Current World Environment

Introduction

E-waste, otherwise known as electronic waste in general encompasses many used computers, mobile phones, television sets and other appliances. This transformation has been accelerated by the present technological advancement and changing consumer preference leading to a higher generation of e-waste.¹ An example is e-waste, which comprises Lead*, Mercury*, Cadmium* and flame retardant, all of which have adverse environmental and health impacts. If not well controlled, these hazardous materials can contaminate the soil and water causing pollution and diseases such as cancer, neurological diseases and reproductive diseases.

The e-waste disposal segment can be characterized into formal and informal segments. The other one is a formal sector which is recycling centres that are approved by the government to observe set laws and standards in handling waste.²

Figure 1: Circular economy in the process of managing e-waste Click here to view Figure

The management centres of e-waste are well-suited for the e-waste managing procedure without showing impact on the environment or the health of the people. On the other hand, the informal sector consists of small and unorganized-looking units which are involved in using crude techniques, like open burning and acid baths to get some valuable commodities out of e-waste.³

India is therefore among the biggest e-waste recycling countries in the world generating approximately 3.2 % million tonnes per annum. Still, over 95 per cent electronic waste generated in India is recycled by the unorganized sector comprising of labourers and small-scale industries. Gurgaon is a part of the “National Capital Region (NCR)” and due to its growing urbanisation as well as prosperous economy, it has more likelihood to generate e-waste.[4] Some attempts have been made towards establishing legal e-waste recycling facilities but most e-waste in the city of Gurgaon is processed by informal workers thus degrading the environment and threatening the health of the city’s population. The Indian E-Waste Management Rules which also include the keyword of ‘Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)’ seek to overcome all these challenges with the help of producers who are made responsible for the products’ life cycle.

International e-waste generation and management trends

E-waste is considered as one of the most rapidly rising streams of waste in the entire world. The exponential growth in the electronics and IT industries, coupled with a consumer culture that rapidly adopts the latest technologies, has contributed to a significant rise in e-waste.

Figure 2: Yearly E-waste Generation per Person (2019-2030) Click here to view Figure

By 2019, global e-waste generation reached an estimated 7.3 kilograms per person, projected to increase to 9 kilograms per person by 2030. Despite the global efforts to manage e-waste, which is about 15% of the total percentage of e-waste generated is formally recycled, leaving a vast majority either improperly managed or processed informally.⁵ The vast majority of this e-waste, especially in developing countries, is not managed properly, Leading to significant environmental and health issues. Developed nations often export e-waste to most of the developing countries under the guise of donations, where it is frequently processed illegally using primitive methods.

Environmental as well as health impacts of e-waste

E-waste products contain dangerous materials like Lead*, Mercury*, Cadmium* and other kinds of flame retardants, which are very dangerous to the environment as well as to the health of human beings. When not disposed of correctly, which in most cases is done in the informal sector, the toxic substances end up seeping into the environment polluting soil, water and air. The health results are also unfavourable and anyone who gets exposed to e-waste toxins is bound to develop cancer, neurological diseases, reproductive complications, and developmental disorders.⁶ All these risks are worse in some developing nations where recycling and proper environmental management are non-existent or poorly implemented hence leading to disastrous environmental degradation and adverse health impacts.

Formal vs informal pattern of recycling practices of e-waste

The formal type of e-waste recycling sector is well regulated by environmental standards and it uses high-end technology in recycling processes to reclaim valuable materials from e-waste with minimal adverse effects on the environment.⁷ For instance, in India, e-waste’s more than 95% is managed by the informal area of recycling, most of which hardly uses appropriate safety precautions and is not governed by any laws.

Table 1: Comparative Analysis of “Formal and Informal E-Waste Recycling Practices”

Whereas the formal world recycles e-waste through proper methods, the informal sector, which constitutes the larger part of recyclers, especially in the developing world, uses methods like open burning and using of acid to extract valuable metals.¹⁰ Such practices have also consequences in the form of strong pollution of the environment and health hazards among the workers and people around the firms as formatted in Table 1.

E-waste policies and regulations in India

India has come up with newer policies in order to handle its increasing problem of e-waste. “E-Waste Management Rules 2022” has been notified which has come into force with effect from 1st April, 2023 supersedes the “E-Waste Management Rules, 2016”. These new regulations add new categories to e-waste items while strengthening the EPR regimes as a mechanism for managing e-waste. These rules envisage higher targets for collection from the manufacturers and lay significant stress on the Urban Local Bodies. India has led e-waste recycling in 2022 and also place “Swachh Bharat Digital India E-Waste Awareness Campaign”. Gurgaon which is infamous for being one of the biggest technology cities of the country adheres to these national regulations. The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has also launched e-waste collection campaigns and has set up collection points as well.¹¹ Nevertheless, there are challenges in the implementation, and more so in the monitoring in relation to exclusion of the informal sector.

Gaps in existing research

Despite the numerous articles which are focused on management of e-waste, there exist some limitations. More extensive investigations are required about the social and ecological consequences of e-waste for the human health as well as environment, especially in the context of countries which are under-developed.¹² Moreover, there is a lack of further discussion on informal recycling practices as part of formal systems. There is also the need to carry out studies in coming up with new recycling technologies and management practices that can easily be applied in a region such as Gurgaon which is experiencing increased generation of e-waste due to urbanization.

Material and Methods

The study investigated e-waste handling practices in Gurgaon using stratified random sampling. Environmental data was collected from 45 sites using specialized instruments like particulate matter analysers, spectrometers, and water quality meters. A survey of 180 respondents, including local residents and e-waste workers, utilized a 10-question structured questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis examined relationships between e-waste disposal practices, environmental pollution, and health risks. Instruments measured air (particulate matter, VOCs), water (heavy metals, pH), and soil contaminants. Statistical analysis applied a significance level of p < 0.05 to assess correlations between disposal practices and environmental/health impacts. The concern relationships between dependency variables such as, air pollution and public health risks and independence variables like, neurological risks and respiratory risks, regulation, and monitoring are assessed in this model of inputs to determine what effect they offer to the air pollution and health results. Test statistics (p < 0.05) suggest that predictors provide a reliable estimate of a significant proportion of the variance, thus the significance of policy measures to address emerging risks of informal e-waste dismantling.

Figure 4: Adverse impacts of e-waste on health Click here to view Figure

Formal and informal practices were assessed through various channels. Environmental parameters measured included particulate matter, VOCs, heavy metals, PCBs, and PBDEs in air; heavy metals, pH levels, COD, and PAHs in water; and various contaminants in soil. Regression models defined correlations between disposal practices and pollution and its effects on public health.¹³ The paper also analysed the relationship between casual disposal practices and symptoms such as respiratory diseases, neurological diseases, and cancer. The fact of regulation and monitoring of the disposal in the frame official schemes was analysed to indicate the result for the health and environment.

Results

Comparison of formal and informal e-waste handling practices in Gurgaon

Formal E-Waste Practices of Handling

Authorized E-Waste Recycling Centres: These centres follow systematic collection and recycling processes, ensuring that “hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium” are handled safely. There are many Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) compliant e-waste management units located in Gurgaon like Cymbio and Sahjanand group amongst others.¹⁴ These centres operate on systematic collection as well as recycling methodology with adherence to Congenital Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and other hazardous materials.

Corporate E-Waste Management Programs: Some of the technology companies that have started using take-back programs to enable the consumer to return old gadgets for recycling include Dell and HP. These programs are traditional to provide engineered methods of disposal together with ensuring that e-waste goes through the recommended processing.¹⁵

Government Initiatives: The Local Government of Haryana has sought to carry out awareness programs for the general public on the right process of e-waste disposal.¹⁶ Programmes such as Swachh Survekshan encourage cities to handle waste problems well, Including electronic gadgets and e-waste through proper Authorized Collection centres.

Collaboration with NGOs: More professionals are employed by NGOs such as Toxics Link in liaising with local governments to instituting formal e-waste management systems including undertaking collection drives and sensitisation workshops.¹⁷

Informal E-Waste Handling Practices

Local Scrap Dealers: In informal sector there are some local scrap dealers who directly collected the e-waste from households and business organizations in Gurgaon. Old Gurgaon based dealers for example dismantle and shred electronic gadgets for precious metals which due to the non-adherence to safety and environmental measures they do not follow.

Unregulated Dismantling: In the case of most of the informal handlers, they will be handling materials in backyards or in small structures like workshops and in so doing they cause risk not only to their own life but even that of their neighbours.¹⁸ For instance, while discharging metals from circuit boards, workers burn them and produce gazes that are destructive to the environment.

Community Disposal Events: While some residents might engage in informal community disposal events where they collectively dispose of e-waste, these events often lack oversight and can lead to improper handling of harmful materials.

Low Awareness Levels: Most of the people from Gurgaon remains unaware of the “environmental and health risks” which are related to disposal of informal e-waste.¹⁹ This “lack of awareness” contributes to the reliance on informal channels, as individuals seek immediate solutions without considering long-term impacts.

Environmental pollution levels associated with each sector

Table 2: Comparative Analysis of Environmental pollution levels in Formal and Informal E-Waste

The data used in Table 2 relates to the level of environmental pollution in the formal and informal sectors. On all four indicators, the informal sector has a higher level of contamination. For air pollution, informal sites possess the PM2.5 threshold as 18.7 times the WHO recommendations. Pollution of the soil in the informal sites is a major problem as lead and cadmium concentrations are 3-4 times higher than that of the thresholds. While fast moving and formal sector operations work almost within the regulatory frameworks with set limits and targets, informal recycling remains rife with both environmental degradation implications and health hazards.

Implications for environmental pollution and public health

H₁: Informal e-waste disposal methods in Gurgaon significantly increase the risk of environmental pollution (air, water, and soil contamination) compared to formal disposal methods.

Table 3: Regression Analysis 1

(Source: SPSS)

The R-value of 0.749 indicates a substantial correlation between the predictors and air pollution. The “R Square value” of 0.561 means that 56.1% of the variance in air pollution (Table 3). This is a strong result, showing that over half of the variability in air pollution is attributable to neurological and respiratory risks. The “Adjusted R Square” of 0.556 confirms the robustness of the model. For evaluating statistical significance of the regression model ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) was used. It assists to find out if there exists a real correlation between the predictors as well as air pollution or if it was just a random occurrence. Using comparison of variance between groups to variance within groups, ANOVA brings out a very rigid statistical measure in testing the validity of the model. The “ANOVA table” provides insight into the “model’s statistical significance”. The F-statistic is 112.981, which is highly significant (p < 0.001). The model’s ability to explain the variability in air pollution is therefore highly significant.

The coefficients table further breaks down the contributions of each predictor. Both respiratory risks from informal disposal and neurological disorders from toxin exposure are significant predictors of air pollution, as indicated by their respective p-values (0.000, both less than 0.05). The unstandardized coefficient (B) for neurological disorders is 0.909, which means that for every unit increase in neurological risks, air pollution is predicted to increase by 0.909 units. Similarly, for respiratory risks, the coefficient is 0.282, meaning that a unit increase in respiratory risks results in a 0.282 unit increase in air pollution.

This analysis demonstrates that informal e-waste disposal practices significantly impact air pollution in Gurgaon, with neurological risks being the most substantial contributor. The strong correlation between these public health risks and environmental pollution implies that addressing health hazards can also reduce environmental impacts.²⁵ Interventions targeting toxin exposure from informal e-waste disposal, particularly those affecting neurological health, could mitigate air pollution effectively.

H₂: Informal e-waste disposal practices in Gurgaon are associated with higher public health risks (respiratory issues, neurological disorders, and cancer) than formal e-waste disposal practices.

Table 4: Regression Analysis 2

(Source: SPSS)

The regression analysis reveals a strong relationship between the regulation and monitoring of formal e-waste disposal and public health outcomes. The coefficient for regulation and monitoring of formal disposal is 0.809 with a p-value of 0.000 (Table 4). This suggests that effective regulatory practices significantly improve public health and environmental protection, indicating the need for stronger enforcement and awareness of formal disposal methods. Policymakers should enhance regulations and monitoring efforts regarding formal e-waste disposal to mitigate public health risks associated with informal practices.²⁶

The high coefficient of determination thus suggests that about 69.1% of the variation in public health and or environmental concern and or protection is accountable by the policy and enforcement of formal e-waste disposal. This provides a great deal of rationale; it points out why governments cannot afford to disregard regulatory policies and laws in eradicating some diseases, or any other health risks within a populace. This therefore suggests that there is the need to enhance the significance of the regulatory measures as one of the major approaches in managing the impacts of health due to informal approaches towards e-waste.

The significance of the F-value with calculated value of 398.481 and p-value of 0.000 indicated that the model used significantly explained public health and environmental protection outcomes. The high significance of the estimators further strengthens the assertion that the problem of disposal procedures of e-waste is important, and the interventions should enhance the proper way of e-waste disposal.

As the positive outcome of enhancing the regulations and the monitoring, the study shows that the society can obtain significant public health benefits particularly in relation to respiratory diseases, neurological disorders and cancer caused by appalling disposal measures. It should however be noted that much more needs to be done in order to ensure that the various communities do not dispose their e-waste in a haphazard manner.²⁷ Public health education programs can go a long way in acting as an intervention measure.

Discussion

The comparison between the literature review and the results of this study on e-waste handling practices in Gurgaon reveals several important insights. The global trend of increasing e-waste generation, as highlighted in the literature review, is reflected in Gurgaon's growing urbanization and prosperous economy, which contribute to higher e-waste production.²⁸ The study's findings align with the global statistics showing that only a small percentage of e-waste is formally recycled, with Gurgaon following the broader Indian trend where more than 95% of e-waste is processed by the informal sector.

The impacts related to both environmental and health of informal e-waste handling practices observed in Gurgaon mirror those described in the literature review. The study's results quantify these impacts, showing significantly higher levels of air, water, and soil pollution in areas with informal recycling activities.²⁹ For instance, the PM2.5 concentrations in informal recycling clusters (185 ug/m³) far exceed both WHO guidelines and India's NAAQS limits, corroborating the literature's warnings about environmental degradation due to improper e-waste management.

The regression analysis in the results section provides statistical evidence supporting the literature's claims about the health problems whisch are linked to informal e-waste handling. The strong correlation between neurological disorders, respiratory risks, and air pollution from informal disposal (R = 0.749) validates the concerns raised in the literature about the adverse health effects of e-waste toxins. The study's findings on formal e-waste handling practices in Gurgaon, including authorized recycling centres and corporate take-back programs, align with the global push for regulated e-waste management described in the literature review. However, this paper established that informal practices continued despite these initiatives this underscores the issues highlighted earlier in the gaps in the literature regarding effectiveness of e-waste policies.

The study therefore should stress on better controlling and supervising practices for increasing public health and environmental quality (F = 22.1; p < 0.001; R² = 0.691) and we agree with the necessity of the compliance with the rules concerning the e-waste management.[30] Fortunately, it also prompts further investigations of how informal recycling can be incorporated into a more traditional recycling system as well as the need for the contextually appropriate technologies in growing urbanization zones such as Gurgaon.

Conclusion