Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

e-Waste Management: A Transition Towards a Circular Economy

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Solid Waste Management

Abstract

Electronic waste is accounted as a rapidly expanding class of hazardous solid waste across the world. The inappropriate handling of techniques for electronic waste management and a higher potency to cause environmental pollution as well as human health hazards result in a global predicament. Curtailing the existing electronic waste management issue is possible through “sustainable consumption and production” that entails countries to necessitate vital transformation for their societies to produce and consume goods. This is accomplished by collaborative participation of governments, international organizations, commercial enterprises, and individuals to revolutionize flawed consumption and production patterns. This chapter will present e-waste scenarios and provide information about the hazardous materials found in them followed by their impact on health and environment. Waste electrical and electronic equipment management in developed and developing countries (precisely, India) will be explored along with befitting avenues concerned with recyclable components utilizing extended producer responsibility resulting in the development of a circular economy. The current position of e-waste industry will be appraised to inspect the challenges associated with e-waste recycling including unlawful e-waste trade-in from developed countries and casual discarding causing grave environmental harm.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 649.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Z. Abbas. E-waste management in Pakistan. Regional Workshop on E-waste/WEEE Management, Osaka, Japan, July 69 2010

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Akram, S. Fahad, M.Z. Hashmi, A. Wahid, M. Adnan, M. Mubeen, Trends of electronic waste pollution and its impact on the global environment and ecosystem. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 26, 1–16 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Policy statement. Apnea, sudden infant death syndrome, and home monitoring. Pediatrics. 111, 914–22 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  • ASSOCHEM India report 2019. https://www.assocham.org/userfiles/Assocham%20Bulletin%202019.pdf. Accessed on 19 Sep 2020

  • A. Awasthi, Management of electrical and electronic waste: A comparative evaluation of China and India. Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev. 76, 434–447 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • L.P. Azevedo, F. Gabriel da Silva Araujo, C.A.F. Lagarinhos, J.A.S. Tenorio, D.C.R. Espinosa, E-waste management and sustainability: A case study in Brazil. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2, 25221–25232 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • N.I.H.A. Aziz, M.M. Hanafiah, S.H. Gheewala, A review on life cycle assessment of biogas production : Challenges and future perspectives in Malaysia. Biomass Bioenergy 122, 361–374 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C.P. Balde, R. Kuehr, K. Blumenthal, S.F. Gill, M. Kern, P. Micheli, E. Magpantay, J. Huisman, E-waste statistics: Guidelines on classifications, reporting and indicators (United Nations University, IAS – SCYCLE, Bonn, 2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Balde, V. Forti, R. Kuehr, P. Stegmann, The global e-waste monitor – 2017 (United Nations University (UNU), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) &International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), Bonn/Geneva/Vienna, 2017) http://ewastemonitor.info/

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Borthakur, Emerging trends in consumers’ E-waste disposal behaviour and awareness: A worldwide overview with special focus on India. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 117, 102–113 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A. Borthakur, P. Singh, Researches on informal E-waste recycling sector: it’s time for a ‘Lab to Land’ approach. J. Hazard Mater. 323, 730–732 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Borthakur, M. Govind, Computer and mobile phone waste in urban India: An analysis from the perspectives of public perception, consumption and disposal behavior. J. Environ. Plan. Manag. 62, 1–24 (2018a)

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Borthakur, M. Govind, Public understandings of E-waste and its disposal in urban India: From a review towards a conceptual framework. J. Clean. Prod. 172, 1053–1066 (2018b)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P. Calcott, M. Walls, Can downstream waste disposal policies encourage upstream “design for environment”? Am. Econ. Rev. 90(2), 233–237 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A. Cesaro, V. Belgiorno, M. Vaccari, A. Jandric, T.D. Chund, M.I. Dias, A. Hursthouse, S. Salhofer, A device-specific prioritization strategy based on the potential for harm to human health in informal WEEE recycling. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 25, 693–692 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • X. Chi, M. Streicher-Porte, M.Y.L. Wang, M.A. Reuter, Informal electronic waste recycling: A sector review with special focus on China. Waste Manag. 31, 731e742 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F. Corsini, F. Rizzi, M. Frey, Extended producer responsibility: The impact of organizational dimensions on WEEE collection from households. Waste Manag. 59, 23–29 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K.N. Dietrich, K.O. Yeates, M.D. Ris, H.G. Taylor, B.F. Pennington, Environmental toxicants, in Pediatric neuropsychology, 2nd edn., (Guilford Press, New York, 2010), pp. 211–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Circular economy. 2019. https://www.Ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy

  • Y. Gao, L. Ge, S. Shi, Y. Sun, M. Liu, B. Wang, Y. Shang, J. Wu, J. Tian, Global trends and future prospects of e-waste research: A bibliometric analysis. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 26(17), 17809–17820 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • V.K. Garlapati, E-waste in India and developed countries: Management, recycling, business and biotechnological initiatives. Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev. 54, 874–881 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • E.C. Gentil, A. Damgaard, M. Hauschild, G. Finnveden, O. Eriksson, S. Thorneloe, P.O. Kaplan, M. Barlaz, O. Muller, Y. Matsui, R. Ii, T.H. Christensen, Models for waste life cycle assessment: Review of technical assumptions. Waste Manag. 30, 2636–2648 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Global E-waste Monitor, 2020. http://www.globalewaste.org, https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Environment/Pages/Spotlight/Global-Ewaste-Monitor

  • V.K. Guna, G. Murugesan, B.H. Basavarajaiah, M. Ilangovan, S. Olivera, V. Krishna, N. Reddy, Plant-based completely biodegradable printed circuit boards. IEEE Trans. Electron. Devices 63, 4893–4898 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. Işıldar, J. van de Vossenberg, E.R. Rene, E.D. van Hullebusch, P.N.L. Lens, Biorecovery of metals from electronic waste, in Heavy metal remediation. Environmental chemistry for a sustainable world, ed. by E. Rene, E. Sahinkaya, A. Lewis, P. Lens, (Springer, Cham, 2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Kaab, M. Shari, H. Mobli, A. Nabavi-Pelesaraei, K. Chau, Combined life cycle assessment and artificial intelligence for prediction of output energy and environmental impacts of sugarcane production. Sci. Total Environ. 664, 1005–1019 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S.S. Kamble, A. Gunasekaran, H. Parekh, S. Joshi, Modeling the internet of things adoption barriers in food retail supply chains. J. Retail. Consum. Serv. 48, 154–168 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S. Krishnamurthy, G. Fudurich, P. Rao, Circular economy for India: Perspectives on Stewardship principles, waste management, and energy generation, in Modernization and Accountability in the Social Economy Sector, (pp. 272–298) (IGI Global, 2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Kumar, G. Dixit, Evaluating critical barriers to implementation of E-WMusing DEMATEL approach. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 131, 101–121 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M.H. Masud, W. Akram, A. Ahmed, A.A. Ananno, M. Mourshed, M. Hasan, M.U.H. Joardder, Towards the effective E-WM in Bangladesh: A review. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 26(2), 1250–1276 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • W. McDowall, Y. Geng, B. Huang, E. Barteková, R. Bleischwitz, S. Türkeli, T. Doménech, Circular economy policies in China and Europe. J. Ind. Ecol. 21(3), 651–661 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • I.C. Nnorom, O. Osibanjo, Overview of electronic waste (e-waste) management practices and legislations, and their poor applications in the developing countries. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 52, 843–858 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OECD, Environmental Outlook Report 2001. (2001). http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/51/6/2088589.pdf. 10 Sept 2020

  • F.O. Ongondo, I.D. Williams, T.J. Cherrett, How are WEEE doing? A global review of the management of electrical and electronic wastes. Waste Manag. 31(4), 714–730 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K. Palmer, M. Walls, Extended Product Responsibility: An Economic Assessment of Alternative Policies, Resources for the future, discussion paper (Resources for the Future, Washington, DC, 1999), pp. 99–12

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Parajuly, Circular economy in e-waste management: Resource recovery and design for end-of-life (Doctoral dissertation, University of Southern Denmark) (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Parajuly, R. Kuehr, A.K. Awasthi, C. Fitzpatrick, J. Lepawsky, E. Smith, R. Widmer, X. Zeng, Future E-waste scenarios (StEP, UNU ViE-SCYCLE, UNEP IETC, Bonn, Osaka, 2019) https://collections.unu.edu/eserv/UNU:7440/FUTURE_EWASTE_SCENARIOS_UNU_190829_low_screen.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Pathak, R.R. Srivastava, Ojasvi, Assessment of legislation and practices for the sustainable management of WEEE in India. Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev. 78, 220–232 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S. Pauliuk, Critical appraisal of the circular economy standard BS 8001: 2017 and a dashboard of quantitative system indicators for its implementation in organizations. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 129, 81–92 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B.H. Robinson, E-waste : An assessment of global production and environmental impacts. Sci. Total Environ. 408, 183–191 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • P. Rosa, C. Sassanelli, S. Terzi, Circular business models versus circular benefits: An assessment in the waste from electrical and electronic Equipments sector. J. Clean. Prod. 231, 940–952 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. Sabah Abdel bashir et al., Status of electronic waste recycling techniques: a review. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int. 25(17), 16533–16547 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Schluep, C. Hagelueken, R. Kuehr, F. Magalini, C. Maurer, C. Meskers, E. Mueller, F. Wang, Recycling - from e-Waste to Resources, Sustainable Innovation and Technology Transfer, Industrial sector studies (United Nations Environment Programme and United Nations University, Germany, 2009). Available at: http://isp.unu.edu/news/2010/files/UNEP_eW2R_publication.pdf

  • V.I. Slaveykova, P. Couture, S. Duquesne, P. D’Hugues, W. Sánchez, Recycling, reuse, and circular economy: A challenge for ecotoxicological research. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 26, 1–4 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S. Sthiannopkao, M.H. Wong, Handling e-waste in developed and developing countries: Initiatives, practices, and consequences. Sci. Total Environ. 463, 1147–1153 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • N.H. Tue, A. Goto, S. Takahashia, T. Itai, K.A. Asante, T. Kunisue, Release of chlorinated, brominated and mixed halogenateddioxin-related compounds to soils from open burning of e-waste in Agbogbloshie (Accra Ghana). J. Hazard. Mater. 302, 151–157 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • F. Wang, J. Huisman, C.E. Meskers, M. Schluep, A. Stevels, C. Hagelüken, The Best-of-2-Worlds philosophy: Developing local dismantling and global infrastructure network for sustainable e-waste treatment in emerging economies. Waste Manag. 32(11), 2134–2146 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E. Yazici, H. Deveci, Extraction of metals from waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) in H2SO4 - CuSO4-NaCl solutions. Hydrometallurgy. 139, 30–38 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  • X. Zeng, H. Duan, F. Wang, J. Li, Examining environmental management of e-waste: China’s experience and lessons. Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev. 72, 1076–1082 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • X. Zeng, J.A. Mathews, J. Li, Urban mining of E-waste is becoming more cost-effective than virgin mining. Environ. Sci. Technol. 52(8), 4835–4841 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • L. Zhang, Y. Geng, Y. Zhong, H. Dong, Z. Liu, A bibliometric analysis on waste electrical and electronic equipment research. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 26, 1–11 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, India

    Sheetal Barapatre & Mansi Rastogi

Authors
  1. Sheetal Barapatre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mansi Rastogi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Development Center, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Chinnappan Baskar

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Seeram Ramakrishna

  3. Chemistry and Bioprospecting Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

    Shikha Baskar

  4. Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Rashmi Sharma

  5. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Amutha Chinnappan

  6. Department of Basic Science, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Rashmi Sehrawat

Section Editor information

  1. Research and Development Center, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, India

    Chinnappan Baskar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Barapatre, S., Rastogi, M. (2022). e-Waste Management: A Transition Towards a Circular Economy. In: Baskar, C., Ramakrishna, S., Baskar, S., Sharma, R., Chinnappan, A., Sehrawat, R. (eds) Handbook of Solid Waste Management. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4230-2_68

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation