Tackling e-waste through circular economy 

One of the pitfalls of our technology-intensive life is e-waste, which to put it simply, comprises discarded electrical and electronic devices or such electrical and electronic devices which are at the end or nearing the end of their ‘useful life’. E-waste, large amount of which is generated on a daily basis in our increasingly consumption-driven society, has the potential to bring serious adverse repercussions on environment and human health, if it is not managed or recycled scientifically. 

According to Ernst & Young, in 2019 alone, approximately 53Mt of e-waste (excluding photovoltaic panels) were generated, with 2030 projections estimated to exceed 74Mt.  In addition, E&Y estimates that 80 percent to 85 percent of e-waste is not formally collected or properly managed. Presently, our planet is burdened with over 347 Mt of unrecycled e-waste.

Potentially Dangerous

E &Y viewed e-waste as particularly dangerous as it contains several toxic additives and hazardous substances, including mercury, brominated flame retardants (BFRs), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). They also have lead, cadmium, barium and lithium, which also are potentially detrimental to health.  These substances can have damaging effect on brain, heart, liver and kidney among other vital organs of the body. E-waste can also lead to airborne pollutants, contaminated groundwater among other environmental hazards. 

It should be kept in mind that e-waste contaminates water mainly through landfills and improper recycling. Depositing e-waste into landfills which are not made to contain e-waste can contaminate surface and groundwater if the toxic chemicals leach from landfills into the water supply. Similarly, toxic byproducts can be produced through improper recycling procedures that may be disposed through existing drainage such as city sewers and street drains. After these products infiltrate the local water supply, they can aggravate water pollution by subsequently entering surface water such as streams and rivers.  

It is alarming to note that in India, which is the third largest producer of e-waste in the world, behind only China and the US, more than 95 percent of e-waste is illegally recycled by informal scrap dealers. It is a scenario which is nothing short of frightening in terms of human health and environment. Global scenario is not much appealing either, with less than 18 percent of electronic waste being properly recycled globally.

Circular and Sustainable

 The circular economy can be construed as one of the scientific ways to tackle the mammoth problem of e-waste. Ideally a circular economy can be described as a model of production and consumption, which practices reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling of materials and products for as long as possible. This type of economy which covers production to recycling through sustainable principles, aims for resource optimisation, reduction in consumption and recycling wherever feasible. If we manage to develop a circular economy for electronic waste then we can substantially reduce e-waste and the number of huge landfills.

Besides safeguarding health and environment, scientific and comprehensive recycling of e-waste can also accrue economic benefits to the economy. E&Y had also observed that electronic waste was leading to a loss of at least US$57 billion annually through the disposal of key raw materials, such as iron, copper, gold and others while pointing out that adopting circular models can help companies access untapped opportunities and lower environmental impact to address critical e-waste challenges.

Economic Benefits 

A report on India produced by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in association with UNCTAD (published in 2016), India could save $624 billion a year by 2050 if it adopts circular economy principles rather than following a conventional but more wasteful development path. Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a non-profit organisation committed to creating a circular economy, which is designed to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature.

In the recent past, a collaborative study conducted by Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) and Accenture has found that the circular electronics business model, covering product conception to recycling, has the potential to establish a substantial market opportunity reaching USD 20 billion by 2035.

As per the report, “There are six distinct circular business models, encompassing activities like circular design, repair, and reselling, among others. These models collectively have the capacity to reveal an undiscovered revenue potential of USD 7 billion by the year 2035. While the projected market size for these circular approaches alone is estimated to reach USD 13 billion by 2035, the potential expands to USD 20 billion when considering the broader addressable market achievable through collaborations between the public and private sectors.”

The report also emphasises that neglecting the movement towards circular practices could affect approximately 1-3 percent of the electronics industry’s EBITDA, resulting in potential revenue reduction.

Pragmatic Measures 

Of course, the lofty idea of circular economy cannot be implemented in reality if it is not backed up by some pragmatic steps. One of them is the compulsory registration and licensing of e-waste collection centers and e-waste recyclers so as to formalise the process and make e-waste collection and its recycling accountable. 

Moreover, our government needs to provide incentives to those companies which are engaged in scientific recycling of e-waste, and which are engaged in producing more sustainable electrical and electronics products. Establishing a comprehensive system to tackle the entire journey of e-waste is also the need of the hour.

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