Ajayan Seminar

E-WASTE MANEGEMENT

SEMINAR REPORT

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Bachelor of Science(Computer science) University of Kerala.

Submitted by

AJAYAN.D

Reg No:32010823003

Department of Computer Science

COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCE DHANUVACHAPURAM

(Managed by IHRD & Affiliated to University of Kerala)

APRIL 2011

2

COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCE DHANUVACHAPURAM

(Affiliated to University of Kerala)

C E R T I F I C A T EThis is to certify that the work entitled E-WASTE MANEGEMENT

is a

bonafide record of work done by AJAYAN.D Reg NO

(32010823003) in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

award of Degree of Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) of

University of Kerala.

Head of the department Seminar Guide

Mrs. HELENA LAUREN L Ms. BINDHU TAS

Sr. Lect. In . Computer Science Lect. In . Computer

science

Valued with Register

No………………………………………on……………………..

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Examinar

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I feel very fortunate to have support and encouragement

of a number of key individuals in the Department of Computer Science.

I am extremely thankful to HELENA LAUREN.L, head

of the department, BINDHU TAS staff in charge ,Department of Computer

Science , for her kind and inspiring advise which helped me a lot while

preparing as well as presenting my seminar.

Finally , I must express my deepest appreciation to

all my classmates for their and understanding while presenting this seminar

AJAYAN.D

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ABSTRACT

The electronic industry is the world’s largest and fastest growing manufacturing industry in the world. Discarded electronic and electrical equipment with all of their peripherals at the end of life is termed e-waste. 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 and is one of the fastest growing waste streams.

E-waste consists of ferrous and non ferrous metals, plastic, glass, ceramics, rubber etc. 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. The presence of lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium and hexavalent chromium and flame retardants beyond threshold quantities in e-waste classifies them as hazardous wastes.

Rather than recycle the e-waste generated, the developed countries are finding easy way out of the problem by exporting them to developing economies. Recycling e-waste in a crude manner, as is done now will lead environmental pollution. A review of the study conducted of uncontrolled dumping and crude recycling of e-waste reveals the gravity of the problem. Technologies are suggested for environmentally sound management of e-waste. Legislation is the need of the hour for enforcing environmentally sound management.

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CONTENTS

Introduction……………………………4

E-waste…………………………………….5

Major sources……………………………5

Classifications of e-waste…………..6

Components of e-waste………………6.1

Composition of e-waste………………6.2

Guidelines for sound management..9

Recycling& Reuse option…………….11

Analysis……………………………………..17

Conclusion………………………………….21

References………………………………….22

INTRODUCTION

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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

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 ActionNetwork, 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 environmentally sound, economically viable

2.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

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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.

3. CLASSIFICATION OF E-WASTE

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3.1COMPONENTSOF 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

3.3 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:

3.3.1. Lead

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

3.3.2. 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).

3.3.3. 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.

3.3.4. 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.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).

3.4.5. Plastics (including PVC)

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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)

3.4.6 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).

3.4.7.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,

3.4. 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

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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 components which do not have resale value are openly burnt or disposed off in open dumps

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

4. METHODOLOGY FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF E-WASTE

4.1. 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:

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Iron and steel, used for casings and framesNon-ferrous metals, especially copper used in cables, and aluminumGlass used for screens, windowsPlastic used as casing, in cables and for circuit boardsElectronic componentsOthers (rubber, wood, ceramic etc.)Overview of the composition of the appliances in the three categories mentioned earlier is given in table .

4.2. ASSESSMENT OF HAZARDOUSNESS OF E-WASTE

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.

4.3.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

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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

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

4.4. 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) Incineration 2) Landfilling

4.4.1. 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

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:• 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 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.

4.4.2. 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.

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Fig:1

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Fig;2

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5. ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND E-WASTE TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES

Environmentally sound E-waste treatment technologies (EST) are used at three levels as described below:

Disposal

Disposed

Recoverd metirials

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2nd level treatment

3rd level treatment

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5.2. EST FOR 1ST LEVEL TREATMENT

5.2.1 Input: e-waste items like TV, refrigerator and Personal Computers (PC)

5.2.2 Unit Operations: There are three units operations at first level of e-waste treatment.

1.Decontamination –

The first treatment step is to decontaminate e-waste and render it nonhazardous. This involves removal of all types of liquids and gases (if any)under negative pressure, their recovery and storage.

2. Dismantling - Manual/mechanized breaking

3.Segregation –

Components are segregated into hazardous and nonhazardous components of e-waste fractions to be sent for 3rd level treatment.All the three unit operations are dry processes, which do not require usage of water.

5.2.3. Output:

1. Segregated hazardous wastes like CFC, Hg Switches, batteries and capacitors2. Decontaminated e-waste consisting of segregated non-hazardous e-waste like plastic, CRT, circuit board and cables

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5.3. ESTFOR 2ND LEVEL TREATMENT

5.3.1. Input: Decontaminated E-waste consisting segregated non hazardous e-waste like plastic, CRT, circuit board and cables.

5.3.2.Unit Operations: There are three unit operations at second level of E-waste treatment.1. Hammering2. Shredding3. Special treatment Processes comprising of

(i) CRT treatment consisting of separation of funnels and screen glass. (ii) Electromagnetic separation (iii) Eddy current separation (iv) Density separation using water

The two major unit operations are hammering and shredding. The major objective of these two unit operations is size reduction. The third unit operation consists of special treatment processes. Electromagnetic and eddy current separation utilizes properties of different elements like electrical conductivity, magnetic properties and density to separate ferrous, non ferrous metal and precious metal fractions. Plastic fractions consisting of sorted plastic after 1stlevel treatment, plastic mixture and plastic with flame retardants after second level treatment, glass and lead are separated during this treatment. The efficiency of this treatment determines the recovery rate of metal and segregated-waste fractions for third level treatment. The simplified version of this

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treatment technology showing combination of all three unit operations is given in Figure

5.4. EST FOR 3RD LEVEL TREATMENT

The hazardous material separated during the 1st level treatment and the output from the 2ndlevel is subjected to the 3rd level treatment. This facility need not always exists with the first two treatment locations, but may be located at different places. The treatment includes recycle /recovery of valuable materials using processes like smelting, refining etc.

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6. 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

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

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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 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.

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.

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REFERENCES

Bandhopadhyay, A. (2010) “Electronic Waste Management: Indian Practices and Guidelines” International Journal of Energy and Environment Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal – Document accessed in 10/2010

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E-Waste Volume II, E-Waste Management Manual – United NationEnvironment Programaccessed 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

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