Introduction:
What is e-waste:
E-waste, or electronic waste, refers to discarded
electronic devices and appliances that are no longer
wanted or are broken. This includes items like
computers, phones, TVs, and other electronics that people
throw away.
E-waste Sources and generation:
Here are 10 key points explaining the sources and
generation of e-waste:
1. Consumer Electronics: Devices like smartphones,
laptops, tablets, televisions, and gaming consoles are
frequently upgraded, making them a major source
of e-waste.
2. Household Appliances: Large and small appliances such
as refrigerators, washing machines, microwave
ovens, air conditioners, and toasters contribute
significantly when discarded.
3. IT and Telecommunication Equipment: Offices and
businesses dispose of computers, servers, printers,
and networking equipment, generating a large
volume of e-waste.
4. Industrial Equipment: Manufacturing and
industrial sectors use electronic machinery and
tools that, when outdated or broken, add to e-
waste.
5. Medical Devices: Expired or non-functional medical
electronics like ECG machines, X-ray equipment, and
diagnostic devices are a source of e-waste
Growth of Electrical and Electronics
Industry in India:
1. Rapid Urbanization and Digitalization: With
increasing urbanization and the push for digital
infrastructure (like Digital India), the demand
for electronics such as smartphones, computers,
and internet-connected devices has grown
rapidly.
2. Government Initiatives: Programs like Make in
India, Digital India, PLI (Production Linked Incentive)
Scheme, and National Policy on Electronics (NPE) have
boosted domestic manufacturing and reduced
reliance on imports.
3. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): India has seen
increasing FDI in electronics manufacturing,
especially from countries like South Korea, Japan,
Taiwan, and the U.S., making it a growing global
electronics hub.
4. Consumer Market Expansion: India’s large and
growing middle class has led to increased
demand for consumer electronics, including
mobile phones, smart TVs, and home appliances.
In FY24, electronic goods exports totaled INR
2,464 billion, compared to INR 1,995 billion in
FY23, marking a growth of 23%. India has set
a target to achieve INR 25,401 billion in
electronics manufacturing and INR 10,160
billion in exports by 2025-26.
Global Context of e-waste Management:
E-waste management is a global challenge driven by
rapid technological advancements and consumerism,
resulting in a massive and growing stream of discarded
electronic devices. While e-waste contains valuable
materials, its improper handling poses significant
environmental and health risks due to the presence of
hazardous substances. Effective e-waste management,
including increased collection and recycling rates, is
crucial for resource recovery and minimizing
environmental impact.
Key Aspects of the Global Context:
1. Volume and Growth:
E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams
globally. In 2022, 62 million tonnes were generated,
with only a small fraction formally collected and
recycled. The volume is projected to reach 74.7 million
tonnes by 2030.
2. Composition and Value:
E-waste contains valuable materials like iron, copper,
gold, and other metals, as well as toxic substances
such as lead, mercury, and cadmium.
3. Environmental Impacts:
Improper e-waste disposal leads to soil and water
contamination from hazardous substances, air pollution
from incineration, and potential health problems for
those handling or living near e-waste sites.
4. Health Impacts:
Workers in informal e-waste recycling often face
health risks due to exposure to toxic chemicals, physical
hazards, and unsafe working conditions.
Indian Scenario on e-waste
Management:
India is the third-largest e-waste generator
globally, producing over 3.2 million metric tonnes
in 2020. E-waste is growing at a rate of
approximately 21% annually. While formal e-
waste recycling is growing, the informal sector
plays a significant role, handling a large portion
of collection and processing.
1. E-Waste Generation in India (Quantitative Analysis)
• Annual Generation: Over 1.7 million metric tons
(as of 2023).
• Growth Rate: Approximately 30% compound annual
growth rate (CAGR).
2. Engineering Processes in E-Waste Management
a. Collection & Transportation (Logistics Engineering)
• Reverse logistics systems are designed for collecting
discarded electronics from consumers to authorized
centres.
• Use of GPS-tracked transportation and RFID
tagging for inventory and flow control.
b. Dismantling (Mechanical Engineering)
• Devices are disassembled using manual and semi-
automated tools.
• Mechanical shredders are used to break components
into smaller parts.
• Separation into PCBs, metals (Cu, Al, Fe), plastics,
and hazardous waste.
E-WASTE:
E-waste Definition:
"E-waste means waste electrical and electronic
equipment (WEEE), whole or in part, discarded as
waste by the consumer or bulk consumer as well as
rejects from manufacturing, refurbishment, and
repair processes."
Examples of E-Waste:
1. Consumer Electronics: TVs, radios, smartphones,
tablets, laptops
2. Home Appliances: Refrigerators, washing machines,
air conditioners
3. IT Equipment: Servers, CPUs, printers, keyboards,
modems
4. Lighting: LED lamps, fluorescent tubes
5. Medical Equipment: ECG machines, diagnostic devices
(non-infectious)
Key Characteristics of E-Waste:
1. Contains valuable materials like gold, copper,
silver, aluminum.
2. Also contains hazardous substances such as lead,
mercury, cadmium, brominated flame retardants.
3. Requires specialized techniques for dismantling
and material recovery.
Classification of e-waste:
E-waste (electronic waste) can be classified based
on several criteria such as source, functionality,
hazard potential, and material composition. This
classification helps in designing appropriate
collection, treatment, recycling, and disposal
systems.
1. Classification Based on Source (Origin)
a. Household E-Waste (Consumer Electronics)
• Generated by individuals or families.
• Includes:
o Mobile phones, Televisions, Computers/laptops etc
b. Institutional/Commercial E-Waste
• Generated by businesses, educational institutions, and
offices.
• Includes:
o Network devices
o Projectors
o Office air conditioners
c. Industrial E-Waste
• Comes from manufacturing, automation, and
control systems.
• Includes:
o PLCs
o Industrial control panels
o CNC machines
d. Healthcare E-Waste
• Generated by hospitals and diagnostic labs (non-
infectious only).
• Includes:
o Patient monitors
o X-ray machines
o Infusion pumps
2. Classification Based on Hazard Potential
a. Hazardous E-Waste
• Contains harmful substances like lead, mercury,
cadmium, chromium VI, brominated flame
retardants.
• Examples:
o CRT monitors (lead)
o Fluorescent lamps (mercury)
o Batteries (cadmium, lithium)
b. Non-Hazardous E-Waste
• Contains mostly recoverable materials and is
relatively safe to handle.
• Examples:
o Plastics, aluminum parts, glass components (when
uncontaminated)
Classification Based on Lifecycle Stage
Stage Description
Technologically outdated but
Obsolete Equipment
still functional
Non-functional
Not working or repairable
Equipment
End-of-Life (EOL) Beyond repair, needs dismantling
Equipment or recycling
Waste generated during
Manufacturing Scrap
production
Post-Consumer Waste Discarded by end-users
Characterization of e-waste:
Characterization of e-waste refers to the systematic
analysis and identification of its physical, chemical, and
material properties. It is an essential step in
engineering e-waste management because it helps in
designing recovery, recycling, treatment, and disposal
processes.
1. Purpose of E-Waste Characterization
• To identify material composition (metals, plastics,
glass, etc.)
• To quantify hazardous substances
• To estimate resource recovery potential (e.g., gold,
copper)
• To design safe and efficient recycling techniques
• To support policy and regulation development
2. Key Components of E-Waste Characterization
a. Physical Characterization
• Focuses on shape, size, weight, and components.
• Used to plan mechanical separation processes like
shredding, crushing, and sorting.
Properties Examples
Large (TVs, refrigerators) vs. small
Size and shape
(phones, batteries)
Helps in separation (e.g., plastics vs
Density
metals)
Layered Found in PCBs (multiple layers of
structure materials)
b. Chemical Characterization
• Involves identifying chemical elements and compounds,
especially hazardous and precious metals.
• Spectroscopy (AAS, XRF, ICP-MS) is often used.
Material Typical Elements Present
PCBs (Printed Circuit
Cu, Au, Ag, Pb, Sn, Ni
Boards)
Batteries Li, Cd, Pb, Hg
CRT glass PbO (up to 20-30%)
Brominated flame retardants
Plastics
(BFRs)
c. Material Composition Analysis
• Determines the percentage content of various
materials.
Average Content in E-
Material Type
Waste (%)
Metals (Cu, Fe, Al,
40–60%
etc.)
Plastics 15–25%
Glass 5–10%
Hazardous substances 2–5%
Other materials 5–10%
