Managing plastic waste has become a critical part of our discourse on waste management, and that’s a positive thing.
However, e-waste must also enter that critical conversation as it contains heavy metals and other toxic chemicals like mercury, lead, and sulphur that pose a real danger to our environment.
According to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, the country is expected to produce 3.3 million tonnes of e-waste containing toxic metals and chemicals by the end of 2018.
By 2020, it is likely to reach 5.2 MT, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 30%, says the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
So, we have little choice but to find ways of disposing of this waste which isn’t harmful to the environment.
“Direct contact of harmful materials such as lead, cadmium, chromium, brominated flame retardants or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and exposure to toxic fumes may cause serious health hazards. Toxic chemicals and heavy metals leaching into soil and water may cause pollution, while toxic fumes reach into the environment and cause air pollution,” says the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Electronic products like computer monitors, motherboards, mobile phones and chargers, headphones, television sets, air conditioners and refrigerators have become ubiquitous in the modern age.
However, once these products have exceeded their utility value, where and how do you dispose of them? What can you do as a consumer?
For starters, if your computers, refrigerators or microwave are still in working condition, you can donate them to a non-profit.
Old computers, for example, can be donated to government schools or non-profits. You must ensure that the product is in a reusable condition.
Similarly, you can sell your used electronics on websites like Olx or Quickr, while several companies like Amazon and Flipkart have exchange offers for mobile phones.
But if your electronic product is entirely out of order, there are specific steps you should never take:
1) Do not mix your e-waste like remote control batteries with regular waste.
2) Never dismantle your electronic products by yourself.
3) Never sell or give away your e-waste to your local scrap dealer/ragpicker who function in the informal and unorganised market.
Here’s what you can do, instead:
1) Give your e-waste to the nearest authorised e-waste collection centres/recyclers.
2) Call the producer/ manufacturer of your product for e-waste collection.
Under the Extended Producer Responsibility, which is a policy approach, manufacturers of laptops, mobile phones or microwaves are responsible to channel e-waste and ensure that it is managed in a way which is environmentally sound.