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Scenario of future e-waste generation and recycle-reuse-landfill-based disposal pattern in India: a system dynamics approach

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Abstract

The fundamental requirements of the e-waste management system are the forecasting of the future generation of e-waste and in situ planning to minimize the risk. The prediction analysis (a simulation exercise with base year 2012 and end year 2025) for several e-waste items (desktop, notebook, refrigerator, television and washing machine) reflects an increasing waste generation pattern. The present study deals with the prediction of e-waste generation and the percentage distribution of e-waste through different disposal pathways (landfill, second-hand market and recycling) based on the system dynamics approach (using STELLA software, version 8.0) for the purpose of improved management practice in near future in India. During the prediction of disposal options, the role, importance and functionality of various pathways are also critically analyzed. The simulation results indicate that the specific route of e-waste disposal will largely control the e-waste generation in India as informal sectors, in future, will solely utilize recycle and reuse pathways due to the economics of the specific components of the generated e-waste. On the other hand, the percentage of landfillable e-waste will decrease from 8.06 to 6.54 % within a decade (2012–2025). Finally, the study emphasizes on delineation of a well-composed guideline for policy orientation to protect the human health and environment, as e-waste items and their various components often emit toxic substances particularly during informal trade chain practices.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Engineering Division, Department of Civil Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700 032, India

    Dipsikha Dasgupta, Anupam Debsarkar & Tumpa Hazra

  2. Department of Agro Product Processing Technology, Jessore University of Science and Technology, Jessore, 7408, Bangladesh

    B. K. Bala

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Brainware Engineering College, S.D.E.T-Brainware Group of Institute, Barasat, Ramkrishnapur, Kolkata, 700 124, India

    Amitava Gangopadhyay

  4. Department of Chemistry, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal, 741 235, India

    Debasish Chatterjee

Authors
  1. Dipsikha Dasgupta
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  2. Anupam Debsarkar
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  3. Tumpa Hazra
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  4. B. K. Bala
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  5. Amitava Gangopadhyay
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  6. Debasish Chatterjee
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Correspondence to Anupam Debsarkar.

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Dasgupta, D., Debsarkar, A., Hazra, T. et al. Scenario of future e-waste generation and recycle-reuse-landfill-based disposal pattern in India: a system dynamics approach. Environ Dev Sustain 19, 1473–1487 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-016-9815-6

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