Effective E-Waste Management: Literature Review and Sustainable Value

This literature review delves into the critical aspects of effective e-waste management, examining the responsibilities associated with handling electronic waste, the hazards posed by its accumulation, and the role of e-waste management in fostering sustainable value creation. The review begins by defining e-waste and clarifying the responsibilities in its management, emphasizing the importance of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in controlling the generation of e-waste and mitigating its environmental impacts. It then explores the hazards of e-waste, detailing the toxic components found in electronic components and their adverse effects on the environment and human health. The review outlines components of an effective e-waste management plan, including re-evaluation of technology purchases, use of eco-friendly technology, and recycling and reuse practices. It emphasizes the connection between effective e-waste management and sustainable value creation, highlighting how organizations and individuals can contribute to environmental sustainability. The review highlights the need for awareness and action to reduce the harmful effects of e-waste, concluding with a call for sustainable value creation to mitigate the environmental impact of electronic waste.

Running head: EFFECTIVE E-WASTE MANAGEMENT
Effective E-Waste Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
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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

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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.

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Effective e-waste management
The nature of the e-waste make them an irremovable component of the environment.
Some of the adverse effects of the e-wastes have been mentioned in the above section. In
order to avoid such implications, an effective e-waste plan must be created. The components
within the e-waste management plan will determine the degree of success of the e-waste
management (Masud et al., 2019). Following are the components that must be present in an
effective e-waste management plan;
1. Re-evaluation: Purchase of new technology improves the standard of living and it is
highly evident. However, it should be realised that when one purchases new form of
technology, they will eventually discard their old gadget. Thus one has to reconsider
the needs of actually having to upgrade to newer forms of technology. Reconsidering
would help in saving money and help in reduction of accumulation of e-waste.
2. Eco-friendly technology: There are various forms of technology that are
environmental friendly. Such electronics use recycled material that could be re-used
and recycled. Certification of such electronic items are made by using the Electronic
Product Environmental and Assessment Tool.
3. Recycle and Re-use: Recycling is a process of reusing the materials of a particular
item for the production of a new item. Recycling should be encouraged and helps in
reduction of accumulation of e-wastes.
Sustainable value creation
Effective management of e-wastes is one of the main concern of environmentalists
over the world (Lu et al., 2015). The rationale behind e-waste management is to contribute to
the sustainability issue of the ecosystem. The adverse effects that are caused to the
environment as a result of accumulation of wastes is a known factor. However, people fail to
realise the importance of the same when they hear about new product launches. They directly

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opt to discard their older device and purchase the new ones. This results in accumulation of
such wastes.
In order to reduce the harmful effects that are caused to the environment by the
hazardous e-wastes, organisations and individuals should be aligned to the idea of creation of
value, in terms of sustainability by effective management of e-waste (Mane & Niranjan,
2014). Environmental sustainability issues are issues that are being highlighted by
organisations around the world. This helps the organisations in achieving competitive
advantage in the market and helps in mitigating the ill effects that are caused by the
hazardous e-wastes. Various NGOs across the world are spreading awareness regarding
effecting e-waste management. They are doing so by helping separate the e-wastes form the
biotic components of nature. E-wastes are being dumped in landfills, they are being
accumulated in places close to human incidence, and they are also being dumped in water
bodies that is damaging the abiotic components of the marine world. Furthermore, they are
responsible for the numerous health effects that are caused to human and are responsible
behind the mutation of various forms of life. It is a serious issue and thus sustainable value
should be created as it will help in reducing the ill effects caused by the same to the
environment.
Conclusion
The by-products of electronic appliances are known as e-wastes and they are non-
biodegradable. Accumulation of the same is not favourable for the sustainability of the
environment. Coming into contact with the hazardous components of the e-wastes have
serious implication on all the organisms. On a concluding note, it can be said that effective e-
waste management can help in creation of sustainable value.

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REFERENCES
Allesch, A., & Brunner, P. H. (2014). Assessment methods for solid waste management: A
literature review. Waste Management & Research, 32(6), 461-473.
Garlapati, V. K. (2016). E-waste in India and developed countries: Management, recycling,
business and biotechnological initiatives. Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Reviews, 54, 874-881.
Khetriwal, D. S., Kraeuchi, P., & Widmer, R. (2009). Producer responsibility for e-waste
management: key issues for consideration–learning from the Swiss
experience. Journal of environmental management, 90(1), 153-165.
Kumar, B., & Bhaskar, K. (2016). Electronic waste and sustainability: Reflections on a rising
global challenge. Markets, Globalization & Development Review, 1(1).
Lu, C., Zhang, L., Zhong, Y., Ren, W., Tobias, M., Mu, Z., ... & Xue, B. (2015). An
overview of e-waste management in China. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste
Management, 17(1), 1-12.
Man, M., Naidu, R., & Wong, M. H. (2013). Persistent toxic substances released from
uncontrolled e-waste recycling and actions for the future. Science of the Total
Environment, 463, 1133-1137.
Mane, P., & Niranjan, T. T. (2014). Sustainable Value Creation through E-waste
Management: The Role of Marketing–Retailers–Operations Interface. Global
Business Review, 15(4_suppl), 13S-23S.
Masud, M. H., Akram, W., Ahmed, A., Ananno, A. A., Mourshed, M., Hasan, M., &
Joardder, M. U. H. (2019). Towards the effective E-waste management in
Bangladesh: A review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 1-27.