Electronic & Electrical equipments which are non-functional, surplus, end-of-life are called as “E-waste” or WEEE (Waste from Electrical & Electronic Equipments).
What comes under E-waste ?
Any equipment which requires electrical power to run is E-waste once it reaches end of life stage. Equipments used in day-to-day life like,
- Computers
- Laptops & Peripherals
- Mobile Phones
- Gaming Equipments
- Consumer Electronics like Ovens, Washing machines, ACs, Refrigerators, TVs.
- Medical Equipments
- Electrical Tools
- Lighting Equipments
Why E-waste is Hazardous ?
Electronic scrap components, such as CRTs, contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, mercury, and brominated flame retardants which if not handled in scientific manner can prove fatal.
Hazardous Material Content in E-Waste
| MATERIAL | COMPOSITION % |
| Ferrous Metals | 36 |
| Aluminum | 5 |
| Copper | 4 |
| Lead | 0.29 |
| Cadmium | 0.018 |
| Mercury | 0.00007 |
| Gold | 0.00024 |
| Silver | 0.0012 |
| Palladium | 0.00006 |
| Indium | 0.0005 |
| Brominated Plastics | 18 |
| Plastics | 12 |
| Lead Glass | 19 |
| Glass | 0.3 |
| Other | 5.7 |
