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Rapid technological innovations in computing following the doubling of the processing power of chips almost every two years are rendering most of the electrical and electronic equipment obsolete in the blink of an eye. This, coupled with the changing
lifestyle in the era of more disposable income, is littering the urbanscape with the digital detritus of the digital age called Electronic Waste or simply E-Waste.

Long-term exposure to deadly component chemicals and metals like lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury and polyvinyl chlorides (PVC) can severely damage the nervous systems, kidneys and bones, and the reproductive and endocrine systems, and some of them are carcinogenic and neurotoxic. It is a generic term used to describe old, end-of-life electronic appliances such as computers, laptops, TVs, DVD players, Mobile Phones, MP-3 players, etc., which have been disposed of by their original users. Though there is no generally accepted definition of E-waste, in most cases, E-waste comprises of relatively expensive and essentially durable products used for data processing, tele-communications or entertainment in private house-holds and businesses. Public perception of E-waste is often restricted to a narrower sense, comprising mainly of end-of-life information and tele-communication equipment, and consumer electronics. However, technically speaking, electronic waste is only a sub-set of WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment). According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD), any appliance using an electric power supply that has reached its end-of-life would come under WEEE.

At macro-level, there are two ways to handle the E-Wastes: Disposal or Recycle / Refurbish.

Disposal

The anatomical architecture of computers are that, parts of micro-processor, computer chip, monitor, circuit board, molded plastics make-up that gleam, think pad / PC. At atomic level, the array of chemical constituents that make-up the computers are the trail of lead and cadmium, barium, poly-chlorinated biphenyl, etc. De-facto horror is that they all release highly toxic dioxins and furans under its own unfavorable conditions. Land-filling E-waste, one of the most widely used methods of disposal, is prone to hazards because of leachate which often contains heavy water resources. Even state-of-the-art landfills are sealed to the long-term. Older landfill sites and uncontrolled dumps pose a much greater danger of releasing hazardous emissions.

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Dr. Gursharan Singh Kainth started his career as Lecturer at Post Graduate Dept. of Economics, Government College, Gurdaspur, and later at Khalsa College; Amritsar, specializes in Quantitative & Development Economics. Has the distinction of serving Punjab Agricultural Univ, Ludhiana, for more than 2 decades and remained Director-Principal of Saint Soldier Management & Technical Institute, Jalandhar. Currently, heading GAD Institute of Development Studies, Amritsar, a self-financed research institute. Has been honoured with various awards, including Guru Draunacharya Samman, Vijay Rattan Award, etc.
Article posted on February 22, 2009.