THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 01 February 2020 (To Manage Electronic Waste (Indian Express))

To Manage Electronic Waste (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 2: Governance
Prelims level: Electronic Waste
Mains level: Electronic Waste and disposal procedure

Context:

• Electronic industry is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing manufacturing industries. It has provided some leverage to the socio-economic and technological growth of the developing society of India.
• However, it creates new environmental challenges- “Electronics Waste” or “e-waste” that consists of obsolete electronics devices.
• Solid waste management, which is already a critical task in India, is becoming more complicated by the invasion of e-waste, particularly computer waste.
• In general, electronic goods/gadgets can are classified under three major heads:
• White goods: Household appliances,
• Brown goods: TVs, camcorders, cameras etc.,
• Grey goods: Computers, printers, fax machines, scanners etc.

e-Waste: Posing Challenges:

• Personal Computers (PCs) contain certain components, which are highly toxic, posing environmental and health challenges. This fast growing waste stream has been accelerating because the global market for PCs ........................................

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Key statistics:

• The Global E-waste Monitor, 2017 published by the United Nations University estimated that India generates about 20 lakh ton of e-waste annually, nearly 82% of which is personal devices.

Effects on Air, Water, and Soil:

• When electronic items containing heavy metals are improperly disposed, these heavy metals leach through the soil to reach groundwater channels which eventually run to the surface as streams or small ponds of water.
• Burning of e-waste in open landfill for obtaining gold and other precious metals produces fine particulate matter and causes cardio-vascular and pulmonary ailments in children.
• Drinking water contaminated with lead affects the central and nervous system and causes poor brain growth, dwarfism, hearing disability, and impaired formation and function of blood cells.
• Since, these chemicals are not biodegradable; they persist in the environment for long time, increasing the risk of exposure.

Some solutions addressing the issue:

• The product designers must ensure the longevity of the products through their re-use, repair, and/or upgradability features.
• Recycling and reuse of materials are next options to reduce generation of e-waste.
• Recovery of metals, plastic, glass, and other materials reduce the magnitude of e-waste.
• Clear regulatory .................................

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Challenges Ahead:

• Only 1.5 per-cent of e-waste generated in India gets recycled. Lack of awareness about e-waste and its recycling as well as the role of the unorganised sector are the added challenges to the problem.
• The base metals which can be reused are lost and result in soil contamination due to unorganised and crude dismantling.
• A consumer of an electric or electronic device is not apprised of the end of value chain of the product.
• Often, information is not provided along with the product packing about the e-collection centre for the product sold.
• The responsibility of the consumers is also not specified along with the product.

Conclusion:

• Technical and policy-level interventions, proper implementation, capacity building, and increasing the public awareness are the need of the time.
• They only can convert this challenge into an opportunity and set global credible standards concerning environmental and occupational health.

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  General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With respect to Coronavirus, consider the following statements:
1. It is an RNA Virus which blends with the host's DNA and mutate rapidly.
2. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome are the two variants of coronaviruses.
3. It affects humans as well as animals.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) All the above

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Mains Questions:
Q.1) What is the e-waste? What are the types of it? Do you think e-waste posing challenges towards environment?