IIT Madras researchers have developed an indigenous pilot plant in Tiruchirappalli capable of processing 100 tonnes of electronic waste annually. This zero-discharge, single-acid process recovers valuable metals like copper, lead, and tin from PCBs, addressing India's growing e-waste challenge and supporting circular economy initiatives.
IIT Madras researchers have developed an indigenous pilot plant in Tiruchirappalli capable of processing 100 tonnes of electronic waste annually. This zero-discharge, single-acid process recovers valuable metals like copper, lead, and tin from PCBs, addressing India's growing e-waste challenge and supporting circular economy initiatives.
While an estimated 3.3 lakh tonnes of e-waste is generated in India, about 50,000 tonnes is imported or dumped in the country. Only 40 per cent of India's total e-waste is recycled, and the rest is left in storehouses due to an inefficient collection system.
Better marketing, more recyclers needed, say hardware makers.
E-waste accounts for 70 per cent of Indian landfills.
The rules will come into effect from May 1, 2012.
'If unchecked, by 2017, the global volume of discarded e-waste will weigh almost equivalent to 200 Empire State buildings.'
Mumbai-born Veena Sahajwalla has developed a microfactory in Australia to upcycle electronic waste.
It can take apart one iPhone 6 every 11 seconds to recover aluminum, copper, tin, tungsten, cobalt, gold and silver parts
Mobile phone and PC makers gobble up three per cent of the world's entire gold and silver supply each year, not to mention 13 per cent of palladium, 15 per cent of cobalt, and plenty of copper, steel, nickel and aluminum.
This is the story of a Bangalore-based startup that has been recycling e-waste. And why you should think twice before you throw away any of your electronic gadgets.
The added burden on manufacturers for recycling e-waste is expected to impact their margins, which may further lead them towards hiking prices of other items.
India is gradually becoming a dumping ground for electronic waste (e-waste). Many non-governmental organisations believe that India annually generates $3 billion worth of e-waste.
Major IT firms Dell, Intel, Aricent, HCL Technologies, Wipro, Lenovo, Nokia and Tulip Telecom, among others, have realised that "going green" is profitable business. Not only does it require a low initial investment but it also earns them brownie points for helping in reducing e-waste.
The electronic waste contains several hazardous and toxic materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, PVC plastics and\n\nbrominated flame retardants, which are known to cause severe defects in human bodies.
US President Barack Obama will honour three Indian Americans among others for their innovative and path breaking startups.
'Wild animals lived in their natural environment.' 'So, viruses could not be communicated.' 'Then came mass production and mass quartering of animals -- whether it be poultry, pigs and cattle -- which gave rise to bird flu, SARS and the mad cow disease.' 'Vast amounts of animal produce are also being flown from one part of the world to another, which has helped to spread the virus.' 'All these changes have led to a new and deadly mutation of the virus that has immobliised human beings.'
Raghav tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier how he and his cousin Mukund co-founded Renew IT, which refurbishes discarded computers and makes them affordable for the poor in rural India.
