Electronic Waste

Presented By: Ali Tariq Maryam Naz BBA-6

INTRODUCTION
Electronic product made our life easy by saving time and being

efficient.
Communication systems have revolutionaries by way of mobile phones. Entertainment product like television and music system have added enjoyment to our life. Electronic product needs to be treated as a hazardous waste.

E-Waste
E-waste: Refers to electronics that have reached the end of their effective lifespan or have been broken in some way. Types of e-waste: Includes cell phones, computers, DVD players, televisions, and many other gadgets and electronics. Ewaste is the fastest growing component of the waste stream in the United States.

Todays electronic gadgets , tomorrows electronic waste !!!

How these become e-waste ?

Changes and advancements in technology. Changes in fashion, style and status. Small life of electronic equipment. It has become a uncontrollable issue.

Uncontrolled burning and disposal are environment problems.

Causes acidification of soil.

Some Examples:
Cell phone upgrades.

Digital TV conversion.
Disposable printers.

Cant change the battery in you iPod.

Why E-Waste a PROBLEM ??

Composed of hazardous materials

Products are quickly obsolete and discarded

Electronic products are difficult to recycle

Discarded electronics are badly managed

Most e-waste goes to landfills

Problem in Pictures

Constituents of E-Waste
Hazardous materials Valuable materials

Hazardous Materials

Valuable Materials

E-waste Disposal
Methods
Recycle
Landfill Incineration Reuse

Land Filling
Land fill is also known as

dump, it is a site for the

disposal of waste materials by burial and is oldest form of waste treatment

Disadvantages
Metals like mercury, cadmium, lead leaches into the soil and ground

water making them polluted

Requires large amount of space. It is not environmentally sound treatment.

Incineration
It is a controlled and complete combustion process, in which the waste material is burned in

specially designed incinerators at

a high temperature (900 C - 1000 C)

Problems
E-waste is the most rapidly growing waste problem in the world. It is a crisis of not quantity alone but also a crisis born from toxics ingredients, posing a threat to the occupational health as well as the environment.

Rapid technology change, low initial cost, high obsolescence rate

have resulted in a fast growing problem around the globe.

E-Waste Hazards
(Asian Perspective)
Average PC of approx. 31.5 kg wt. contains: 7.24 kg 1.98 kg 0.693g 0.4095g 2.961g 1.98g 9.92g 4.94g Plastics Lead Mercury Arsenic Cadmium Chromium Barium Beryllium
Two million Obsolete PCs would mean:

14,427,000 kg 3,962,700 kg 1,386 kg 819 kg 5,922 kg 3,969 kg 19,845 kg 9,891 kg

E-waste in Asia
Over 2 million e-waste is generated

every year
Harmful techniques like burning wires are common practice

Recycling Steps
Manual dismantling.

Refining and conditioning.

Solid waste is deposited in a municipal landfill.

WHAT CAN CONSUMERS DO?

Keep your old electronics longer instead of replacing them. If discarding old electronics, be sure to recycle them at a trusted recycling center.

Purchase electronics that do not contain hazardous materials.

WHAT CAN PRODUCERS DO?

Extended producer responsibility Design for environment Take back offer & incentives

WHAT CAN GOVERNMENT/REGULATORS DO?

Provide subsidy for e-cycling to producers.
Keep track of collection & recycling. Regulate recyclers. Create public awareness. Eco-labeling .

Did you know?

The average life span of computers have dropped from 6 years in 1997

to just 2 years in 2005.

Mobile phones have a life cycle of less than two years in developed countries. 183 million computers were sold worldwide in 2009 - 11.6 % more than in 2006.

Conti
674 million mobile phones were sold worldwide in 2004 30% more

than in 2003
In 2012, there were 716 million new computers in use. There were 178 million new computer users in China, 80 million new users in India

We have to sacrifice TODAY, for a better TOMORROW !!