Electrical and electronic waste: a global environmental problem

Abstract

The production of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is one of the fastest growing global manufacturing activities. This development has resulted in an increase of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE). Rapid economic growth, coupled with urbanization and growing demand for consumer goods, has increased both the consumption of EEE and the production of WEEE, which can be a source of hazardous wastes that pose a risk to the environment and to sustainable economic growth. To address potential environmental problems that could stem from improper management of WEEE, many countries and organizations have drafted national legislation to improve the reuse, recycling and other forms of material recovery from WEEE to reduce the amount and types of materials disposed in landfills. Recycling of waste electric and electronic equipment is important not only to reduce the amount of waste requiring treatment, but also to promote the recovery of valuable materials. EEE is diverse and complex with respect to the materials and components used and waste streams from the manufacturing processes. Characterization of these wastes is of paramount importance for developing a cost-effective and environmentally sound recycling system. This paper offers an overview of electrical and e-waste recycling, including a description of how it is generated and classified, strategies and technologies for recovering materials, and new scientific developments related to these activities. Finally, the e-waste recycling industry in India is also discussed.

Environmental effects of heavy metals derived from the e-waste recycling activities in China: A systematic review

“…Oral ingestion of contaminated food has been proved to be an important pathway for the transfer of heavy metals from the environment to human bodies. In humans, lead interferes with behavior and learning abilities; copper results in liver damage; and chronic exposure to cadmium increases the risk of lung cancer and kidney damage (Balakrishnan Ramesh et al, 2007;Bhutta et al, 2011;Chan and Wong, 2013;Esteban-Vasallo et al, 2012;Grant et al, 2013;Yan et al, 2013). Children are particularly susceptible to heavy metal exposure due to high gastrointestinal uptake and the permeable blood-brain barrier (Guo et al, 2010;Huo et al, 2007;Li et al, 2011c;Ogunseitan, 2013).…”

E-waste hazard: The impending challenge

“…Rapid economic growth, coupled with urbanization and a growing demand for consumer goods, has increased both the consumption and the production of EEE. [1] The Indian information technology (IT) industry has been one of the major drivers of change in the economy in the last decade and has contributed significantly to the digital revolution being experienced by the world. New electronic gadgets and appliances have infiltrated every aspect of our daily lives, providing our society with more comfort, health and security and with easy information acquisition and exchange.…”

Mass Balance of Plastic Waste Conversion to Fuel Oil- A case in Uganda

“…Plastics are used in many applications (Bashir, 2013) because of their versatility, light weight and also easy to manufacture (Andrady & Neal, 2009). Plastics are used extensively in automobiles (Gerrard & Kandlikar, 2007;Mazzanti & Zoboli, 2006;Smink, 2007), building and constructions (Cleetus, Thomas, & Varghese, 2013), packaging (Al-Salem, Lettieri, & Baeyens, 2009), bags (Bashir, 2013) and phones (Kasper et al, 2011;Yamane, de Moraes, Espinosa, & Tenório, 2011) and computers (Balakrishnan, Anand, & Chiya, 2007;Guo, Guo, & Xu, 2009;Hall & Williams, 2007). As a consequence, the production of plastics has increased substantially over the last 60 years .…”