Our lives have become incredibly convenient because of prosperity, technological advancement, and innovation, which have also sped up global communication and connectivity. However, there is a serious risk to both the environment and human health from the massive manufacture of electronic devices. Electronic sector technological advancements frequently occur quickly, causing rapid obsolescence and a shortening of product lifespans. Before reaching their technical end of life, recently made goods may end up as electronic garbage (e-waste) or waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The region’s current waste management frameworks are ill-equipped to deal with the rising levels of e-waste. Furthermore, the specific content and context of e-waste are not completely investigated.
In India, the amount of “e-waste,” or electronic garbage, has now become a big issue. Because electronic waste is part of the official municipal waste stream that is growing the fastest in the globe, its disposal is a significant environmental and public health concern. The intricate nature of this ever-growing trash makes it a rich source of metals like gold, silver, and copper that may be recovered and added back into the production process. As a result, many different groups of people in India are employed by e-waste trade and recycling coalitions. In Delhi alone, there are over 25,000 employees, including minors, employed in crude dismantling plants where 10,000–20,000 tonnes of e-waste are handled yearly with bare hands. E-waste is dangerous to human health and our ecology when it is improperly disassembled and processed. Consequently, it has become apparent how important good e-waste management is. An evaluation of the threats to public health and the methods for addressing this expanding danger is warranted.
The goal of the E-Waste Asia Conference primarily is to ensure that the appropriate individuals and industry stakeholders were involved and to make sure that each stakeholder began incorporating sustainable practices and best recycling procedures in the e-waste business.
This meeting guarantees the greatest options for preventing electronic trash from ending up in landfills or the environment. Additionally, how should e-waste be recycled and what gains may be made by doing so commercially.
The EPR concentrates on the brand owner’s viewpoints on the recycling of e-waste, sustainability, and practical applications of diverse brand owners’ and recyclers’ approaches. One of the most crucial measures to lessen the effects of plastic on the environment is recycling. It offers chances to cut down on the amount of garbage that needs to be disposed of, carbon dioxide emissions, and oil use.
The conference provides a venue to bring together businesses that process electronic scrap, recycling companies, electronics producers, scrap buyers and brokers, businesses that repair devices, government officials who oversee solid waste, potential investors, and other participants in the expanding industry.
Hundreds of leaders in sustainability, recycling of electronic trash, and business expansion attended the conference. A variety of issues were covered in-depth by speakers, including:
growing demand for recycled and repurposed materials with increasing force
EPR regulations, certifications, and compliance: what’s next?
optimum techniques for facilities management
How the material recovery has changed
newest information about OEM recycling tactics
Future thoughts on the migration of e-waste across borders
In order to lessen the environmental impact of all types of consumer and industrial E-Waste, the main topics discussed include recycling technologies, materials recovery solutions, green electronics, sustainable materials, non-toxic substitutes, end-of-life strategies, as well as regulatory and business models.
India primarily relies on the unorganized sector for e-waste recycling because there are so few organized e-waste recycling facilities. In the bulk of the country’s urban slums, where untrained personnel perform risky procedures without personal protective equipment, endangering not only their health but also the environment, over 95% of the country’s e-waste is handled and processed.
One of the world’s most serious environmental challenges is the toxic nature of e-waste. The issue is getting worse due to the rising volume of e-waste brought on by a lack of knowledge and the necessary skills. There is an urgent need to develop a preventive strategy in relation to the health risks of handling e-waste among these workers in India because a large number of workers in this country are involved in the crude dismantling of these electronic items for their livelihood and their health is at risk. These employees should receive the necessary training on the safe management of e-waste and personal safety. There are various technical options for managing e-waste, but before they can be used in the management system, certain criteria must be met.