E-Waste Management
What is E-Waste?
What happens to electronic products after the warranty expires?
They go to e-waste management landfills. E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their "useful life. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled."
Each year, millions of people upgrade their phones and other electronics. They are eager to get the latest model, which is creating a growing pile of e-waste. The result is that many people are creating toxic e-waste and not doing anything about it. This is a growing problem and something we need to think about if we want to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Categories of Waste Electrical Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
e-waste management is one of the most important issues the world is facing today. The fact that electronics are fast becoming one of the most common forms of waste in landfills is a major issue.
There are several categories of e-waste including:
• cooling equipment such as refrigerators and air conditioners.
• information technology-related equipment.
• consumer electronic goods such as speakers, neckbands, home theatres, etc.
• television sets, LED and LCD monitors, and screens.
• LED bulbs, halogen bulbs, Ferrous and nonferrous metals, irons, blenders, and fryers.
• vending machines, washing machines, hair dryers, etc.
E-waste: Reports and findings related to its environmental impact
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, India generated 1,014,961 tonnes of e-waste in FY 2019-2020, an increase of 32% from FY 2018-2019. Only 3.6% and 10% of these were collected in the country in 2018 and 2019 respectively, according to the report. Most Indians have old computers, phones, and other electronics that they don't know what to do with. And they're bringing this junk to landfills all across the Country.
A report published by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Resource Recycling Systems India in partnership with the 12th edition of India's E-waste Recycling Statistics shows that between 2010 and 2015, the amount of e-waste generated in India increased by 18%. Moreover, only 4% of total e-waste is handled by the organized sector.
Importance of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle:
Reduce: We need to reduce waste as much as possible. Waste reduction allows us to avoid unnecessary use of resources, such as energy, large household appliances, small house appliances, and water.
Reuse: Waste reuse of non-waste components or products for the same purpose for which they were designed is a great way to give a product a second life by saving the raw materials that would be consumed in producing it new. Using fewer raw materials and remanufacturing the product, refurbishing the non-waste components, and repairing help to save natural resources.
Recycle: Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects.
Steps were taken by UBON Planet to save the ecosystem from e-waste
How to deal with e-waste is an important topic, especially when it comes to determining how much of it is ending up in landfills. This write-up will take a look at the e-waste issue and how the UBON team deals with it in a better way.
At UBON, we truly believe that it is our responsibility to be environmentally and socially responsible in our business practices. As part of our commitment to comply with e-waste regulations in India, we have been implementing the laws passed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) (called E-waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2011) which came into effect on May 1, 2012.
Many other steps were taken by the UBON team to manage the e-waste:
• Find and use elements that can be reused, recycled, or disposed of responsibly
• Starts a companywide recycling program.
• Implementing Sustainable manufacturing strategies for reducing e-waste.
• Manufacturing eco-friendly products including solar-powered table lamps: Lightup 2.0 LM-2110, and Lighter LM-2400.
Today, environmental pollution is one of the biggest global problems. Polluted air, water, and lands threaten the survival of future generations. Pollution is a result of industrialization, urbanization, and population growth. Waste generated from households, industries, and commercial complexes must be safely disposed of. In developing countries like India, waste management is a new concept. The Indian government is now implementing systems for managing and recycling e-waste.
• Extended Producer Responsibility by making rules and regulations
• Environmental Protection Policy.
• (3Rs) Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
• Recycle technology platform for linking the market and facilitating the circular economy.
With this article, we hope you learned about the effects of e-waste and how to deal with it properly. It is important to recycle and safely dispose of your electronic devices. Sadly, e-waste is a growing problem, and many electronics end up in landfills, causing environmental harm. By recycling your electronic devices, you can prevent this from happening.
