Waste electrical and electronic equipment

growing segments of our nation’s waste stream.
Is “e-waste” hazardous?
Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Informal processing of electronic waste in developing countries may cause serious health and pollution problems, though these countries are also most likely to reuse and repair electronics.
Certain components of some electronic products contain materials that render them hazardous, depending on their condition and density.
For instance, non-functioning CRTs (cathode ray tubes) from televisions are hazardous.
CRTs, may contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominated flame retardant.
Even in developed countries recycling and disposal of e-waste may involve significant risk to workers and communities and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations and leaching of material such as heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes.
Certain components of some electronic products contain materials that render them hazardous, depending on their condition and density.
For instance, non-functioning CRTs (cathode ray tubes) from televisions are hazardous.
It is amazing how many electrical items we use in our day-to-day lives, from alarm clocks to mobile phones.
All of which can be reused or recycled. The amount of electrical waste we throw away is increasing each year, making it one of the fastest growing waste streams in the country.
This increase is mainly down to: new technologies being developed affluent society throw away lifestyle.
Over 75 percent of waste electrical goods end up in dumpsites, where lead and other toxins contained in the electrical goods can cause soil and water contamination.
This can have a very harmful effect on natural habitat, wildlife and also human health.
When situated near populated areas these toxins can cause problems to communities as their water and soil is polluted.
Many of the electrical items that we throw away can be repaired or recycled. Recycling items helps to save natural finite resources and also reduces the environmental and health risks associated with sending waste electrical goods to dumpsites and landfills.
To minimise our impact on this earth and to protect the environment for future generations it is important that we are all aware of the consequences of our actions and how we can make a difference.
What should I do with my electronic
discards?
The mantra of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” applies here. Reduce your generation of e-waste through smart procurement and good maintenance.
Reuse still functioning electronic equipment by donating or selling it to someone who can still use it. Recycle those components that cannot be repaired.
There are organisations in our country that are carrying out recouping programmes, where they encourage the public to bring in obsolete computers.
Hazardous Waste Regulations
Environmental Management Act (20:27) section 72 and 73 as read with S. I. 10 OF 2007, translate the general mandate of EMA into a set of requirements for the Agency and the regulated community.
The hazardous waste legislation regulates commercial businesses as well as the State, and local government facilities that generate, transport, treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste.
Hazardous waste means waste or any material, which contains poisonous, corrosive, noxious, explosive, inflammable, radioactive, toxic or harmful substances to the environment.
When disposing of the WEEE
(a) Separate collection of WEEE: WEEE cannot be disposed of as unsorted municipal waste. WEEE must be collected separately from general waste.
(b) Customer role in contributing to reuse, recycling, and other forms of recovery of WEEE: It is important to conserve natural resources by minimising waste and encouraging recovery of waste.
Customers are encouraged to participate in separate collection of WEEE to promote reuse, recycling, composting and energy recovery.
It ultimately contributes greatly to waste reduction of natural resources and protection against environmental pollution.
(d) Potential effects on the environment and human health as a result of the presence of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment: Electrical and electronic equipment contains hazardous substances. If not disposed of properly, WEEE can cause negative effects on the environment and human health.
What EMA is doing to encourage reuse, recycling and greener purchasing of electronics.
The e-Cycling Campaign is one of many efforts EMA is using to increase the national recycling rate among other goals.
The campaign aims to get the word out about opportunities to reuse and recycle your old computers, TVs, and cellphones, and to build momentum for even more reuse and recycling programmes.
Under the e-Cyling Campaign, EMA is working with electronics manufacturers, retailers, and government agencies to reduce the environmental impacts of electronic products during their production, use, and disposal.
Overall, EMA’s goal is to promote greater electronics product stewardship. Product stewardship means that all who make, distribute, use and dispose of products share responsibility for reducing the environmental impact of those products. EMA intends to work towards this goal in three ways:
Foster a life-cycle approach to product stewardship, including environmentally conscious design, manufacturing, and toxics reduction for new electronic products.
Increase reuse and recycling of used electronics; and ensures that management of old electronics is safe and environmentally sound.
EMA is currently working with stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to meet these goals.
The aim is to encourage manufacturers to adopt cleaner production methods so as to produce products which are environmentally sound and can be reused and recycled as well as reduce the environmental footprint of electronic product use.
EMA’s Product Stewardship supports multi-stakeholder dialogues, collection pilots, public education and international co-operation to foster greater awareness and coordination of electronics reuse and recycling issues.
Ema’s Design for the Environment Programme works with electronics manufacturers to incorporate environmental considerations into product design.
Energy Star Programme promotes energy-efficient products through its labelling and education program.
EMA’s WasteWise Programme challenges its stakeholders to set goals for reducing electronics waste.
Quote of the Week: Every day is Earth Day. — Author Unknown.