Eyeing Sustainability: Electronic Waste Handling in Kolkata

Reverse logistics is an item management activity that is no longer used by consumers or goods in the form of return from partners in the supply chain to be returned to the origin, because the product is unfunctional properly or the function of the item is not needed. Home appliances products within a certain period of time, these products must be replaced because they cannot technically function properly. The process of producing, using, and disposing of electronic products has an impact on the environment of the earth and the universe. If electronic waste is left without a policy to process it, there will be a buildup of electronic waste everywhere and will burden the environment. While this electronic product waste still contains economic value that can still be utilized. Therefore it is necessary to identify electronic waste handling activities, namely those that have material flow characteristics from the customer to the producer (reverse logistics), so as to provide added value.

Download Full-text

Insight Into Microbial Community Aerosols Associated With Electronic Waste Handling Facilities by Culture-Dependent and Culture-Independent Methods

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2021.657784 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Yimin Pan ◽

Qiaoqiao Ren ◽

Pei Chen ◽

Jiguo Wu ◽

Zhendong Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Community ◽

Bacterial Diversity ◽

Southern China ◽

Electronic Waste ◽

Transfer Station ◽

Culture Independent ◽

Waste Transfer ◽

Waste Handling ◽

First Time ◽

Culture Dependent

Airborne microorganisms in the waste associated environments are more active and complex compared to other places. However, the diversity and structure of airborne bacteria in waste-associated environments are still not clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to assess airborne bacterial community in electronic waste dismantling site and a waste transfer station based on culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. A total of 229 isolates were obtained from four airborne sites collected from residential area, electronic industrial park, and office area in or near an electronic waste dismantling site and a waste transfer station in Southern China in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Most of the isolates were isolated from air for the first time and 14 potentially novel species were identified by Sanger sequencing. Bacterial communities in waste-associated bioaerosols were predominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Abundant genera (>1%) included Paracaedibacteraceae (uncultured EF667926), Ralstonia, Chroococcidiopsis, Chitinophagaceae (uncultured FN428761), Sphingobium, and Heliimonas. One-third of the species in these genera were uncultured approximately. Differences community structure existed in airborne bacterial diversity among different sampling sites. These results showed that waste-associated environments have unique bacterial diversity. Further studies on such environments could provide new insights into bacterial community.

Download Full-text

Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practices of Electronic Waste Management among Consumers in Kampala, Uganda

Journal of Environmental and Public Health ◽

10.1155/2021/3846428 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Rebecca Nuwematsiko ◽

Frederick Oporia ◽

Juliet Nabirye ◽

Abdullah Ali Halage ◽

David Musoke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Electronic Waste ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Kampala City ◽

Formal Employment ◽

Disposal Options ◽

Handling Practices ◽

Waste Handling

Background. Although proper management of electronic waste (e-waste) is key to preventing disease and protecting the environment, there is no clear mechanism for its management in Uganda. This study assessed knowledge, perceptions, and practices of e-waste management among consumers in Kampala city, Uganda. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study among people who used, repaired, or sold electronics (consumers). Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection using a sequential explanatory strategy were utilized. The quantitative survey involved 640 study participants, while qualitative interviews included 18 key informant interviews with stakeholders and six focus group discussions with 57 consumers. Modified Poisson regression was used to establish associations with corresponding 95% confidence intervals, and qualitative data analysed thematically. Results. Two-thirds (67.7%; 433/640) of electronics consumers had poor knowledge on the management of e-waste. More than three-quarters 79.1% (506) of the consumers had positive perceptions towards e-waste management. Consumers perceived e-waste as harmful to human health and the environment. Participants in informal employment were 0.96 times less likely to have positive perceptions towards e-waste management compared to those in formal employment (adjusted PR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93–0.99). Mobile phones and televisions were the most owned e-waste with only 7.96% (18/226) and 13.2% (7/53) disposed off, respectively. Selling e-waste to repair shops and donation were the common disposal options. Conclusion. Knowledge on proper e-waste management is poor among electronic consumers in Kampala, Uganda, though most have positive perceptions. There is need for increased awareness on e-waste management to prevent its effects on health and the environment. Special attention should be towards sensitisation on e-waste handling practices before disposal and final disposal options available.

Download Full-text

Exposure to Heavy Metals in Electronic Waste Recycling in Thailand

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17092996 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (9) ◽

pp. 2996

Author(s):

Chalermkhwan Kuntawee ◽

Kraichat Tantrakarnapa ◽

Yanin Limpanont ◽

Saranath Lawpoolsri ◽

Athit Phetrak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

House Dust ◽

Electronic Waste ◽

Waste Recycling ◽

Control Measures ◽

Airborne Dust ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Waste Handling ◽

Electronic Waste Recycling ◽

Nested Case Control

Electronic waste recycling can release heavy metals into the environment and cause adverse health effects. We assessed the association between exposure to heavy metals from electronic waste recycling and the prevalence of asthma in a nested case-control study of 51 subject pairs with and without asthma. House dust, airborne dust, blood, and urine were collected from residents of two neighboring sites in Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand. Multiple electronic waste-handling activities are conducted in the first site, while the second site is mostly agricultural. Concentrations of chromium, mercury, nickel, and lead in house dust and airborne dust were higher in the electronic waste-handling site (p < 0.05), but levels of exposure were similar in subjects with and without asthma. Although we did not find an association between exposure to these metals and the prevalence of asthma, control measures should be implemented to reduce health risks from long-term exposure to heavy metals.

Download Full-text