Harmful Effects

A computer’s central processing unit (CPU) can contain a mix of toxic and/or hazardous substances, including Cadmium in semiconductor chips and mercury in switches on the printed circuit boards. Printed circuit boards also contain lead. If ingested, cadmium can damage your kidneys; mercury can cause neurological damage; and lead can disrupt brain neurotransmitters. Furthermore, Beryllium, a lightweight metal, is typically found in the motherboard. Ornelas says, “It has been classified as a human carcinogen, as exposure from it can cause lung cancer”

The monitor is a problematic computer components to dispose of in landfill, particularly the older and bigger cathode ray tube monitors, which are similar to TV sets in their manufacture and assembly. Each monitor or TV has a minimum of three to eight pounds of lead, a known neurotoxin and carcinogen. These monitors often have such toxic materials as Mercury, Cadmium and Chromium, all of which are hazardous to the environment. Flame-retardant materials used in the plastic also contain bromide, which in high dosages can cause neurological damage.

A keyboard, mouse or printer is typically made of plastic with a little circuit board in it. While these aren’t worth a whole lot to recyclers, they are definitely something that you want to keep out of landfills, especially printers. Modems and networking equipment are also made of plastics and circuit boards — so they contain a bit of all the bad things in those materials, like lead solder on the chip.

Government rules

Refer to http://www.moef.nic.in/downloads/rules-and-regulations/1035e_eng.pdf

Storage

As per Chapter IV of E-waste management and handling rules 2011

Every Producer, collection center, dismantler, and recycler may store the e-waste for a period not exceeding one hundred and eighty days (6 months) and shall maintain a record of the collection, sale, transfer, storage and segregation of wastes and make these records available for inspection.

ELCITA ADDITIONALLY recommends THE FOLLOWING:-

• An area must be designated as the storage area.
• This area must be a secure area; the loading dock is not permissible unless in a gated area.
• An area out of the weather, so that the containers do not become wet.
• Train employees who handle E-waste to prevent breakage & how to safely clean up any breakage that occurs.
• This storage space should be separate from space allocated for other scrap, including old chairs and other metal scrap.

Disposal procedure:

As per Chapter II of E-waste management and handling rules 2011

For Producers / Manufacturing Units

Refer to Page 12 of the ELCITA Member Kit for E-waste handling and disposal

For Consumers or Bulk Consumers:

a)                  Consumer or Bulk Consumers of electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule 1 of the Rules shall ensure that e-waste generated by them is channelized to the authorized collection center(s) or registered dismantlers(s) or recycler(s) or is returned to the pick-up or take back services provided by the producers.

b)                  Bulk Consumer shall maintain records of e-waste generated by them in Form 2 which is the “Form for maintaining records of e-waste handled / generated” and make such records available for scrutiny by the State Pollution Control or Pollution Control Committee.

For more information about any of the issues contained in this section, please contact Subha Niranjan:

Email: admin@elcita.in

Telephone: 080-4660 2222