India has one of the fastest growing electronic consumer markets in the world. Consequently, India also has a high level of e-waste being generated when these products reach the end of their use. Recognising the toxic and hazardous effects of the lack of this e-waste management on the environment, the Government of India has introduced an Extended Producer Responsibility in the E-Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Over the years we have become so used to living with all the pollution around that we do not take any effort in doing our bit to minimize it! Hard to swallow? How else will you define our reluctance to reduce e-waste production and its formal management? We all know the hazardous effects of e-waste on our health and environment yet we hoard it! Don’t believe us? Go and check all the electronic devices lying unused in your house. T All of us need a reminder; a lowdown on how we are polluting the air, water and sand in our surroundings not just by increased use of electronic devices but also by not recycling e-waste through formal methods.
They say, excess of everything is bad! Over the years, with the advent of high technologies our dependence on electronic and electrical devices has increased many times. Thus, the e-waste generation has also gone up. E-waste has garnered the attention of only the concerned and aware e-waste recycling companies like Namo E-Waste in recent years because of its negative impact on our environment and eventually our health. It is an overlooked epidemic, as we are yet to gauge the long-term impact of e-waste.
Namo E-Waste, having its electronic waste recycling plant in India, has opened recycling centres across the country, in an effort to protect the environment. The e-waste management company wants more and more people and companies to come forward and share their electronic wastes so that they can be disposed of in a scientific manner, as well as recycled. Somewhere, they believe, people need to be made aware of the harmful effects of their negligence towards managing their e-waste. The people must clearly know how the hazardous substances from e-waste dumped in the landfills enter our water, soil and air. The e-waste disposed of in a careless manner has the following unfavourable effect on our air, water and soil.
Badly influences our Air
When informal methods are used for e-waste disposal at various landfills, the e-waste is generally burnt on site using incinerators. This procedure lets off hydrocarbons in the surrounding and contaminates the air inhaled by humans, birds and animals. The hydrocarbons are also the contributor to the greenhouse gas effect and global warming. The scrap vendor and rag pickers delve deep into the landfills to collect e-waste and burn the wires to mine copper. The burning adds to the air pollution.
Adversely impacts our water
Informal disposal of e-waste by businesses and residents result in toxic substances making their way into groundwater. This groundwater lies beneath the surface water in ponds, streams, and lakes. Many people and animals depend on these sources of water for staying alive through nourishment. These toxins harm those people and animals and make them fall ill. All this leads to the imbalance in our ecosystem. Some toxic substances found in e-waste that enter the groundwater are lithium, barium, lead and mercury. These are also labelled as carcinogenic substances.
Negatively affects our soil
Remember that e-waste has a harmful effect on the soil if it is disposed of in a careless and unscientific method. As e-waste integrates, it lets out toxic metals. These toxic heavy metals are arsenic, lead, and cadmium. These toxins percolate into the surrounding soil; they badly affect all plants as well as trees growing out of the soil. This paves the way for these toxins to enter our body through the food supply. The extent of damage these toxins can cause is so high as to result in birth defects in the to-be born children. They also cause health complications in people inhabiting the earth.
How devastating your simple act of disposing of e-waste through informal means can be! It is wise to contact Namo E-Waste, an e-waste recycling company or reach out to its collection centre to dispose of your e-waste in an organized and scientific manner. The collection centres are laced with high technology and have employed skilled technicians that process the collected e-waste in a safe and healthy manner wearing the required safety gears and using the right tool and equipment.
Your one responsible act can go a long way in maintaining a healthy ecosystem and a beautiful planet with sustainable resources!
