E-Waste: Environmental Nuisance!!!

With increase of earnings, the consumerism is increased leading to change in life style. One can see television even in slums, mobile telephone with every one including the maid who works in your house, vegetable vendors etc, every one might be having refrigerators, DVD players and computers in their homes. With increase of banks giving personal loans and consumer loans, many people are changing consumer durables frequently to purchase new models. They may not be knowing how much e-waste they are creating.

Then, what will happen to the old electronic good? Which is otherwise called e-waste.

Some facts

•There are 20 million computer in the country, the number is expected to grow 75 million

•Country will have 3000 million mobiles by 2010

•50 % of e waste is not counted, refrigerators, washing machines, electronic toys , ovens, hot water geysers are part of e waste

•Computer monitors, keyboards, speakers, mice, worn-out cables, computer peripherals and consumables all go to make up e-waste in Bangalore, estimated at 5,000 to 8,000 tonnes a year.

•Toxics Link studied the e-waste pattern across the country and found that while Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore top the list of e-waste generators, cities like Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad, have become dumping grounds for e-waste. Ahmedabad had 3,287 tonnes of e-waste during the period 2004-05.

•Each computer contains at least 50 highly toxic metals and compounds.

•E waste contains toxic materials like lead and mercury which causes cancer. Many developed countries are dumping e- waste to developing and under developing countries. Basel convention international convention to reduce movement of hazardous waste between nation especially to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed country to developing country does not address radioactive came into effect may 5, 1992. E-waste became nuisance all over world there is no specific laws in management, disassembling, reuse and disposal of e-waste.

This became big environmental problem.

Some solution

•There should be proper rules to deal with e-waste not clubbing with the recycling of other wastes.

•Individual should also see lesser consumerism to save the environment

•Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) the manufacturing company can take back its product back after its useful life and reuse and recycle to prevent environmental damage. This should be implemented in India.