FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
The discarded, broken, surplus and end-of-life electrical and electronic products such as computers, mobile phones, laptops, servers, printer, copier, scanner, small and large home appliances, medical equipments, audio and video products and all of their peripherals are known as Electronic waste (E-waste).
As per 2020 report, India is the third largest producer of E-waste after China and the United States. Less than 20% E-waste is formally recycled in India from the total 3.4 million tonnes generated.
Unorganized dumping of E-waste results in contamination of the environment. Dismantling and processing waste in unsafe conditions, releases harmful toxins. Workers in this sector including children are at high health risk due to continuous exposure to hazardous components.
Yes, E-waste is hazardous in nature due to the presence of toxic substances in it.
The hazardous constituents in e-waste are heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, polychlorinated-bi-phenyl (PCB), brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and chromium (VI) etc.
Accumulation of toxic substances by improper recycling methods may cause serious environmental problems. Toxic chemicals and heavy metals leaching into soil and water may cause pollution, while toxic fumes reach in to the environment and cause air pollution.
E-waste should be disposed off with an authorized recycler for recovery of precious metals, thereby protecting environment and health from the toxic components present in the e-waste. This will help us to create a system for circular economy.