EVS Project

E-waste
A GROUP PROJECT BY
AAKANKSHA (2011001), AARUSHI (2012003), AKSHITA(2012015),
ALANKRITA(2012017), DEVYANI (2012034), KRITI(2012050),
MEENAKSHI (2012058)

Why e-waste ?
It is a serious cause

Informal processing of E waste

Contains hazardous elements
IIITD - an electronic based Institute producing Electronic Waste.

Objective
Objective is to obtain an indication of the volume of E-waste generation at a
few E-Waste producing areas.
Focused on major Electronic Items used at homes, college, shops, etc.

Our Plans
We planned to do this project in 2 phases.
1. Resources
2. Management

What is e-waste?
Electronic waste (e-waste) comprises waste electronics/electrical goods that are

not fit for their originally intended use or have reached their end of life.
It can be categorized into:
1)
2)
3)
4)

Electrical waste -switches, relays, connectors

Electronic waste-PCBs, ICs, electronic metal waste
Cable waste- PVC, pre-insulated copper/aluminium cable wires
Telecommunication waste- mobiles, computer, TV

Global Impact of e-waste and why is it

growing?
Global Impact It is currently the largest growing waste stream.
Of the e-waste generated in developed countries that is sent for recycling, 80 per cent ends
up being shipped (often illegally) to developing countries to be recycled by hundreds of
thousands of informal workers. Such globalization of e-waste has adverse environmental and
health implications.

Why is e-waste growing?

Rapid growth in technology and innovation

Exponential growth in electronic market
Replacement of office equipments with latest products
Decrease in prices of electronic goods

Hazards
E-waste comprises of various elements which have a severe effect on both environment and
health of living organisms.
Lead highly toxic; damages the nervous system, blood system, kidneys, reproductive organs
Mercury highly toxic; damages the central nervous system and kidneys, memory loss, muscle
weakness; reduces soil fertility
PVC(Polyvinyl Chloride Plastics) causes air pollution and respiratory ailments, poisonous
when burnt
Chromium strong allergic reactions.
Cadmium toxic; severe lung damage, kidney damage, bone toxicity

Existing Norms And Laws

No concrete rule for e-waste management before 2011

Earlier e-wastes were considered under The Hazardous Wastes (Management

and Handling) Rules, 2003
Though electronic items are not specified in any of the three schedules

Finally e-waste management rules were formed in India

Which came in effect from May 1, 2012

Rules
Electronic items manufacturer are required to set up e-waste collection centres or introduce take
back systems .
Producers will have to make consumers aware about the hazardous components present in the
product.
Bulk consumers and government will be responsible for recycling of the e-wastes generated by them.
Manufacturers have to maintain records of e-wastes generated by them and make
such records available with State Pollution Control Boards or the Pollution Control
Committees.
The State Pollution Control Board will be required to prepare and submit to the
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) an annual report.

The CPCB forward it to the government along with its recommendations.

Source : http://moef.nic.in/downloads/rules-and-regulations/1035e_eng.pdf
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Composition of e-waste
10%
14%
34%

42%

Large HouseHold
Appliances
IT Communications
Technology
Consumer
Electronics
Others

Source : www.attero.in
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E-waste Generation In India

MAIT reports that India generated 332,979 tones of e-waste in 2007, while an additional 50,000 tones are
illegally imported into the country.

The national capital region (NCR) is set become the world's dumping capital for e-waste as it would
generate an estimated 50,000 tonnes of this per annum by 2015, a study by an industry chamber said
Thursday.

Of the total e-waste

generated, only
about 40% finds
its way to the
recycling stream
while the
remaining 60%
remains in
warehouses/
storages of companies.
Source : http://www.ecoreco.com/pdf/about-e-waste.pdf
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E-waste Generation In India

35%

30%

South
North
East

Approx. sixty-five cities in India

generate more than 60% of the
total e-waste generated in the
country.
Ten states generate more than 70%
of the total quantum of e-waste.

West

14%

21%

Source : http://www.ecoreco.com/pdf/about-e-waste.pdf
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Project Method
This project is a questionnaire-based survey followed up with interviews where
the target respondent groups were students from the IT field
Online survey to gather information about e-waste awareness and its
generation practices
Peer review questions on their e-waste generation and disposal activities
Institutes e-waste management policies

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Online Survey
Objective
The survey was conducted to know about the awareness level of students about ewaste and their e-waste generation practices.

We created an online survey on surveymonkey.com

Link for the same : http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YCHFR5M
Target audience : College students preferably from IT field. However some
professors and other professionals also agreed to fill up the survey.
Average age : 18-19 years*
Number of responses : 276

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Question 1
What electronic/electrical device(s) do you own?
97.1%

100.0%

Result : Most of the students own a

mobile phone, laptop/PC, Pen drive

94.6%
89.9%
90.0%
83.3%
79.7%

80.0%

81.2%

78.6%
74.3%

70.0%

66.3%
57.6%

60.0%
50.0%

Interpretation : Given that are

target audience was mainly students
from the IT field, most of the data
that we received for this question
was in accordance with what we had
expected.

73.6%

72.1%

56.2%
48.9%

49.3%

47.1%

40.0%
30.0%

26.8%

20.0%
10.0%

3.6%

0.0%

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Question 2 What do you do with these devices when they stop working or
get damaged?
Others

Result : Most of the students prefer to get

2.1%

their electronic items repaired

Get them replaced

Get them repaired

Give them to someone else

81.9%

23.9%

Sell them to junk shops

Use their parts for other purposes

Keep them

Throw them away

Interpretation : The main incentive behind

this could be to save money.

47.8%

34.8%

19.6%

27.9%

Analysis : There is a considerable fraction

of students who prefer to throw them away
without any regard to
e-waste generation.
Lack of awareness
regarding this increases
e-waste generation
manifold.

25.7%

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Question 3
Which items do you replace the most?
Result : The most frequently replaced items were
1)
2)
3)

Cellphone
Earphones/ Headsets
Pendrives

Interpretation : This can be attributed to the latest features, use and portability of these
gadgets. Also to keep up with latest trends.

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Question 4
Do you know what e-waste is?
Result : Most of the people are aware of ewaste. However 1/5th of them have little or
no idea about e-waste

Interpretation : Even though our target

audience was in some way or the other
related to technology, it was surprising to see
that so many of them did not know what ewaste is.

20.3%
79.7%

Yes

No

Analysis : the casual attitude

of students towards
environment owes largely
to lack of awareness and/or
incomplete information

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Question 5
Are you aware of any health risks associated with e-waste?
Result : About 45% of the people are not aware of

60.0%
55.1%

any health risks associated with e-waste

50.0%
44.9%

Interpretation : It was shocking to see that even

though most of them knew what e-waste is, many of
them are not aware of its harmful effects

40.0%

Analysis : If such a large fraction

30.0%

of people are unaware of the

ill-effects of e-waste, one cannot
expect proper management of
e-waste from their side. This comes
largely because students are unaware
of the techniques that should be used
for the safe disposal of their devices.

20.0%

10.0%

0.0%
Yes

No

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Question 6
Are you aware of any e-waste management policy undertaken by NCT
govt./ scrap-dealer/ mobile centers?
Result : Very few people are aware of any
management policies regarding e-waste
Interpretation : Most of the people arent aware of
any such policies, this can be attributed to the fact
that there werent any such policies designed by the
govt. before 2011.

83.7%

Analysis : Most of the people

mentioned about Nokias recycle
and replacement policy which
shows that advertising such
policies can help increase
awareness among people

16.3%

0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%
No

80.0%

100.0%

Yes

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Question 7
Do you buy new devices even if the old ones are working ?
50.0%

Result : Majority of the people do

sometimes buy new devices even if the old
ones are working

45.7%
45.0%
40.0%
35.0%

Interpretation : The desire to follow new

trends is probably the main reason behind
this

33.3%

30.0%
25.0%

Analysis : This shows how

unconcerned they are about
the e-waste generated

20.0%
15.0%

12.7%

10.0%
5.1%

5.0%

3.3%

0.0%
Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Most of the time

Always

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Question 8
Do you buy second-hand gadgets?
Always

Result : As can be seen most of them

dont even think about buying second
hand gadgets

0.0%

Most of the time

Interpretation : There can be many

reasons behind the same, perhaps they
dont what to own a used gadget or
probably they do not trust a
second hand gadget

1.8%

Sometimes

13.8%

Rarely

25.4%

59.1%

Never

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

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Peer Review
Objective

This peer-study was carried out to understand the attitude of students towards usage
and disposal of commonly owned devices.

Review Period
20th Sep2013- 13th Oct2013

Review Audience
Students aged between 17-23 years old.

No. of Peer Responses

100

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Why do you replace e-devices even if they are in

working condition?
53% of students agreed that new and better features is the main reason for getting a new device
even when the current one is working.
53%
60
50
40

28%

30

16%

20
3%

10
0
For new and better
functions

To keep up with the

latest trend

Lucrative deals and

promotional offers

Bored with the old

one
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How do you dispose off your previously owned edevices?

45% of the students gave their old devices to family members or friends - while only 2%
adopted eco-friendly means to dispose them off.
60
45%
50
34%
40
30
20

11%
8%
2%

10
0
Sell it

Keep at Home

Gave to a Family
member/friend

Deposited at
Collection
centers

Others( donated,
traded-in, lost)

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What are the reasons for keeping old e-devices at

home?
47% of the students mentioned that they kept old devices at home for occasional usage while
3% said they were concerned about the data stored on them.
60

47%

50
40

30%

30
16%
20
4%

10

3%

0
For keeping Backup
of the current
device

Don't know what

to do with it

Low trade-in value

For occasional use

Worried about
data being
mishandled
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Do you adopt environment-friendly means to dispose

off your devices?
More than 4/5th of the students do not adopt any recycling methods.
About half of the above categorized students (49%) express that collection centres not being in vicinity is
one of the key barrier for not using environment friendly means. However those who feel environmental
friendly disposal is not their responsibility are in minority.
49%

60
50

81%
19%

40

25%
18%

30
20

8%

10

yes

no

I am least
concerned
about
environment

I worry about
my previous
data

I don't have
access to any
collection
point/center

There is no
monetary
incentive in
doing that

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Institutes E-waste Management Policies

Since our institute has been recently established, and most of the electronic gadgets come with
a warranty of at least 3-4 years, not much e-waste has been generated.
Very few electronic items like mouse and keyboard are replaced.
Nothing has been done yet, all the e-waste is lying in a store room.
Since not much e-waste has been generated, there is no formal policy for e-waste
management.

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Suggested Management Policy for IIITD

Inventory Management
Identification of E-Waste Sources
o Server Room
o Labs
o Hostel Rooms (Personal Belongings)
o Faculty residence (Personal Belongings)
E-waste Profiling
o Once every quarter
o Include recommendations for disposal

Identification of apt-agencies/bidders
Authorised agency which has permission for collection and dismantling of E-waste from Pollution
Control Boards (Central or State)
If only dismantler corporation, then must be having proper agreements with registered recyclers.
Tender transfer policies in case of no-show.
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Suggested Management Policy for IIITD (Contd.)

Volume reduction
Minimize the volume of waste generated at personal end
Re-deployment of some equipments whenever and wherever possible

Resource Mobilization
Increase budgetary allocation to e-waste policies
Set-up an Advisory committee to oversee implementation of this policy
Policy review ( as and when need arises)

Awareness and Information Dissemination

Developing partnerships and collaborations with recyclers/ retailers/manufacturers
Organize e-waste drives/programs/event for awareness purposes
Open a web portal/ blog/ page concerning the same

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Future Plans
Conduct an e-waste collection drive in the campus.
Collect unused, spare, discarded electronic gadgets and spare parts

If possible identify a few potential bidders for our campus.

Visit some repair shops in Nehru Place (e-hub) to analyze their way of disposal of e-gadgets.
Visit some e-waste recycling centers.
To analyze and understand their mechanism and methodology of dismantling and recycling e-waste

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Thank You!

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