the risks cannot be quantified and traced back to e-waste,
landfilling does not appear to be an environmentally sound treatment method for

24
substances, which are volatile and not biologically degradable (Cd, Hg, CFC), persistent
(PCB) or with unknown behaviour in a landfill site (brominated flame retardants). As a
consequence o fthe complex material mixture in e-waste, it is not possible to exclude
environmental (long-term) risks even in secured landfilling.

5.4.2. Incineration

Advantage of incineration of e-waste is the reduction of waste volume and the

utilization of the energy content of combustible materials. Some plants remove iron from
the slag for recycling. By incineration some environmentally hazardous organic
substances are converted into less hazardous compounds. Disadvantage of incineration
are the emission to air of substances escaping fluegas cleaning and the large amount of
residues from gas cleaning and combustion.
There is no available research study or comparable data, which indicates the impact of e-
waste emissions into the overall performance of municipal waste incineration plants.
Waste incineration plants contribute significantly to the annual emissions of cadmium
and mercury. In addition, heavy metals not emitted into the atmosphere are transferred to
slag and exhaust gas residues and can reenter the environment on disposal. Therefore, e-
waste incineration will increase these emissions, if no reduction measures like removal of
heavy metals from are taken.

25
CHAPTER 6 :STRATEGIES FOR COMBATING E- WASTE

6.1. LEGISLATION
Separate legislation for dealing with waste electrical and electronic equipments to
control aspects of production, recycle, reuse and disposal is need of the hour. Many
countries have such laws in place. In India, draft e-Waste (Management and Handling)
Rules have been published by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of
India on 14.5.2010.

6.2. EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY (EPR)

Traditionally, the legislative approach toward environmental problems has been one
of ‘command and control’, largely addressing ‘end-of-pipe’ pollution problems. Now, the
emphasis is changing towards producer responsibility whereby those who produce good
sare then responsible for the environmental impacts throughout the whole of their life
cycle, from resource extraction to recycling, reuse and disposal (Nnorom et.al, 2008).
Implementation of EPR in the developing countries has become necessary in the light of
the present high level of trans-boundary movement of e-waste into the developing
countries and the absence of basic or state-of the-art facilities for sound end-of-life
material/energy recovery and disposal of e-waste.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD) defined EPR as

“an environmental policy approach in which a producers’ responsibility for a product is
extended to the post-consumer stage of a products life cycle including its final disposal”
The main goals of EPR are:
• waste prevention and reduction;
• product reuse;
• increased use of recycled materials in production;

26
• reduced natural resource consumption;
• internalization of environmental costs into product prices
• energy recovery when incineration is considered appropriate

Under EPR, the producer is expected to take back all electrical and electronic equipment
at the end of their life.

6.3.REDUCTION IN USE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES (ROHS)

This aims at reducing the hazardous substances entering the atmosphere while
dismantling the e-waste by prescribing threshold limits for use of such substances in e-
waste.

27
 CHAPTER 7: CASE STUDY OF RECYCLING AND DUMPING OF E-
WASTE

A case study of environmental contamination from electronic waste recycling at

Guiyu, southeast China done by Anna Leung, Zong Wei Cai and Ming Hung Wong in
2005 reported in the Journal of Material Cycles Waste Management is briefly described
below:

Guiyu is made up of several villages located in the Chaozhou region of Guangdong

Province, 250km northeast of HongKong. Since 1995, the traditionally rice-growing
community has become an e-waste recycling center for e-waste arriving from the United
States, Hong Kong and from other countries. In Guiyu, recycling operations consist of
toner sweeping, dismantling electronic equipment, selling computer monitor yokes to
copper recovery operations, plastic chipping and melting, burning wires to recover
copper, heating circuit boards over honeycombed coal blocks and using acid chemical
strippers to recover gold and other metals. Not all activities are related to recovery; some
include open burning of unwanted e-waste and their open dumping. Operations for the
recovery of copper wires through the burning of polyvinyl chloride and flame retardant-
protected cables(i.e., polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs) can release toxic
polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins
(PCDDs/PBDDs) and furans(PCDFs/PBDFs) and the open burning of computer casings
and circuit boards stripped of metal parts can produce toxic fumes and ashes containing
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs). Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which have
been widely used as plasticizers, as coolants and lubricants in transformers and capacitors,
and as hydraulic and heat exchange fluids, may also be present in the e-waste stream. In

28
the study, the total concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) ranged
from 98.2 to 514 μg/kg in the sediment samples and from 93.7 to 593 μg/kg in the soil
samples. The concentration of polychlorinated bi phenyls (PCBs) varied from 5.3 to 743
μg/kg in the sediment samples and from 22.7 to 102 μg/kg in the soil samples. The
highest concentration of poly brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) observed was 32.3
μg/kg in sediment and 1169 μg/kg in the soil. Concentration of heavy metals such as
cadmium detected in the sediment ranged from 0.1 to .9 mg/kg, chromium from 3.4 to
43.5 mg/kg, copper from 6.3 to 528 mg/kg, nickel 11.3 to 120 mg/kg, lead 39.4 to 316
mg/kg and zinc 45.2 to 249 mg/kg. Concentration of cadmium detected in the soil
ranged from nil to 3.1 mg/kg, chromium from 3.4 to 74.9 mg/kg, copper from 9.2 to 712
mg/kg, nickel 8.4 to 185 mg/kg, lead 55.4 to 104 mg/kg and zinc 78 to 258 mg/kg.

7.1. MATERIALS AND METHODS

7.1.1 Sampling Sites

A preliminary survey of contaminant levels in Guiyu, located in Guangdong Province,

China, was conducted in August 2003. Sediment samples were collected from two duck
ponds (A & B) and at three different places along the Lianjiang River (River 1, River 2,
River 3). Duck ponds A and B are located near open fields where dumping and open
burning of e-waste and acid leaching of printed circuit boards are carried out.
River 1 is located alongside a residential area away from the dumpsite but near
printed circuit heating workshops. River 2 site is located near the open fields. River 3 site
is in Heping town, located about 16km downstream from Guiyu. Soil was collected from
a burnt plastic dump site and from a printer roller dump site. A reservoir located in the
northern part of Guiyu, approximately 6km from the central e-waste processing region
where impacts from e-waste were expected to be smaller, served as a control site. Both
soil and sediment were collected from this site.

29
7.1.2. Sample Collection and Preparation

Samples were collected from each study site at a depth of0–10cm using a stainless
steel shovel. All samples we restored in clean polyethylene bags (Ziploc) to minimize
sample contamination and were kept in ice-filled coolers at approximately 4°C for
transport to the laboratory, where they were transferred and wrapped in aluminum foil
and stored at −20°C. Soil and sediment samples were freeze dried; sieved (<1mm) to
remove stones, roots, and coarse materials; and then stored in a desiccator prior to
analysis.

7.2. SAMPLE ANALYSES

The soil samples from burnt plastic dump site and printer roller dump site, reservoir
and sediment samples from duck ponds A & B, River sites 1,2& 3 were analyzed for
PAHs, PCBs, PBDEs, and heavy metals.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

5 g of sample was extracted was extracted with acetone and dichloromethane and
concentrated in rotary evaporator. The extract was analysed using gas chromatography/
mass spectrometry analysis.

Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls

Sample was extracted was extracted with acetone and dichloromethane and analysed
using gas chromatography / mass spectrometry analysis.

Poly Brominated Diphenyl Ethers

PBDE analyses were conducted using a gas chromatography/ion trap mass

spectrometry method.

30
Heavy Metals

The samples were finely ground and 0.250 g of each sample was used for the
determination of heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) concentrations by microwave
digestion.

7.3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The total concentration and individual concentrations of the 16 USEPA priority PAHs,
PCBs, PBDEs and heavy metals in the sediment and soil samples are shown.

7.3.1. Sediment
Total PAH concentrations in the sediment ranged from 98.2 to 514μg/kg. The highest
concentration was at duck pond A. Both duck ponds A and B are located
approximately20m from a road; therefore, the elevated PAHs of these sediment samples
may be partly attributed to PAH emissions from vehicular traffic in addition to the open
burning of e-waste in the surrounding fields.
Interestingly, the concentration of the sediment at the reservoir was higher than at the
residential site (river-1). A possible explanation for the higher concentration at the
reservoir may be the burning of incense and paper offerings, which is a Chinese custom
for paying respect to ancestors. Many graves were seen on the hills surrounding the
reservoir and below the water level; the area became a reservoir only a few years ago.
The total PAH concentration of sediment collected from river-2, located in Guiyu, was
approximately four times that of the sediment collected from within the residential area
(river-1) and approximately twice the concentration of the sediment collected from the
Lianjiang River in the town of Heping, approximately 16km downstream.
The concentrations of the seven USEPA carcinogenic PAHs in the sediments ranged
from 13.2 (reservoir) to 122μg/kg (duck pond A) and accounted for 6% (reservoir) to32%

31
 (river-2) of the total PAH concentrations. With the exception of the reservoir, the
percentage of carcinogenic PAHs were similar (23.7%–31.5%). Benzo(a)pyrene
accounted for 16%, 14%, 12%, and 5% of the total carcinogenic compounds for river-2,
duck pond B, duck pond A and river-1, respectively. It was not detected in river-3 or the
reservoir.

Concentration of PAHs in sediment is shown in table 7.1.

Table 7.1 Concentration of PAHs in Sediment (μg/kg dry wt)

USEPA PAHs Duck pond A Duck pond River-1 River-2 River-3 Reservoir
B
Two-ring
Naphthalene 27.3 18.5 18.1 25.8 13.7 23.2
Three-ring
Acenaphthylene ND ND ND ND ND ND
Acenaphthene 75.4 ND 1.9 6.4 9.2 46.9
Fluorene 35.8 13.3 2.2 16.6 ND 12.6

Phenanthrene 110 67.9 25.5 67.3 35.5 55.3

Anthracene 22.0 ND 1.7 5.9 4.6 10.9

Four-ring

Fluoranthene 65.4 57.2 12.1 48.4 41.0 45.1

Pyrene 41.0 35.0 8.6 43.0 32.1 32.4

Benzo(a)anthracene 15.2 18.7 3.8 23.6 13.3 5.6

Chrysene 34.4 43.5 11.3 46.1 30.6 7.6

Five-ring

Benzo(a)pyrene 14.4 12.8 1.5 17.5 ND ND

Benzo(b + 42.2 ND 11.3 ND ND ND

k)fluoranthene

Dibenz(a,h)anthracene ND ND ND ND ND ND
Six-ring

Indeno(1,2,3- 15.7 18.7 ND 24.1 ND ND

c,d)pyrene

Benzo(g,h,i)perylene 15.6 22.1 ND 26.7 ND ND

∑ 16 PAHs 514 308 98.2 352 180 240

∑7 Carcinogenic 122 93.8 28.0 111 43.8 13.2

PAHs

32
% Carcinogenic PAHs 23.7 30.5 28.5 31.7 24.4 5.5

Table 7.2 lists some of the most toxic and environmentally prevalent PCB congeners
found in the sediment samples. The samples were analysed for a total of 66 PCB
congeners, which included three dioxin-like PCBs (PCB-105, -118, and -157) and all
seven indicator PCBs (PCB-28,-52, -101, -118, -138, -153, -180). The indicator PCBs are
known to be persistent in the environment and also to bioaccumulate in the food chain.
The total PCB concentration of duck pond A was comparable to that of duck pond B, and
both were below the Canadian interim sediment quality guideline of 34.1μg/kg, whereas
there was a large variation between the sediment collected from the two different
locations of the Lianjiang River. River-2, in the vicinity of e-waste dumping and open
burning, was highly contaminated by PCBs, with levels 53 times those at river-1, located
near a residential area. PCBs were not detected in the sediments from the reservoir and
river-3, located approximately 16km downstream of Guiyu in the town of Heping.

Table 7.2Concentration of PCBs in Sediment (μg/kg dry wt)

PCB congener Sediment

IUPAC number Duck Duck River 1 River 2
Pond A Pond B
PCB-1 ND ND ND ND
PCB-2 ND ND ND ND
PCB-3 ND ND ND 2.39
Total mono ND ND ND 2.39
PCBs
PCB-4 ND ND ND 33.6
PCB-6 ND ND ND 10.1
PCB-8 ND ND ND 66.6
PCB-9 ND ND ND 4.52
PCB-15 ND ND ND 23.5
Total di PCBs ND ND ND 122
PCB-16 0.22 ND ND 47.7

33
PCB-18 ND ND ND 40.3
PCB-19 ND ND ND 10.1
PCB-20 ND ND ND 39.2
PCB-22 ND ND ND 18.8
PCB-25 ND ND ND 5.28
PCB-27 ND ND ND 7.09
PCB-28 ND ND ND 115
PCB-29 ND ND ND 0.98
PCB-34 ND ND ND 0.53
Total di PCBs ND ND ND 294
PCB-40 ND 0.24 0.33 31.3
PCB-42 ND ND ND 14.7
PCB-44 0.28 0.24 0.33 31.3
PCB-47 ND 0.23 0.21 27.1
PCB-52 0.29 0.27 0.42 33.5
PCB-56 0.10 0.17 0.46 2.25
PCB-66 0.31 0.22 0.79 8.57
PCB-67 ND ND ND 0.94
PCB-69 ND ND ND ND
PCB-71 ND ND ND 13.0
PCB-74 ND 0.11 0.27 6.46
Total tetra PCBs 1.91 2.69 5.11 258
PCB-82 ND 0.06 ND 0.70
PCB-87 0.15 0.11 0.42 2.40
PCB-92 ND ND ND 1.34
PCB-93 ND ND ND 8.16
PCB-99 0.18 0.11 0.30 3.22
PCB-101 0.28 ND 0.90 6.74
PCB-105 ND ND ND 2.41
PCB-110 ND 0.06 ND 0.70
PCB-118 0.33 0.20 1.06 6.29
PCB-119 ND ND ND 0.17
Total penta 1.66 1.14 4.92 43.9
PCBs
PCB-128 ND ND 0.37 1.43
PCB-134 ND ND ND 0.32
PCB-136 ND ND 0.13 0.59
PCB-138 0.48 0.21 1.09 5.68
PCB-144 ND ND 0.14 0.81
PCB-146 ND ND ND 0.72
PCB-147 ND ND ND 0.19
PCB-151 ND ND 0.14 0.72
PCB-153 0.32 0.15 0.87 4.56
PCB-157 ND ND ND 0.44

34
PCB-158 ND ND ND 0.65
Total hexa PCBs 1.34 0.67 4.04 15.9
PCB-173 ND ND ND ND
PCB-174 ND ND ND 0.46
PCB-177 ND ND ND 0.27
PCB-179 ND ND ND 0.17
PCB-180 ND 0.14 0.24 1.15
PCB-187 ND ND ND 0.42
PCB-190 ND ND ND 0.73
PCB-191 ND ND ND ND
Total hepta ND 0.14 0.32 5.20
PCBs
PCB-194 ND ND ND ND
PCB-195 ND ND ND ND
PCB-199 ND ND ND ND
PCB-203 ND ND ND ND
Total octa PCBs ND ND ND ND
PCB-206 ND ND ND ND
PCB-207 ND ND ND ND
PCB-208 ND ND ND ND
Total nona PCBs ND ND ND ND
PCB-209 ND ND ND ND
Total deca PCBs ND ND ND ND
Total PCBs 5.3 4.7 14.1 743
Total indicator 1.7 1.0 4.6 173
PCBsa
PCB WHO –TEQb 3.27 2.04 1.06 1.09

PCB, polychlorinated biphenyls; IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry;
WHO-TEQ,World Health Organization/toxic equivalent
a
Total indicator PCBs sum of concentrations of PCB-28, -52, -101, -118, -138, -153, -180
b
PCB WHO-TEQ sum of WHO-TEQ concentrations of PCB-105, -118, -157

A total of 43 mono- to hepta-brominated substituted poly brominated diphenyl ethers

(PBDEs) congeners were detected in the sediment collected from river-2.Although the
data were limited, it appears that the river sediment was contaminated by e-waste
activities such as dumping, dismantling, and open burning.
The heavy metal concentrations measured in sediment are shown in Table 7.3 together
with some soil quality standards. Cu, Pb, and Zn were the most abundant metals among
the environmental samples. E-waste, such as printed circuit boards dumped along the
bank of Lianjiang River, may be responsible for the high Cu concentration atriver-2. The

35
 Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations for river-2 exceeded the respective Dutch optimum
values. For the reservoir soil, the heavy metal concentrations were below or close to the
limits for the natural background as defined by the Chinese Environmental Quality
Standards. The concentrations of heavy metals at duck pond A and duck pond B were
very similar, however, Cr at duck pond B was twice that of duck pond A. The Pb contents
of the duck ponds were slightly higher than the Pb content of the reservoir sediment.

Table 7.3 Heavy Metal Concentration in Sediment (mg/kg dry wt)

Sampling site Heavy metals

Cd Cr Cu Ni Pb Zn

Sediment

Duck pond-A N 21. 32. 20. 57. 79.

D 2 2 6 7 6
Duck pond-B 0. 43. 30. 20. 53. 84.
3 5 9 8 1 5
River-1 0. 17. 11 10. 31 86.
1 6 3 1 6 8
River-2 0. 29.2 52 120 94. 24
9 8 3 9
River-3 0. 27. 20. 12. 11 17
5 3 1 6 8 5
Reservoir N 3.4 9.2 8.4 55. 78.
D 4 0
Reservoir N 3.4 9.2 8.4 55. 78.
D 4 0
Soil quality standards
Dutch
Optimum value 0. 10 36 35 85 14
8 0 0
Action value 12 38 19 21 53 72
0 0 0 0 0
China

36
Grade I (natural background) 0. 90 35 40 35 10
2 0
Grade II (agricultural and 0. 20 10 50 30 25
related use) 3 0 0 0 0

Grade III (industrial activity) 1 30 40 20 50 50

0 0 0 0 0 7.3.2. Soil

The soil PAH concentrations were highest at the printer roller dump site and were
dominated by two- and three-ring compounds. The concentration profile for the soil
collected from the burnt plastic dump site differed from the printer roller dump site. The
total PAH concentration at the reservoir was low compared to the other sites. Of the
sediment and soil samples, soil from the burnt plastic dump site was the most toxic
because the concentration of carcinogenic compounds contributed to 43%of the total
concentration. The target set by the Dutch government for unpolluted soil is20–50μg/kg.
Therefore, as all of the soils sampled were above 50μg/kg, the soils were considered to be
polluted by PAHs. As there are many open e-waste burning sites in Guiyu, it was
postulated that PAHs would be transported atmospherically by wind and subsequently
deposited on land. Concentration of PAHs in the soil collected is given in table 7.4.
Table 7.4 Concentration of PAHs in soil (μg/kg dry wt)

USEPA PAHs Burnt plastic Printer Reservoir

roller
Two-ring

Naphthalene 45.4 294 27.3

Three-ring

Acenaphthylene ND 14.2 0.7

Acenaphthene 6.6 64.6 7.5

Fluorene 9.7 36.5 4.0

Phenanthrene 58.8 131 23.1

Anthracene 8.0 9.7 9.7 2.1

Four-ring

Fluoranthene 39.1 16.4 9.6

Pyrene 41.0 27.3 8.5

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 Benzo(a)anthracene 23.7 ND 1.6

Chrysene 48.3 ND 4.3

Five-ring

Benzo(b +k) 56.5 ND 4.9

fluoranthene

Benzo(a)pyrene 22.7 ND ND
Dibenz(a,h)anthracene 4.5 ND ND
Six ring
Indeno(1,2,3- 29.1 ND ND
c,d)pyrene

Benzo(g,h,i)perylene 34.5 ND ND
∑ 16 PAHs 428 593 93.7

∑7 Carcinogenic 185 ND 10.8

PAHsa

% Carcinogenic PAHs 43.2 ND 11.6

The concentration of PCBs in soil collected is given in table 7.5.

Table 7.5 Concentration of PCBs in soil
(μg/kg dry wt)
PCB congener soil
IUPAC number Burnt plastic Printer roller
Dump site Dump site
PCB-1 ND ND
PCB-2 ND ND
PCB-3 ND ND
Total mono PCBs ND ND
PCB-4 ND ND
PCB-6 ND ND
PCB-8 ND ND
PCB-9 ND ND
PCB-15 ND ND
Total di PCBs ND ND
PCB-16 ND 7.00
PCB-18 ND 8.27
PCB-19 ND 0.84
PCB-20 ND 14.4
PCB-22 ND 3.25
PCB-25 ND ND
PCB-27 ND ND

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PCB-28 ND 22.5
PCB-29 ND ND
PCB-34 ND ND
Total di PCBs ND 55.1
PCB-40 0.48 5.33
PCB-42 ND 2.06
PCB-44 0.48 5.33
PCB-47 ND 3.79
PCB-52 0.87 5.79
PCB-56 0.34 ND
PCB-66 0.57 2.01
PCB-67 0.94 ND
PCB-69 ND ND
PCB-71 13.0 ND
PCB-74 6.46 1.41
Total tetra PCBs 5.99 38.0
PCB-82 0.29 ND
PCB-87 0.60 0.46
PCB-92 0.31 ND
PCB-93 0.90 1.08
PCB-99 0.63 0.39
PCB-101 1.31 0.84
PCB-105 0.51 0.76
PCB-110 0.29 0.30
PCB-118 1.01 0.92
PCB-119 ND ND
Total penta PCBs 8.14 5.87
PCB-128 0.41 0.23
PCB-134 ND ND
PCB-136 0.20 ND
PCB-138 1.50 0.82
PCB-144 ND ND
PCB-146 0.41 ND
PCB-147 ND ND
PCB-151 ND ND
PCB-153 0.91 0.40
PCB-157 ND ND
PCB-158 0.21 ND
Total hexa PCBs 6.32 2.96
PCB-173 ND ND
PCB-174 0.12 ND
PCB-177 ND ND
PCB-179 ND ND
PCB-180 0.43 0.21

39
 PCB-187 0.25 ND
PCB-190 0.51 ND
PCB-191 ND ND
Total hepta PCBs 2.04 0.21
PCB-194 ND ND
PCB-195 ND ND
PCB-199 ND ND
PCB-203 0.18 ND
Total octa PCBs 0.18 ND
PCB-206 ND ND
PCB-207 ND ND
PCB-208 ND ND
Total nona PCBs ND ND
PCB-209 ND ND
Total deca PCBs ND ND
Total PCBs 22.7 102
Total indicator 6.0 31
PCBsa

PCB, polychlorinated biphenyls; IUPAC, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry;
WHO-TEQ,World Health Organization/toxic equivalent
a
Total indicator PCBs sum of concentrations of PCB-28, -52, -101, -118, -138, -153, -180

The soil at the waste printer roller dumpsite also exhibited a notable presence of PCBs
(102μg/kg. The concentration was almost twice the allowable level of 60μg/kg for PCBs
in ambient soil stipulated by the former USSR Ministry ofHealth in 1991.
A total of 43 poly brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) congeners were detected in soil
collected from the burnt plastic dump site.The analyses indicated that PBDE mono- to
hepta-brominated congeners in soil had concentrations ranging from 0.26 to824μg/kg dry
wt. The concentrations of the highly lipophilic BDE-47, -99, -100, and -153 congeners in
the soil samples ranged from 2.70 to 615μg/kg andwere generally higher than the levels
in the sediment collected from the Lianjiang River. Soil from the burnt plastic site had a
BDE-183concentration that was almost 70 times that of soil fromthe printer roller dump
site. PBDE concentrations in the soil at the dumping sites of Guiyu were approximately
10–60 times those reported elsewhere.

40
Cu, Pb, and Zn were the most abundant metals among the environmental samples. Cu
concentrations at the printer roller dump site (712 mg/kg) exceeded the new Dutch list
action value of 190mg/kg. There were no other values that exceeded the Dutch action
level with regard to the other heavy metals, however, the Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn
concentrations for the burnt plastic dump site, and the printer roller dump site exceeded
the respective Dutch optimum values. For the reservoir soil, the heavy metal
concentrations were below or close to the limits for the natural backgroundas defined by
the Chinese Environmental Quality Standards. Heavy metal concentration in the soil
samples collected is given table 7.6.

Table 7.6 Heavy Metal Concentration in Soil Samples (mg/kg dry

wt)

Sampling site Heavy metals

Cd Cr Cu Ni Pb Zn

Soil
Burnt plastic dump site 1.7 28. 49 15 10 25
6 6 5 4 8
Printer roller dump site 3.1 74. 71 87. 19 –
9 2 4 0
Reservoir ND 3.4 9.2 8.4 55. 78.
4 0
Soil quality standards
Dutch
Optimum value 0.8 10 36 35 85 14
0 0
Action value 12 38 19 21 53 72
0 0 0 0 0
China

Grade I (natural background) 0.2 90 35 40 35 10

0
Grade II (agricultural and 0.3 20 10 50 30 25
related use) 0 0 0 0

41
Grade III (industrial activity) 1 30 40 20 50 50
0 0 0 0 0

Of the study sites, the most seriously polluted were the burnt plastic and printer roller
dump sites. From the results study conducted, there was a better awareness of the
hazardous implications of e-waste recycling on the environment and human health.
Based on the data it was concluded that the analyses of environmental and human
samples collected from the area would show significant contamination by various
substances resulting directly from crude and inappropriate e-waste recycling practices.

42
 CHAPTER 8. CONCLUSION

Electronic and electrical equipments cannot be avoided in today’s world. So also is the
case of waste electronic and electrical equipments. As long as this is a necessary evil, it
has to be best managed to minimize its adverse impacts on environment. Through
innovative changes in product design under EPR, use of environmentally friendly
substitutes for hazardous substances, these impacts can be mitigated. A legal framework
has to be there for enforcing EPR, RoHS for attaining this goal. Adoption of
environmentally sound technologies for recycling and reuse of e-waste along with EPR
and RoHS offers workable solution for environmentally sound management of e-waste.

Ewaste is is a relatively new segment in the global problem of waste removal. It is also
the fastest growing segment worldwide in discarded waste. This growing problem in the
world is largely ignored or misunderstood. Many people do not understand what it is or
how it affects them, the world, or the environment. So the question "What is ewaste"
needs to be addressed before any solutions can be effective. Ewaste comes from the
improper disposal of any number of electronic devices.
These devices include computers, televisions, cell phones, or most other electronic
equipment. Consumers in developed nations are quick to replace their devices because of
continuous technological advances. This upgrading leads to an excess of unused
electronic devices. What is done with old computers and phones is what is contributing to
the ewaste problem. Some people understand the importance of properly disposing of
these old units, but many more still throw them in the garbage or incineratorsMost
developed nations in the world have laws and regulations requiring that ewaste not be
disposed of in landfills or be incinerated.
Cities and states have set up programs accross the United States where consumers can
drop off used electronic devices to be properly disposed of. The best method of disposal
is to recycle this equipment. Many people do not understand that the parts in old devices
can be reused in new products. There is a popular mantra used by many recylcing
advocates, "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle." This slogan has widely been promoted with
plastics and glass, but its messageS als oapplicable to the disposal of ewaste. Many

43
electronic stores offer services to help customers bring in old electronics or parts so as to
dispose of them safely and properlyUnfortunately, there is another alternative being used
for the removal of ewaste in the world. Much of the ewaste in developing nations is being
exported to developing countries. Many developed countries have enacted laws to
prevent this from happening, but ewaste is still often being exported.

The bulk of the world's ewaste is being shipped to Nigeria, Ghana, Pakistan, India, and
China, among others. While it seems odd that a country would willingly import another's
waste, the waste is imported, sometimes illegally. This practice provides jobs and
valuable scraps. Ewaste is a source of valuable metals such as gold, nickel, copper, iron,
and silicon. The countries that are receiving this ewaste have lax laws protecting their
workers or the environment. Many of the workers are children, or are working countless
hours each day. There is also the reality that much of the refuse from electronic devices is
hazardous. The dumping of these materials following the harvesting of scrap can lead to
contamination of soil or water, damaging an area's environment and potentially their food
sources.

The purpose of this report was to alert students and make them aware of the problem.
Tons and tons of ewaste is dumped each year and the problems continues to grow. The
tasks we have assigned are intended to increase awareness of this global situation and
encourage students to research not only the problem, but potential solutions. The numbers
are mind blowing and awareness is a good way to begin resolving or attending to the
problem.

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 REFERENCES

Bandhopadhyay, A. (2010) “Electronic Waste Management: Indian Practices and Guidelines”

International Journal of Energy and Environment 1(5) pp. 193-807

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their
Disposal – Document accessed in 10/2010

E-Waste Volume II, E-Waste Management Manual – United Nations Environment Program –
accessed in 10/2010

Kurian Joseph (2007), “Electronic Waste Management in India-Issues and Strategies” Proc. On
Eleventh International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium

Mark Anderson (2010) What an E-waste” IEEE-spectrum, September, 2010

Nnorom I.C., Osibanjo O (2008) “Overview of Electronic Waste (e-waste) Management

Practices and Legislation in the Developed Countries” Journal of Resource Conservation and
Recycling 52(2008) 843-858

Sathish Sinha (2006) E-waste Time to Act Now –Toxic Alert, accessed in 10/2010

The Basel Action Network “Exporting Harm – The High Tech Trashing of Asia” accessed in
10/2010

Waste Water Engineering (2003), Metcalf and Eddy fourth edition

www.moef.nic.in- website of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

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