Finding value in e-waste

The value of e-waste is also the source of challenge when it comes to processing it. Researchers say that e-waste has a gold grading (defined as a proportion of gold in milled ore) almost three times more than that of mined ore.

When you take just certain types of e-waste, like high-end smartphones, or old routers and telecommunications equipment, the amount of gold that can be mined jumps manifold.

Currently, e-waste is processed in one of two ways — pyrolysis (thermal decomposition of material at a high temperature) and liquid method (where a mixture of highly corrosive methods are used to extract the materials).

These methods are both energy-intensive and usually have some form of harmful effluents.

But what other solutions are possible?

A couple of years ago, researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru came up with cryo-milling, where materials are cooled down using liquid nitrogen and then broken down using a grinder.

“The process works just like the grinder in your house,” says Chandra Sekhar Tiwary, currently an assistant professor at IIT-Kharagpur who worked on the project during a stint at IISc.

“The e-waste is ground into fine particles and you can separate the polymer and metal with water. The plastic extracted here can be reused, along with the metal,” he says.

Tiwary says processes like cryo-milling adds tremendous value to e-waste recycling. “Unlike existing methods like pyrolysis, cryo-milling is more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.”

He says the approach is scalable and can be financially viable but there needs to be interest from the industry in adopting this method of recycling the waste.

In practice, the lack of adequate infrastructure and enforcement of E-waste management rules means that producers are not really held accountable for the products they introduce into the market.

Also Read | India's e-waste problem: Once a trickle, now a torrent

For one, there is a lack of data about the amount of appliances produced. Then, it is hard to determine how much of the electronic goods are actually e-waste.

Buyback policy

“You need to have a clear buyback policy for everyday electronic items like phones and laptops,” says Yatish M G, a senior environmental officer at the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.

He suggests that companies should incentivise buyback of e-waste by offering a flat discount on new products.

For items like new car batteries, which are another toxic source of e-waste because they are not disposed of in designated centres, Yatish suggests putting in punitive pricing — increasing the cost above the MRP for customers who do not hand in their old batteries.

While processing is one issue, the unbridled production of electronic appliances, the rapid pace of technology development and the obsolescence built into products is another challenge. While the physical obsolescence of products is well-known, the use of proprietary technology is only compounding the problem.

Repair vs new product

Most technology companies are becoming increasingly resistant to third-party repairs. The costs of the repairs are also prohibitively expensive, a tactic to encourage users to opt for a new product.

Jai Vipra, a senior resident fellow at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, says the increasing use of proprietary software, which are being integrated into appliances with the Internet of Things, could pose a monumental challenge.

“A lot of devices are going to have software embedded inside them because of the Internet of Things revolution. The fact that our copyright law is so restrictive means that we won’t be able to control the devices we purchase as well,” Jai says. Essentially, a perfectly functioning phone or refrigerator might be prevented from working if you don’t update the software, rendering it useless.

The lack of choice when it comes to changing the software, which are protected by stringent digital copyright laws in India, could just add to the e-waste burden, Jai says.

“Generally, we need more thinking on what can be standardised for certain components, maybe even batteries. There also needs to be a greater interoperability among devices,” she adds.

Presenting the option of a basic, open-source software that offers a basic functionality of devices can also function as breakers for the tidal wave of e-waste heading out way in the near future.