A Study on End-of-Life Electronics Waste Management with Special Reference to Ernakulam Urban Areas

Abstract

EOL or End-of-Life electronics or electronic waste or e-waste describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal are also considered e-waste. Informal processing of e-waste in developing countries can lead to adverse human health effects and environmental pollution. Scrap components, such as CPUs, contain potentially harmful materials such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominates flame retardants. Recycling and disposal of e-waste may involve significant risk to health of workers and communities in developed countries and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations and leaking of materials such as heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes. This study helps to know the e-waste management with special reference to Cochin city in Ernakulum district which is known to be the commercial capital of Kerala state.