E-WASTE HAZARD:

THE IMPENDING

CHALLENGE

Prepared by: Nikki Rose D. DapanasBSES-IV

What is E-waste?...

•Anything that has a wire, a plug, a

battery or runs on electricity, that you

probably aren’t going to use ever again. (ATTERO, 2014)

What is E-waste?...

E-waste as a Problem...• We need Goodwill

not Landfill. With mounds and heaps of e-waste turning landfills into mountain ranges, junkie jumping might well be a future sport.

The E-waste centre of Agbogbloshie, Ghana, where electronic waste is burnt and disassembled with no

safety or environmental considerations.

Waste Management Practices…• Conventional (primitive)

Techniques

• Modern (Clean) Technologies

• Unsafe and wasteful method.• Practice in developing countries• Lack of health and environmental

standards• Cheaper

–Landfills, open-air burning, incineration

Conventional (Primitive) Techniques

Modern (Clean) Technologies

• Cleaner recycling technologies w/ higher environmental and occupational safety standards

• Cost-effective processing of bulk electronic waste–Sorting, Concentrating,

Refining

Health and Environmental Impacts

TOXIC SUBSTANCES in E-WASTE…

Material Toxicity Arsenic Skin diseases, lung cancer, decreased

nerve conduction velocity Barium Brain swelling, muscle weakness,

damage to heart, liver and spleen. Beryllium Lung cancer (beryllicosis), skin disease BFRs Severe hormonal disorders Cadmium Lung cancer, kidney damage,

pulmonary emphysema and bone diseases.

CFCs Skin cancer, deleterious to ozone layer Chromium(VI) Irritating to eyes, skin and mucous

membranes, DNA damage

TOXIC SUBSTANCES in E-WASTE…

Material Toxicity Dioxins* Impairment of the immune system

(PCDD, PCDF) Lead Vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma,

even death. Mercury Brain and liver damage if ingested or

inhaled. PCB Cause cancer, damage to immune

system, reproductive system, nervous system, endocrine system etc.

PVC* (on combustion) respiratory problems. Selenium Hair loss, nail brittleness, and

neurological abnormalities

Existing Legislations and Policies…

The Basel Convention or The Basel Ban Ammendment of 1995

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Reduction of

Hazardous Substances (RoHS)

[ Republic Act No. 9003 ]• Act providing for :

– ecological solid waste management program

– creating the necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives

– declaring certain acts prohibited

– providing penalties, appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes.

• Locally Generated E-Waste• Foreign Generated E-Waste

–2005: approx. 2.7 Million units of TV, Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, Washing machines and radios are obsolete

E-Waste in Philippine Setting...

A Challenge to Take…

• Philippines become e-waste processors for foreign e-waste

• 2020 – 12.3 M metric tons of e-waste will be produced = 6 Payatas dumpsites; enough to pack the Araneta Coliseum 32 TIMES!

• 2003 – 12, 000 scavengers relied on landfills

E-Waste as Commodity

E-Waste as an

OPPORTUNITY..

E-waste can be seen as a potent resource waiting for technology to find a way to

convert millions of tonnes into reusable, recycled energy.

Recommendation

For ACTION...

WHAT CAN ORGANIZATIONS

DO?

Public Awareness : Eco-labelling

Ratification of the Basel Ban Ammendment

Take Back Policy and Livelihood Assistance

• Necessary legislation and strict regulatory actions

WHAT CAN INDIVIDUALS

DO?

Consumer Research

Buy Energy-Efficient Electronic Products

3 Rs...

• Reduce: what you do need

• Reuse: what you can't reduce

• Recycle: what you can't reuse

Learn, Share & Act• Learn more about the health effects of

e-waste and practical ways to protect health now and into the future.

• Share this information with family, friends and colleagues.

• Take action both to adapt to current health threats and prevent future

changes.

CONCLUSION...• Rapid technology change and low initial

cost have resulted in a fast-growing e-waste problem.

• Legislation, regulatory action and public awareness can Help.

• Adoption of modern recycling technologies can help transform the

problem into a multi-million opportunity.• Philippines is not equipped yet to face

this Challenge

We are all part ofthe SOLUTION.

Not of thePROBLEM.

References...

• Pirzada, M.D. and F.N. Pirzada. 2013. E-Waste: An Impending Challenge. Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology, P.O. Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan

• Rode, S. 2012. E-WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MUMBAI METROPOLITAN REGION: CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES. University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India. Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management Volume 7 Issue 2

References...

• Sthiannopkao S, Wong MH. (2012) Handling e-waste in developed and developing countries: Initiatives, practices, and consequences. Sci Total Environ. China

• ATTERO Electronics Asset Management Company. 2014. What is E-Waste: Electronic Waste Generation, Management, Recycling by Attero. India What%20is%20E%EF%BF%BDWaste%20%20Electronic%20Waste%20%20Generation,%20Management,%20Recycling%20%20Attero%20India.htm

References...• Gutierrez, R. and A. Gabrielle. 2011. The

Vanishing E-Waste of the Philippines. A report of Ban Toxics. June 2011. University of Cebu. Philippines

• SAÑEZ, G.R. 2012 International Workshop on Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. “E-Waste Management Issues in the Philippines”. 2012. Howard Civil Service International House. Taipei, Taiwan. Environmental Management Bureau

Thank You...God Bless...

Nikki Rose D. DapanasBachelor of Science in Environmental Science IV

Turn of f th e Toxic Tap !!