Status, Health Effects and Remediation Techniques of E-waste – A Review
2023
Guin, Shailu | Deswal, Surinder
The annual global generation of e-waste is estimated to be 59.08 million tonnes (7.37 kg per capita), out of which the major chunk is being processed in informal sector using primitive and hazardous methods in developing countries due to cheap labour, less stringent laws and regulatory policies. Despite the fact the annual global value of e-waste industry being about USD 62.5 billion that provides employment to millions in developing countries, the unstructured/informal operations in e-waste sector had and have been causing hazardous health issues in human and environment along with unlawful activities. Many studies have been reported on wide array of interrelated aspects and issues of e-waste, but only few studies have reviewed potential remediation techniques that can take care of the increasing e-waste and its sustainable management. Therefore, disposal and remediation techniques for polluted sites have been the key concerns in the field of environmentally sustainable management (ESM) of e-waste. The present review revealed that of all the classic and hybrid remediation techniques, the biological remediation techniques being eco-friendly and cost effective needs to be explored for metal removing from contaminated environment. The review also concludes the imminent necessity of ESM by framing and implementing regulations and laws essentially incorporating Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in developing countries. The review of Indian scenario suggests the scope of startups for the sustainable recycling of e-waste to achieve healthy environment, employment and economic opportunities.
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