Effective E-Waste Management

Running head: EFFECTIVE E-WASTE MANAGEMENT
Effective E-Waste Management
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1EFFECTIVE E-WASTE MANAGEMENT
Literature Review
The catastrophic consequences caused as a result of the accumulation of e-wastes
hinder the growth and sustainability of the abiotic components. Practices regarding effective
e-waste management, the responsibilities associated with the management of the e-wastes,
the hazards caused by accumulation of such wastes and the role of e-waste management in
sustainable value creation has been critically evaluated in the following sections.
Responsibility in E-waste management
The term e waste has often been confused as wastes related to electronic peripherals
such as computers and television (Khetriwal, Kraeuchi & Widmer, 2009). It has been found
that it has also be confused with excessive email spam. However, that is not the case. E-waste
can be termed as waste or by-products of any machinery or equipment that can be powered
by electricity (Kumar & Bhaskar, 2016). E-waste is of a major concern in the modern world.
The main issue arises from problem related to decomposition. Decomposition of e-waste does
not take place. Thus there arises a dire need for managing e-wastes. Wastes or discards of
refrigerators, televisions, laptops, desktops, gaming consoles, microwaves and similar items
fall in the category of e-wastes.
It is the responsibility of the user of the electronic item to effectively dispose and
recycle the waste associated with such electronic items. However, Extended Producer
Responsibility has directed the entire responsibility of management of the recycling of such
items (Khetriwal, Kraeuchi & Widmer, 2009). It is called EPR in short and is termed as the
manufacturer’s responsibility to dispose and recycle an electronic product throughout the
lifecycle of the product. A successful EPR is necessary since it helps in controlling the
amount of e-waste that is generated. Controlling the latter is crucial since it is non-
biodegradable and accumulation of the same can lead to waste of area and adverse

2EFFECTIVE E-WASTE MANAGEMENT
environmental side effects. It helps in controlling as it is a mandatory compliance that the
manufacturers of the electronic products would have to ensure in order launch and produce
such products. The producers who would be unwilling to cater to and fulfil such requirement
would simply be eliminated from business and would help in reduction of such wastes.
E-waste hazards
The components that go into creation of the electronic components are non-
biodegradable. Furthermore, they are toxic and lead to various harmful environmental effects
(Man, Naidu & Wong, 2013). Ineffective e-waste management is characterised by dumping
the waste in landfills with all other garbage that is presents in the landfills. Elements such as
Barium, Beryllium, Brominated Flame retardants, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, PVC
and various other components are found in the electronic components (Garlapati, 2016). In
the environment these can be deemed to be toxic in nature. The components can lead to
serious environmental impediments when the mix with the abiotic factors. The toxic nature of
these component can damage the quality of the land that the landfill is built on, lead to
catastrophic implications for the life surrounding such dumps, give out harmful emissions
and radiations (Allesch & Brunner, 2016). Emissions and radiations have been detected as the
main cause behind mutation. Mutation is a state that is achieved by living cells when they
come in contact of components that hinder the regular operations and lifecycle of the living
cells. There are more severe implications such as chronic diseases caused by beryllium,
disruption of the endocrine system, failure of muscles, hindrance in child development, and
damage of DNA in all organisms, damages the immune system and falters the development
hormones and various other catastrophic failure of the biotic components and could be an
issue of population not mitigated or restricted.