The presence of toxic substances such as liquid crystal, lithium, mercury, nickel, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), selenium, arsenic, barium, brominated flame retardants, cadmium, chrome, cobalt, copper, and lead, makes it very hazardous, if e-waste is dismantled and processed in a crude manner with rudimentary techniques. In the EU, the EU WEEE directive clearly imposes collection, recovery, and recycling targets on its member countries. [...]it stipulates a minimum collection target of 4 kg/capita per year for all the member states. The lax or zero enforcement of existing regulatory framework or low level of awareness and sensitization, and inadequate occupational safety for those involved in these processes exacerbate e-waste management in developing countries compared to the EU and Japan, which have well-developed initiatives at all levels aimed at changing consumer behaviour. [...]there is need for developing countries to adopt effective strategies to encourage re-use, refurbishing or recycling e-waste in specialized facilities to prevent environmental contamination and human health risks. [...]India is ranked fifth in the world amongst top e-waste producing countries after the USA, China, Japan, and Germany and recycles less than 2 per cent of the total e-waste it produces annually formally. Since 2018, India generates more than two million tonnes of e-waste annually, and also imports huge amounts of e-waste from other countries around the world.
Environmental Studies; Mercury; Hazardous wastes; Retardants; Garbage collection; Recycling; Electronic waste; Cadmium; Contamination; Developing countries--LDCs; Climate change; Selenium; Arsenic; Waste management; Occupational safety; Electronics industry wastes; Health risks; Polychlorinated biphenyls--PCB; Hazardous substances; Liquid crystals; Fire retardant chemicals; Mercury (metal); Low level; Lithium; Toxic substances; Computers; Bromination; Imports; Recovering; Flame retardants; Industrialized nations; Consumers; Informal economy; Refurbishment; United States--US