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Electronics Waste Management
The electronic industry has been the fastest developing technology in this century. Along with advancement in technology, electronics products are used by nearly all the people in the world. These electronic products include TV’s, computers, digital monitors etc. The discarded electronic products are called electronic waste. The electronic waste comprises of products related to
computing, communication, or leisure in homes and are now broken, or beyond repair. These waste products can be reused directly or are capable for regeneration and recycling. The electronic waste has many hazardous effects on the environment if not processed properly. This article will bring out the effects of electronic waste on the environment and the key aspects of electronic waste management.
Effects of electronic waste: If properly recycled and processed the electronic waste can be used as secondary raw material source for further production. However if these waste products are not handled properly they contain many toxin and hazardous components that affect the environment. Rapid technological growth is one of the primary reasons for generating such electronic waste. Because of non availability of spares and irreparable condition, these products are thrown as electronic waste and are of great concern.
Most electronic products contain PCB’s which contain carcinogenic compounds that can cause cancer if not disposed properly. The next major cause is that of the plastic compounds like PVC which are used in these electronic products. Even though PVC recycling processes are available, if not properly disposed they can affect the environment very badly. The developed nations are shipping this electronic waste to the developing nations and poor nations. Here due to lack of proper waste management features, the electronic waste causes sever environmental pollution.
Electronic recycling methods: A new terminology has been coined with respect to the electronic waste called the e-waste processing industry. These new methods emphasis that dumping the electronic waste of certain types like CRT, PCB’s etc are very harmful and are to be avoided. The methods involve complete disable up to component level and reusing the components as secondary source of supply.
Composition of electronic waste: The electronic waste primarily comprises of PCBs, metals like iron, silicon, lead, tin, copper, carbon, aluminum and small quantities of mercury and cadmium. These components case great harm if burned because burning releases these metals into air and causes air pollution. This fine dust of metals can cause cancer especially lead.
Waste management: There are new methods being developed for handling the electronic waste. Specialized electronic waste disposal factories have also been set up. These factories prevent the dust from this waste by sealing the outlets and then dismantling. Thus they prevent harmful toxins like asbestos to enter the air and cause pollution and risk of cancer. Special systems for regeneration of these renewable and recyclable metals have been devised. These new systems are becoming popular and are actively being employed in the electronic waste management plants. Also strict laws have been proposed and put in force to prevent dumping the electronic waste since it causes severe pollution and endangers the environment.
