Topics Covered: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Children and Digital Dumpsites report:
Context:
The new report, titled Children and Digital Dumpsites, was recently released by the WHO.
Key findings:
- More than 18 million children and adolescents working at e-waste dumpsites in low- and middle-income countries are potentially at the risk of severe health hazards.
- They face risk due to discarded electronic devices or e-waste being dumped from high-income countries.
What are the Concerns?
e-waste contains over 1,000 precious metals and other substances like gold, copper, mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
- The processing is done in low-income countries, which do not have proper safeguarding regulation and which makes the process even more dangerous.
- Children are especially preferred at these dumpsites because of their small and dexterous hands.
- Several women, including expectant mothers, also work there. Processing e-waste exposes them as well as their children to these toxins, which can lead to premature births and stillbirth.
- The hazardous impact of working at such sites is also experienced by families and communities that reside in the vicinity of these e-waste dumpsites.
Volume of water generated across the world:
The volume of e-waste generated is surging rapidly across the globe. About 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste was generated in 2019.
- Only 17.4 per cent of this e-waste was processed in formal recycling facilities. The rest of it was dumped in low- or middle-income countries for illegal processing by informal workers.
- This is likely to increase in the coming years because of the rise in the number of smartphones and computers.
What actually constitutes e-waste?
E-Waste is short for Electronic-Waste and the term is used to describe old, end-of-life or discarded electronic appliances. It includes their components, consumables, parts and spares.
Management of e- waste in India:
Laws to manage e-waste have been in place in India since 2011, mandating that only authorised dismantlers and recyclers collect e-waste. E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016 was enacted in 2017.
E-waste Generation in India:
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India generated more than 10 lakh tonnes of e-waste in 2019-20, an increase from 7 lakh tonnes in 2017-18. Against this, the e-waste dismantling capacity has not been increased from 7.82 lakh tonnes since 2017-18.
Insta Curious:
Do you know the difference between Brown Goods and White Goods? Read Here
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- What is e- waste?
- E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016.
- About the Basel Convention.
- Other Conventions related to e waste management.
Mains Link:
Write a note on e-waste management in India.
Sources: Down to Earth.
