The processing of such electronic waste in developing countries causes serious health and pollution problems as these electronic equipment contains some very serious contaminants such as lead, cadmium, Beryllium and brominated flame retardants.

Even in developed countries recycling and disposal of e-waste involves significant risk for examples to workers and communities and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations and leaching of materials such as heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes.

IT is the largest contributor

According to a non-governmental organization, India annually generates $1.5 billion worth of e-waste and the IT companies are the single largest contributors to the growing mountains of it. About 30 percent of their equipment is rendered obsolete every year. The average computer monitor holds, apart from complex plastic blends that are either difficult to recycle, valuable components such as gold and platinum, Aluminium, cadmium, mercury, etc.

Developed countries dumping PCs in emerging markets

According to the latest report from the research firm, Gartner, last year, 37 million secondary PCs were refurbished and exported to emerging markets and the firm predicts that this number will rise to 69 million by 2012. A secondary PC is one that is re-purposed after its primary use has ended.

In its latest study, the research firm found that the demand for secondary PCs has increased as the global recession has tightened its grip. As the product life cycles increased, demand for secondhand PCs is outstripping supply. Even when the markets recover, shortage of used PCs will continue, the firm added.

The aforesaid reason may lead the emergence of international trade for used PCs, largely from mature to developing countries. Exporting brings important benefits, contributing significantly to the operations of schools, SMBs and government agencies. Furthermore, extending the life cycle of PCs prevents substantial environmental damage and vendor’s Green Credentials.

But the real problem is that these secondary PCs will eventually need to be disposed off. In 2007, nearly 68 mn secondary PCs had to be discarded worldwide and in emerging countries, about 15 mn secondary PCs had to be discarded in 2007. The research firm estimates that by 2012, emerging countries will need to dispose of a total of 30 million secondary PCs annually.

Currently, some exported secondary PCs are handled responsibly in emerging markets with tight regulatory regimes, but many end up in the developing countries where they are frequently handled and disposed of unsafely.

Emerging economies often lack the capacity to safely handle and dispose of used PCs. The low labor costs and lack of environmental controls make recycling unsafe.

China and India

Companies ship e-waste to India and China because here "recycling" is a lucrative business. The process involves the employment of poverty stricken citizens to strip down computers and extract parts to re-use in machines and sell on the street. Electronic recycling is an unregulated industry in India and activists fear that the recycling process is harmful to the health of its citizens.

Electronic Waste Hazards

1. The cathode ray tubes (CRTs) in computer and television monitors contain lead - which is poisonous to the nervous system - as do circuit boards.
   
   
2. Mercury - like lead - a neurotoxin, is used in flat-panel display screens. Some batteries and circuit boards contain cadmium, known to be a carcinogen.
   
   
3. When disposed in landfills, these PCs have the potential to contribute significant levels of toxic materials to the leachate produced in landfills. These include lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, cadmium, arsenic, zinc, chromium, and selenium.
   
   
4. PVC is a chlorinated plastic used in some electronics products and for insulation on wires and cables. Chlorinated dioxins and furans are released when PVC is produced or disposed of by incineration.

Conclusion

Although repair and reuse are worthy goals, but without efficient enforcement of worldwide legislation and controls, they are simply creating havoc to the society.