What are Children and Digital Dumpsites

The number of e-waste generated is increasing rapidly across the globe.

•  As many as 18 million children and about 12.9  million women work at these e-waste dumpsites every year.
•  The e-waste from developed countries is dumped in the middle or low-income, or underdeveloped  countries for processing every year.

   It is the term used to describe old, unwanted or faulty electronic appliances. The majority of waste includes, electronic equipment,  as well as rejects from manufacturing, old and repair processes

 E-Waste is short for Electronic Waste. It majorly includes electronic equipment, entirely or in part discarded as waste by the consumer or bulk consumer, as well as rejects from manufacturing.

 Volume of E-waste:

•  Global Scenario: According to the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership, the volume of e-waste generated is surging rapidly across the globe.
  
  •  About 54 million tonnes of e-waste was generated in 2019.
  •  Only 18% of this e-waste was processed in formal recycling facilities. The rest of it was dumped in underdeveloped countries for illegal processing by informal workers.
  •  This is because of the increase in the number of electronic devices.
    

  It contains over 1000 precious metals and other substances like gold, copper, lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium,  and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. 

•  Impact of Working at Digital Dumpsites:
  
  •  On Children: The children working at these sites are more prone to improper lung function,  acid damage and increased risk of chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease.
    
    • They are less likely to metabolize or eradicate pollutants absorbed.
  •  On Women: There are lots of  women, including expecting mothers, who work there. The work done in  e-waste exposes them, as well as their small children to these toxins.
  •   On Others: The dangerous impact of working at such sites is also felt by families that reside in the area of these e-waste dumpsites.

 According to the Global E-waste Statistic Partnership, the volume of e-waste generated is surging rapidly across the globe.

•  Management of E-waste (International Convention):
  
  • Basel Convention on the Control of the Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous Waste, 1992.
    
    •  The Basel Convention did not mention e-waste but later it talked the issues of e-waste. (COP8).
    • The conventiontries to ensure environmentally sound management; prevention of illegal traffic to underdeveloped countries and; building capacity to better manage e-waste.
    •  It aimed at creating innovative solutions for the environmentally sound management of electronic wastes.

 However, only 18% of this e-waste was processed informal recycling facilities.

The rest was dumped in low or middle-income countries for illegal processing.

 This is because of the rise in the number of phones and computers and electronic devices. 

 According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India generated more than 11 lakh tonnes of e-waste in 2019–20, increasing from 7 lakh tonnes in 2017–18.

 Against this, the e-waste  has not been raised from8 lakh tonnes since 2017–18.

In 2018, the Ministry of Environment had told the tribunal that the informal sector recycles 95% of e-waste in India, and scrap dealers unscientifically dispose of it by burning or dissolving it in acids. 

 The children working at digital dumpsites are more prone to improper lung function,  acid damage, and increased risk of chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Several women, including expecting mothers, also work there.

 Processing e-waste exposes them and their children to these toxins, which can lead to premature births.

The hazardous impact of working at such sites is also experienced by families  that reside in the vicinity of these e-waste dumpsites. 

 The government has implemented the e-waste  (management) Rules (2016) which enforce the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Under the EPR principle, the producers should have been made reached their  'end of life.

State governments have been entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining industrial space for e-waste dismantling and recycling facilities.

  They are also expected to establish measures for protecting the health and safety of workers engaged in the dismantling and recycling facilities for e-waste.

India's first e-waste clinic for segregating, processing, and disposal of waste from household and commercial units has been set up in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

 Most of the e-waste is recycled in India in unorganized units, engaging a significant workforce. Recovery of metals from Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) by primitive means is a most dangerous act.

 Proper education, awareness, and most importantly, alternative cost-effective technology need to be provided to provide better means to those who earn their livelihood.

 A holistic approach is needed to address the challenges faced by India in e-waste management.

One method could be for units in the unorganized sector to concentrate on the collection, dismantling, segregation, whereas the industry organized could do metal extraction, recycling, and disposal.

 Way Forward

•    Most of the e-waste is recycled in India in unorganized units, which engage a significant number of manpower. Recovery of metals from Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) by primitive means is a most hazardous act.
•  Proper education, awareness and most importantly alternative cost effective technology need to be provided so that better means can be provided to those who earn their livelihood from this.
•   A holistic approach is needed to address the challenges faced by India in e-waste management. One approach could be for units in the unorganized sector to concentrate on collection, dismantling, segregation, whereas, the metal extraction, recycling and disposal could be done by the organized sector.
•  A suitable mechanism needs to be evolved to include small units in the unorganized sector and large units in the organized sector into a single value chain.