Every year millions of electronic devices are discarded all over the world.
According to a UN report, India is the world’s fifth largest producer of e-waste, discarding almost 1.7 million tonnes of e-waste in 2014 but now is 2024. So, you can think about how many tonnes of e-waste is produced.
Every year, most of the electronic waste, about 70%, comes from computers. Another 12% comes from telecommunications devices like phones and routers, while medical equipment and electric devices contribute 8% and 7% respectively.
The main sources of this waste are the government, public sector companies, and private sector companies, which together make up about 75% of it. Individual households only contribute around 16% of electronic waste.
So,
What is E-waste?
E-waste stands for Electronic Waste. Electronic waste is discarded electronic devices like computers, mobiles, televisions, and other electronic device that are not usable and have reached their maximum life span.
E-waste is increasing and will increase because we all people are dependent on the electronic device. Our daily activities start with an electronic device from waking in the morning with an alarm clock to sleeping at night with the phone.
For every activity, we need an electronic device. And now in every sector, that is private or public, there is increasing dependency on electronic devices.
E-Waste Cause Problems
After maximum use of these electronic devices, we throw them into the garbage and it will create lots of e-waste from it.
From E-waste, there is harmful toxic pollution released into the environment that causes serious health problems. E-waste causes major environmental problems and affects every life on the earth directly and indirectly.
According to WHO, E-waste produces neurotoxicants like lead and mercury that may disrupt the development of the brain during pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Some harmful toxicants from e-waste may also impact the structural development and function of the lungs.
As cities grow quickly, the amount of electronic waste will also increase, along with the number of people dealing with it. This poses health risks to them.
It's crucial to tackle waste management, promote sustainable consumption, maintain a healthy environment, and provide fair and safe working conditions for those who collect waste. These are pressing issues that need immediate attention.
Role of Government in E-waste
So, the Government has launched some initiatives for reducing e-waste. This program in India trains waste pickers to gather electronic waste, like computers and phones, for safe disposal and recycling.
Recycling these materials helps conserve natural resources and prevents air and water pollution caused by unsafe disposal methods. Additionally, recycling e-waste from landfills reduces methane emissions, which are much more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide.
By providing green jobs through this initiative, waste pickers are better equipped to combat poverty. These jobs not only increase their incomes but also shield them from the dangers of being exposed to toxins and heavy metals.
Here are some key facts about the initiative:
- Over 2,000 waste pickers have been trained to gather e-waste for safe disposal and recycling.
- The initiative negotiates with recycling companies to secure the best rates, enabling waste pickers to increase their earnings by 10-30%. Each year, more than 17 tonnes of e-waste are collected, which helps prevent the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Unrecycled e-waste contributes to about 4.25% of greenhouse emissions.
Informal waste pickers play a crucial role in cleaning up India's cities by recycling roughly 20% of the waste generated. However, they lack formal recognition, equal rights, secure livelihoods, and dignity.
As the economy grows and consumption patterns change, their work exposes them to increasingly high levels of pollution and hazardous toxins.
Chintan, an NGO based in India, collaborated with Delhi's Pollution Control Committee and the Department of Environment to form a partnership with Safai Sena, a recognized association of waste pickers.
They aimed to enhance the collection, sorting, and storage of electronic waste (e-waste). Subsequently, they teamed up with companies in India that specialized in safely extracting metals and plastics from e-waste.
The program trains waste pickers in safe handling practices for collecting e-waste, reducing their exposure to harmful toxins. Once collected, the e-waste is stored safely at Chintan's authorized collection center before being sent to recycling facilities for safe disposal or recycling.
Helping the Planet and People
It helps the planet by recycling electronic waste helps conserve natural resources and prevents air and water pollution caused by unsafe disposal methods.
When e-waste is recycled instead of being left in landfills, it reduces methane emissions, which are 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere.
Moreover, recycling cuts down on the need to produce new materials, which lowers overall energy consumption, decreases direct greenhouse gas emissions, and lessens the environmental impact of extracting natural resources.
By diverting around 17 tonnes of e-waste to recycling centers annually, this project contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, waste pickers use non-motorized vehicles for collecting e-waste, making the collection and transportation process emission-free.
It also helps the people. In Delhi alone, over 25,000 individuals earn their livelihood by handling, collecting, dismantling, and extracting metals from e-waste.
Chintan collaborates with waste pickers, roaming buyers, and small scrap dealers. They've provided training to more than 2,000 waste pickers on how to handle e-waste safely. Instead of being burned or thrown into landfills, electronic waste is now collected directly from households, schools, and businesses and recycled safely.
Moreover, the initiative negotiates with recycling companies to secure better rates for e-waste, allowing waste pickers to earn higher incomes. This has led to a 10-30% increase in their earnings.
Role of Being Electro in E-waste
Being Electro also helps in reducing e-waste from India. And we started in Bihar. But we will cover all districts and all states of India.
Being Electro is the leading startup in Bihar dedicated to electronic repair services and IT hardware solutions. We pride ourselves on offering comprehensive solutions for all your electronic needs, including laptops, desktops, printers, and Android TVs, at competitive retail and wholesale rates.
At Being Electro, we understand the frustration of dealing with post-warranty gadget issues. That's why our platform is designed to seamlessly address these concerns, providing efficient and effective resolutions for all your electronic problems.
One of our key focuses is on minimizing e-waste. Through our platform, we connect service providers with seekers, facilitating responsible disposal and recycling of electronic devices. By promoting proper e-waste management, we aim to contribute to a cleaner and greener environment.
Customer satisfaction is paramount to us, which is why we prioritize convenience and cost-effectiveness. Whether you need a quick phone consultation or on-site assistance, our team is dedicated to providing transparent problem resolution every step of the way.
In addition to our commitment to sustainability, we are passionate about empowering women in the hardware service industry. Through extensive training programs, we equip women with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in this field, fostering gender equality and economic empowerment.
To further streamline our services, we have developed a user-friendly app that provides easy access to repair services and IT products. Available on the Play Store, our app ensures a seamless experience for our customers, allowing them to browse and purchase products with ease.
With a focus on minimizing e-waste, we connect service providers with seekers, offering efficient resolutions through phone consultations for 60-80% of issues.
We prioritize customer convenience and cost-effectiveness, providing on-site assistance and transparent problem resolution.
Our commitment to sustainability includes proper e-waste management and empowering women in the hardware service industry.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the issue of electronic waste (e-waste) poses significant environmental and health challenges globally, including in India. However, initiatives like the one led by Chintan, in collaboration with various stakeholders, are making strides in addressing e-waste management and empowering waste pickers.
Similarly, Being Electro's commitment to minimizing e-waste through responsible disposal and recycling, along with its focus on customer satisfaction and gender equality, further contributes to the solution.
By promoting sustainable practices and providing quality repair services, we can work towards a cleaner environment and a better future for all.