Degradability Frequency of E-Waste

The degradability frequency of e-waste refers to how quickly electronic waste materials break
down in the environment. Due to the complex and durable materials in e-waste, the natural
degradation process is usually very slow. E-waste, unlike organic waste, is not biodegradable in
the traditional sense, as it consists of complex materials such as metals, plastics, glass, and
electronic components. The degradation process of e-waste can take hundreds to thousands of
years depending on the material involved. Here's a breakdown of the degradation characteristics
of common materials found in e-waste:

1. Computers Disposal:
By computer disposal, it refers to the proper and responsible way of getting rid of old, unwanted,
or broken computers and computer-related electronic devices.
2. Degradability frequency of computers:
Hundreds of different heavy metals comprise the computers that we use. It also contains plastic
and rare earth metals which damage the earth. These heavy metals are responsible for different
health issues in humans and animals. They also contribute towards the global warming of planet
earth.
i. Plastic Casings:
Plastics are one of the most persistent materials in landfills and the environment. Most plastics
can take anywhere from 400 to 1,000 years to degrade, depending on the type of plastic and the
environmental conditions. Some plastics, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, degrade more
slowly than others. The following are the factors affecting degradation:

 Plastic type:

Different plastics degrade at different rates. For example, polystyrene (commonly used for
appliance casings) can take several centuries to break down, while polyethylene may
decompose somewhat faster.

 Environmental Exposure:

Plastics exposed to sunlight (UV radiation) may degrade faster through a process called
photodegradation, but this still results in smaller plastic pieces, known as microplastics,
which persist in the environment. Plastics do not biodegrade, meaning they stay in the
environment for hundreds to thousands of years, contributing to pollution. Microplastics,
created when plastics break down, are now affecting the environment.

ii. Metals and Heavy Metals in Computers:

Computers contain various metals with low degradability, and they pose significant
environmental risks when they leach into soil and water.
Metals Found In Degradability End Products
Mercury (Hg) Batteries, - It is also non-biodegradable It can eventually be methylated by
light bulbs, and can persist in the bacteria in aquatic environments,
switches, and environment for decades to turning into methylmercury, a
LCD screens. highly toxic form that can harm
 centuries. the environment.

- It does not degrade naturally

and tends to accumulate in
ecosystems. It can transform
into different chemical forms,
including methylmercury,
which is highly toxic.
Lead (Pb) Batteries, - It is non-biodegradable and It does not break down into
solder, remains in the environment for harmless substances. It remains in
cathode ray hundreds to thousands of the environment, slowly leaching
tubes years. into water sources and soil. Over
(CRTs), and time, lead can form lead salts (such
electrical - It doesn't degrade chemically as lead carbonate) that are toxic to
wiring. in natural environments but plants, animals, and humans.
can corrode and leach into soil
or water over time, especially
when exposed to acidic
conditions.
Beryllium (Be) -Beryllium does not degrade Beryllium in the environment
and is a persistent forms stable compounds like
environmental pollutant. beryllium oxide, beryllium
hydroxide, and beryllium
carbonate, which are highly
resistant to further breakdown.
These compounds persist in soil
and water, posing long-term
environmental and health risks due
to their toxicity.
Cadmium (Cd) Batteries, - It is non-biodegradable It can leach into water sources or
solar panels, and can persist in the soil, where it forms cadmium salts
electronic environment for several such as cadmium sulfate and
circuits, and hundred years. cadmium chloride, which are toxic
lightning to plants and animals.
rods.
- It tends to remain in its
elemental form or combine
with other chemicals to
form cadmium salts.

iii. Rare Earth Metals:

 Uses:
Essential components like hard drives, magnets, and screens.
 Degradability:
1. Rare earth metals do not degrade but rather disperse into the environment through
improper disposal.
2. Mining and improper disposal of rare earth elements can cause water pollution, habitat
destruction, and soil contamination.

iv. Circuit Boards and Flame Retardants:

 Degradability:
1. Circuit boards contain a mix of metals, fiberglass, and brominated flame retardants that do
not degrade naturally. Fiberglass can last indefinitely, while flame retardants break down into
toxic compounds.
2. When burned, brominated flame retardants release dioxins and furans, highly toxic chemicals
linked to cancers and developmental issues.

Summary Table: Degradability and Environmental Impact

Component Key Metals/Materials Degradability Environmental Impact
Plastic Casings Plastics 400-1,000 Microplastics contaminate soil
years and water
Circuit Boards Mercury, Lead, Flame Indefinite Heavy metal pollution, toxic
Retardants dioxins, neurological risks
CRT Monitors Lead, Cadmium Indefinite Toxic to humans,
& Glass bioaccumulation risks
Connectors & Beryllium Persistent Carcinogenic, respiratory
Chips damage
Batteries Cadmium Indefinite Soil and water contamination,
carcinogenic risks
Rare Earth Rare Earth Elements Persistent Soil and water pollution, habitat
Components degradation

3. The Degradability of Home Appliances as E-Waste:

Home appliances contribute heavily to e-waste, with materials that can persist in the environment
for decades or even centuries. Understanding the degradability and environmental impact of each
type can help guide proper disposal and recycling practices.

Material Degradability Environmental Impact

Metals (Steel, Aluminum) Non-biodegradable, corrosion Highly recyclable, but can leach
resistant. Corrodes over time but toxic metals like copper, zinc, and
can last indefinitely if not corroded. nickel when corroded, polluting soil
and water.
Copper Non-biodegradable, may corrode or Toxic, can leach into water and soil,
oxidize into copper oxide over time. causing ecological damage,
especially to aquatic life.
Lead and Cadmium Highly persistent, non-degradable, Toxic can contaminate soil and
has remained in the environment for water, causing harm to wildlife,
centuries. plants, and humans. Lead is
particularly harmful to neurological
and developmental health.
Electronic Components Non-biodegradable: fiberglass and Contain heavy metals (lead,
(Circuit Boards, Wiring) resins take hundreds of years to mercury, cadmium) and toxic flame
degrade. retardants, which can leach into
groundwater and soil, causing
contamination and health risks.
Refrigerants (CFCs, Non-degradable; CFCs and HCFCs CFCs deplete the ozone layer;
HCFCs, HFCs) can last 50-100 years; HFCs persist HFCs are potent greenhouse gases
for 15-30 years. contributing to climate change.
Glass Non-biodegradable persists Inert and non-hazardous but takes
indefinitely in landfills and takes up significant landfill space; may
approximately 4000 years to leach harmful substances like lead
degrade. or cadmium when broken.
4. Degradability of Batteries as E-Waste

Batteries are commonly found in many electronic devices, from smartphones and laptops to
household appliances and electric vehicles. When these batteries are disposed of improperly,
they can have significant environmental and health impacts due to their low degradability and
the toxic substances they contain.

Material Degradability End Products Environmental

Impact
Lead (Pb) Non-biodegradable, Forms toxic lead salts Highly toxic, it causes
persists for hundreds to (e.g., lead carbonate) neurological damage,
thousands of years. that are harmful to kidney issues, and
plants, animals, and long-term health
humans. problems.
Contaminates soil for
generations, harming
ecosystems.
Mercury (Hg) Non-biodegradable, Methylmercury, a Neurotoxin causes
persists for decades to highly toxic form, brain damage,
centuries. accumulates in the food developmental issues,
chain, especially in and neurological
aquatic organisms. disorders. Disrupts
ecosystems, affecting
plant life and food
sources.
Cadmium (Cd) Non-biodegradable, Forms toxic cadmium Toxic to kidneys and
persists for several salts (e.g., cadmium bones. It causes
hundred years. sulfate, cadmium respiratory issues and
chloride) that leach into bone fragility. Reduces
soil and water. crop yields and
contaminates food
sources.
Polybrominated Extremely slow to Break down into highly Carcinogenic,
Biphenyls (PBBs) & degrade (decades to toxic brominated endocrine-disrupting,
Polybrominated centuries). dioxins and furans. and neurotoxic.
Diphenyl Ethers Accumulate in food
(PBDEs) chains, harm human
and wildlife health, and
persist in soil and
water.
Phthalates (Plasticizers) Do not biodegrade Break down into toxic Endocrine disruptors
easily, persist for metabolites, like are linked to
several years. It monoethylhexyl reproductive issues,
depends upon the type phthalate (MEHP). developmental delays,
of plastics and and birth defects.
environmental Accumulated in the
conditions. food chain, particularly
in aquatic life.
Flame Retardants Extremely slow to Break down into Carcinogenic,
(Brominated and degrade (decades to brominated or endocrine-disrupting,
Chlorinated) centuries). It also chlorinated dioxins, neurotoxic. Accumulate
 depends upon the type which are highly toxic. in food chains,
of flame retardants and affecting reproductive
conditions exposed to health, marine life, and
it. soil organisms.
Solvents (Organic Degrade relatively Break down into ozone Contribute to air
Solvents) quickly (e.g., toluene, and carbon dioxide, pollution, smog, and
acetone) or can persist contributing to air respiratory issues. Soil
(e.g., benzene). Max pollution. and water
biodegradation takes contamination affects
place during the first 15 groundwater and
days. aquatic life.

Recyclability vs. Degradability

There is a difference between degradability and recyclability:

 Recyclability: Many e-waste materials, such as metals and certain plastics, can be recycled and
reused. Recycling helps manage e-waste without relying on natural degradation.
 Degradability: Natural degradation of e-waste materials, especially metals and plastics, is very
slow and often incomplete.

Technologies for Effective E-Waste Recycling

Several technologies are employed in e-waste recycling to recover valuable materials and
minimize environmental harm. The key techniques include physical separation,
pyrometallurgical processes, and chemical separation methods.

i. Physical Separation Techniques

Physical separation techniques are used to break down e-waste into smaller, more manageable
components. This makes it easier to separate valuable materials like metals and plastics.
Common methods include:

 Shredding and Crushing: E-waste is shredded or crushed into smaller pieces to

facilitate further separation.
 Sieving and Screening: After shredding, materials are separated based on size, with
larger components (e.g., circuit boards) sorted from finer particles.
 Air Classification: Lighter materials, such as plastics, are separated from heavier metals
and glass using air flow.
 Magnetic Separation: Magnets are used to attract ferrous metals (e.g., iron and steel)
from the waste stream.
 Eddy Current Separation: Non-ferrous metals (such as aluminum and copper) are
separated using rotating magnetic fields.

ii. Pyrometallurgical Processes

Pyrometallurgical processes utilize high temperatures to separate and recover metals from e-
waste. The primary method in this category is smelting:
  Smelting: E-waste is heated to high temperatures (up to 1,200°C) in a furnace to melt
metals like copper, gold, and silver. The high heat causes metals to separate based on
their melting points.
 Refining: After smelting, the metals undergo further purification, such as electrolytic
refining, to improve their quality and remove impurities.

While pyrometallurgical processes are efficient and can handle large volumes of e-waste, they
are energy-intensive and can produce harmful emissions if not properly controlled.

iii. Chemical Separation Techniques

Chemical separation techniques involve the use of chemicals to extract valuable metals from e-
waste. These methods are typically more selective than physical methods and allow for the
recovery of metals in higher purity. Common techniques include:

 Hydrometallurgy: In this process, e-waste is treated with chemical solutions (e.g., acids
or cyanide) to dissolve metals like gold, silver, and copper. The dissolved metals are then
recovered through precipitation or electro-winning.
 Electrowinning: After leaching, electrowinning uses an electric current to deposit
dissolved metals onto a cathode as pure metal.
 Solvent Extraction: Organic solvents selectively bind to specific metals, which are then
separated from the e-waste for further purification.
 Bioleaching: Eco-friendly microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi, are used to break
down e-waste and release metals like gold, copper, and silver, offering a greener
alternative to traditional chemical processes.

Advantages of recycling E waste

i. It Prioritizes Environmental Protection

E-waste recycling prioritizes environmental protection. It includes proper handling, processing, and
managing of electronic waste. As hazardous and toxic substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium
present in electronics can harm the environment. You may find many valuable resources or materials in
an e-waste stream. Through E-waste recycling, we make most of these components instead of discarding
them. This way, the hazards that these elements could have potentially caused to our environment are
reduced.

ii. Waste Recycling Helps to Conserve Available Natural Resources

Electronic waste recycling helps recover valuable materials from electronic products. This saves and
conserves natural resources. This way, manufacturers do not need to mine the minerals; instead, they can
just recycle and reuse the components of e-waste. So, yes, we can save copper or lead or valuable metals
from mother nature. Thus, it promotes the utilization of resources wisely.

iii. Create Jobs

E-waste recycling creates new jobs for people and local recyclers nearby. The more important thing is
that, by doing so, it has created a secondary market. Where recycled materials are the primary
commodities. The Environmental Protection Agency released findings that show the magnitude of
economic benefits that come from e-waste recycling. In a year, the US’s recycling activities provided
757,000 jobs, $6.7 billion in tax revenues, and $36.6 billion in wages. By implication, for every thousand
tons you recycle, there are 1.57 jobs created, $ 76,000 in wages paid, and $ 14,101 in tax revenues. So a
lot of benefits come from trash, right? But there’s more. For a million laptops you recycle, you will have
saved the equivalent of electric power capable of running 3657 households for one year. Guess what? For
a million cell phones, you can recover gold weighing 75 pounds, silver of 772 pounds, copper of 35,274
pounds, and palladium of 33 pounds! There is also a significant social and economic impact. According
to the EPA, recycling and reusing e-waste accounts for 681,000 jobs in a single year. Of course, e-waste
is only a part of that, but as the fastest-growing waste stream, it is likely to become increasingly
significant as we become more reliant on digital devices.

iv. Saves Landfills and Reduces GHG emissions

Usually, e-waste gets dumped at incinerators and landfills. By recycling e-waste, we are reducing the
amount of e-waste that piles up at these places. This is because two-thirds of waste in landfills is
biodegradable and capable of breaking down and returning to its natural elements. As this waste breaks
down and decomposes, it produces harmful gases, or I would say greenhouse gases, such as methane,
carbon monoxide, etc. Which heavily contributes to global warming. Since landfill heaps also pollute the
water and soil in our local environment. Initiatives like e-waste recycling seek to reduce these
environmental concerns.

Products formed by recycling e waste

Recycling e-waste can create new products by recovering materials that can be used to manufacture
them. For example, recycling e-waste can recover:

 Copper: 35,000 pounds from recycling 1 million cell phones

 Palladium: 33 pounds from recycling 1 million cell phones

 Silver: 772 pounds from recycling 1 million cell phones

 Gold: 75 pounds from recycling 1 million cell phones

Further from these raw materials the following things can be formed

i. Precious Metals

 Jewelry (Gold, Silver, Platinum extracted from circuit boards)

ii. Recycled Metals

 Recycled Copper Wire (for electrical applications)

 Recycled Aluminum Cans (from aluminum casings)
 Car Parts (e.g., dashboard components, doors, and trim from metal recyclables)

iii. Recycled Plastics

 Recycled Plastic Containers (from plastic casings of electronics)

 Plastic Furniture (made from recycled plastics)
 Smartphone Cases (from recycled plastics and metals)
 Toys (manufactured from recycled plastic parts)
 Building Materials (insulation and other materials from e-waste plastics)

iv. Recycled Glass

 Recycled Glass Bottles (from glass screens and monitors)

v. Battery Products

 Rechargeable Batteries (from recycled lithium-ion batteries)

vi. Electronics Components

 New Circuit Boards (from recovered metals and components)

 Electronic Components (capacitors, resistors, and microchips for reuse)
 LED Lights (from components of old electronics)

vii. Other Recycled Products

 Electrical Cables (from recycled wires and metals)

 Magnets (from rare earth metals like neodymium)