15Various physico-chemical parameters including fluoride (F -) were analyzed to 16 understand the hydro geochemistry of an aquifer in a semi-arid region of India. 17Furthermore, the quality of the shallow and deep aquifer (using tube-well and hand-18 pumps) were also investigated for their best ecological use including drinking, 19 domestic, agricultural and other activities. Different multivariate techniques were 20 applied to understand the groundwater chemistry of aquifer. Findings of correlation 21 matrix were strengthened by the factor analysis and this shows that salinity is mainly 22 contributed by magnesium-salts as compared to calcium-salts in the aquifer. The 23 problem of salinization seems mainly compounded by the contamination of the shallow 24 aquifers by the recharging water. High factor loading of total alkalinity and bicarbonates 25 indicates that total alkalinity was mainly due to carbonates and bicarbonates of sodium. 26
Purpose
India generates around two million tonnes of e-waste every year, and it is increasing at a very high rate of 30%. However, due to inefficient handling of infrastructure and limited number of collection centres along with the absence of proper incentive structure for producer and recyclers, 95% of e-waste reaches to unorganized sector for disposal. Consumers are not aware of the need of proper e-waste disposal and in absence of proper motivation and they are not inclined towards recycling process. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the best practices of e-waste take adopted all over the world to implement effective policy interventions for e-waste management in India and other emerging economies.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper has recommended preventive as well as curative policy interventions on the basis of best e-waste management practices of Germany, Italy and Japan; life cycle assessment of e-waste; and SWOT analysis of Indian electronic product industry.
Findings
Preventive measures include a deposit refund scheme wherein a consumer will be responsible for depositing a refundable fees during the purchase of the product. The amount should be arrived at keeping in mind cost involved in handling e-waste and ensure some motivation for the consumers to give back used product. To ensure proper tracking of the product, Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags can be used which will be activated at the time of sale of product and remain so until product reaches some designated recycling space or recycler and consumer is returned back his deposit fee. Subsidy to the producers and recyclers can also be provided by the government to further incentivize the whole process. An example of mobile phones has been used to understand the proposed deposit fees and associated cost structure. Curative measures to reduce the generation of e-waste in long run for managing the discussed issue have also been proposed.
Originality/value
This study is an initiative for proposing and implementing best e-waste take back techniques in a developing economy like India by acquiring learnings from best/advanced economies in terms of e-waste take back.
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