Analytical study into the issue of E- Waste: An Article

        Edited by : Rajlakshmi Dutta

                           Ashay Anand       

The E- Waste scrap market of Seelampur

                        

                                                    INTRODUCTION

 “Electronic waste” has become one of the major environmental concerns in today’s Delhi. The issue came to light only after widespread coverage by prominent newspaper dailies and magazines in the early part of 2011. According to Tehelka Magazine (Vol. 8, Issue 2, Dated January 15, 2011) “Seelampur”, a small settlement approximately 15km from the centre of Delhi is reputedly the largest electronics- dismantling-recycling-selling market in the country. Residents work every day to extract gold and copper from circuit boards. Some extract metals independently, some work with big traders — most earn about Rs. 200 per day.[1] "Electronic waste" may be defined as discarded computers, office electronic equipment, entertainment device electronics, mobile phones, television sets and refrigerators. This definition includes used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal. The discarded and end-of-life electronic consumer products ranging from computers, equipment used in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), home appliances, audio and video products and all of their peripherals are popularly known as Electronic-Waste popularly abbreviated as E-waste. There, is however, no standard definition of e-waste in any part of the world leaving it to be interpreted differently in different countries. Also there is a lack of consensus as to whether the term should apply to resale, reuse, and refurbishing industries, or only to product that cannot be used for its intended purpose.

E- Waste Disposal In Several Countries- A detailed Analysis

E-WASTE DISPOSAL

IN

SEVERAL COUNTRIES-

A DETAILED ANALYSIS

 Manu Seth

Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi

 As an annexure to the former report, it focuses on e-waste disposal systems in different countries namely-U.S.A, China, Brazil & Germany.

The primary aim of carrying out such a task was to see as to how different countries deal with the problem of e-waste & the effective measures that India can employ seeing the situation and different laws as precedent.

E-waste(electronic waste) or high-tech trash refers to items such as computers, televisions, cellphones, transistors, various machinery equipments etc. when being disposed terming it as ‘old-fashioned’ or when they become obsolete.

Unlike typical garbage, e-waste is non-biodegradable and poses large scale threat to the life and limb.

A report by Assocham (Indian Express dated June5,2012) states that less than 5% e-waste is recycled in India due to absence of proper infrastructure, legislation and famework.

Effect of E- Waste on Environment and Health

  EFFECT OF E-WASTE ON ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

Shruti Jose

Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi

Introduction

What is E-waste?

The discarded and end-of-life electronic consumer products ranging from computers, equipment used in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) , home appliances, audio and video products and all of their peripherals are popularly known as Electronic-Waste popularly abbreviated as E-waste . There, is however, no standard definition of e-waste in any part of the world leaving it to be interpreted differently in different countries.Also there is a lack of consensus as to whether the term should apply to resale, reuse, and refurbishing industries, or only to product that cannot be used for its intended purpose.  In most cases e-waste comprises of the relatively expensive and essentially durable products used for data processing, telecommunications or entertainment in private households and business.

E- WASTE- The Indian Scenario

E-WASTE - THE INDIAN SCENARIO

Ishica Ghosh

Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi

  Electronic waste or e-waste is one of the rapidly growing problems of the world. E-waste comprises of a multitude of components, some containing toxic substances that can have an adverse impact on human health and the environment if not handled properly. In India, e-waste management assumes greater significance not only due to the generation of its own e-waste but also because of the dumping of e-waste from developed countries. This is coupled with India's lack of appropriate infrastructure and procedures for its disposal and recycling.

Rapid changes in technology, changes in media (tapes, software, MP3), falling prices and planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast-growing surplus of electronic waste around the globe. Technical solutions for recycling are available, but in most cases a legal framework, a collection system, logistics, and other services need to be implemented before a technical solution can be applied.

E- Waste Management

Karan Jain

Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi

E-Waste Management

Introduction

Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) is defined in the ‘Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Management of E-waste’ published by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India. As per this definition, “E-waste comprises of wastes generated from used electrical, electronic devices and household appliances which are not fit for their original intended use and are destined for recovery, recycling and/or disposal”. Such wastes encompass wide range of electrical and electronic devices such as computers, handheld devices, domestic electronic equipmentincluding refrigerators, air conditioners etc. E-waste also includes rejects from electronic manufacturing units. According to WEEE Directive (EU, 2002a) of the European Union, “Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment” (WEEE) is defined as waste material consisting of any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic appliances.

E- Waste Disposal: A Comparative Study of various nations

                  E-WASTE DISPOSAL: A COMPARITIVE STUDY

Suhaas Mohan

Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi

INTRODUCTION

"Electronic waste" may be defined as discarded computers, office electronic equipment, entertainment device electronics, mobile phones, television sets and refrigerators. This definition includes used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal. Others define the re-usables (working and repairable electronics) and secondary scrap (copper, steel, plastic, etc.) to be "commodities", and reserve the term "waste" for residue or material which is dumped by the buyer rather than recycled, including residue from reuse and recycling operations. Because loads of surplus electronics are frequently commingled (good, recyclable, and non-recyclable), several public policy advocates apply the term "e-waste" broadly to all surplus electronics. Cathode ray tubes (CRT) are considered one of the hardest types to recycle. CRTs have relatively high concentration of lead and phosphors (not to be confused with phosphorus), both of which are necessary for the display. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) includes discarded CRT monitors in its category of "hazardous household waste" but considers CRTs that have been set aside for testing to be commodities if they are not discarded, speculatively accumulated, or left unprotected from weather and other damage.

A Field trip to Seelampur

Ashay Anand

On Saturday, September 22 2012 a team of 9 members that included Ashay Anand, Ankit Kumar Vihaan, Rajlakshmi Dutta, Manu Seth, Rahul Raghav, Richa Singh, Achal Bansal, Raushan Kumar and Kumarjeeb Pegu left on a fact finding trip to Seelampur. Seelampur was preferred over other areas as almost all the reports regarding piling up of e-waste in Delhi was primarily connected to the slums of Seelampur. The group reached Seelampur at 2:30pm and started finding the way to the e-waste workshop of Delhi.