321
The formal recycling units have high investments and high overheads to meet the
environmental compliance requirements. As a result, they are not able to meet the
price demanded by the vendors or the consumers and are thus unable to access
E-waste. This gap between economic expectation and ecological concern has to be
bridged by governmental support at least as of now, till the formal sector reaches
breakeven point.
18.12 Common Disposal Options
• Landfilling – It is a common but complicated process with high environmental
risks considering the leaching behaviour of non-biologically degradable metals
(Joseph 2007).
• Incineration – This reduces the waste volume through combustion, but contributes significantly to the emission of cadmium and mercury. Certain heavy metals
are transferred as slag and re-enter the environment on disposal.
• Bioleaching – Usage of biotechnology is one of the most promising areas in
metallurgical processing and is used for recovery of precious and toxic metals
from E-waste scrap. Bacteria and fungi are used, which derive their energy
Fig. 18.5 Prevailing E-waste trade flows in the Global South. (Modified from S. B. Wath et al.
2010)
18 Eyeing Sustainability: Electronic Waste Handling in Kolkata
The formal recycling units have high investments and high overheads to meet the
environmental compliance requirements. As a result, they are not able to meet the
price demanded by the vendors or the consumers and are thus unable to access
E-waste. This gap between economic expectation and ecological concern has to be
bridged by governmental support at least as of now, till the formal sector reaches
breakeven point.
18.12 Common Disposal Options
• Landfilling – It is a common but complicated process with high environmental
risks considering the leaching behaviour of non-biologically degradable metals
(Joseph 2007).
• Incineration – This reduces the waste volume through combustion, but contributes significantly to the emission of cadmium and mercury. Certain heavy metals
are transferred as slag and re-enter the environment on disposal.
• Bioleaching – Usage of biotechnology is one of the most promising areas in
metallurgical processing and is used for recovery of precious and toxic metals
from E-waste scrap. Bacteria and fungi are used, which derive their energy
Fig. 18.5 Prevailing E-waste trade flows in the Global South. (Modified from S. B. Wath et al.
2010)
18 Eyeing Sustainability: Electronic Waste Handling in Kolkata