Guidelines for assessment of hazardousness of E-waste have been described in terms of basis, rational and approach and methodology.

Basis

Assessment of hazardousness of E-waste or its component has been carried out based on Indian environmental regulations on hazardous waste, “The hazardous waste (Management and handling) Rules 2003”.

Rationale

A number of global publications have mentioned that the scope of EU’s WEEE directives and RoHS is narrow with respect to description of hazardous ness of WEEE. Therefore, the Indian regulation has been taken as basis of determining hazardous ness of E-waste, where Schedule 1 lists hazardous waste similar to ‘absolute” entry (irrespective of concentration) in “European Waste Catalogue” and Schedule 2 lists hazardous waste similar to “ mirror” entry 9Greater than or equal to the threshold limit value in “European Waste Catalogue”.

Approach and Methodology

The approach and methodology to determine the hazardousness has been described in following steps as shown in figure 2.1. This approach follows the approach used by “ Department for Environment, Food and Natural Affairs”, Government of United Kingdom to classify E-waste. However, it has been customized as per Indian situation.

Step 1: Identify the E-waste category item

The identification includes the E-waste items and its tentative year of manufacture. The year of manufacture gives a number of information ex. Technology and likely component present in the E-waste.

Step 2: Identify the E-waste composition or determine it

The identification of E-waste composition or its components can be determined by its year of manufacture. Ideally, industry association should maintain record of “Electrical and Electronic Equipment” composition, which should be regularly updated to facilitate its treatment, once it becomes E-waste. In case of doubt, carry out testing of E-waste to find out the concentration.

Step 3: Identify possible hazardous content in E-waste

If the E-waste has hazardous content, then refer schedule 1 and schedule 2 to check its coverage under, “The hazardous waste (Management and handling) Rules 2003”. Hazardous substances that can occur in E-waste as per this notification are given in table 2.4. A comparison of thresholds of hazardous substances followed in Europe with respect to that mentioned in Indian regulations, which may occur in E-waste, is given in table 2.5.

Step 4: Identify, whether the E-waste component is hazardous or the entire E-waste item is hazardous.

The determination of hazardousness of E-waste from washing machine, refrigerator, computer monitor and personal computer is given in appendix 1. The contents of these E-waste items have been taken from the data of globally accepted data of industry associations.

It can be concluded that E-waste generated from televisions, monitors and personal computers is hazardous in nature as per schedule 1 and schedule 2 of “The hazardous waste (Management and handling) Rules 2003”. A comparison of the thresholds mentioned in Indian regulations with that of thresholds followed in Europe for E-waste shows that they are stricter. It can also be inferred that E-waste/ components, which are hazardous in nature need to be covered under the purview of “The hazardous waste (Management and handling) Rules 2003”, The Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001, The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 and those which are non-hazardous in nature need to come under The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000.

Source: Central Pollution Control Board