E-Waste Management And Handling Rules

E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their useful life. E-waste is considered dangerous, as certain components of some electronic products contain materials that are hazardous, depending on their condition and density. The hazardous content of these materials poses a threat to human health and the environment. Discarded computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, fax machines, electric lamps, cell phones, audio equipment, and batteries if improperly disposed can leach lead and other substances into soil and groundwater. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled in an environmentally sound manner so that they are less harmful to the ecosystem.

Electronics Recycling Conserves Natural Resources

There are many materials that can be recovered from old electronics. These materials can be used to make new products, thus reducing the need to mine for new raw materials. For instance, various metals can be recovered from computer circuit boards and other electronics, and the plastics and glass found in computer monitors and televisions can be recycled.

Electronics Recycling Supports the Community

Donating your old electronics plays an important role in the provision of refurbished products such as computers and mobile phones, which can be of great help to low-income families, schools, and not-for-profit organizations. It also helps individuals gain access to technology that they could not have otherwise afforded.

Electronics Recycling Creates Employment Locally

Considering that around 90 percent of electronic equipment is recyclable, electronics recycling can play a significant role in creating employment. This is because new firms dealing with electronics recycling will form and existing firms will look to employ more people to recover recyclable materials. This can be triggered by the increase in the demand for electronics recycling.

Electronics Recycling Helps Protect Public Health and the Environment

Many electronics have toxic or hazardous materials such as mercury and lead, which can be harmful to the environment if disposed of in trashcans. Reusing and recycling electronics safely helps in keeping hazardous materials from harming humans or the environment. For example, televisions and computer monitors are hazardous since they have lead in them. Printed circuit boards contain harmful materials such as cadmium, lead, mercury and chromium. Also, batteries in computers and other electronics may contain hazardous materials such as cadmium, mercury and lead.

Instead of keeping old electronics in the house or dumping them in landfills, recycling or reusing them is an appropriate option that should be supported by individuals and organizations. Considering the benefits of electronics recycling, it is very important that people in various parts of the world embrace this concept.

Creates Jobs

E-waste recycling creates new jobs for professional recyclers and creates a secondary market for recycled materials.

Do's:

• Always look for information on the catalog with your product for end-of-life equipment handling.
• Ensure that only Authorized Recyclers/Dismantlers handle your electronic (i.e. LED Tv's and accessories) products
• Always call our toll-free Nos to dispose of products that have reached end-of life
• Always drop your used electronic products, batteries or any accessories when they reach the end of their life at your nearest Authorized E-Waste Collection Points.
• Always disconnect the battery from product, and ensure any glass surface is protected against breakage.

Don'ts:

• Do not dismantle your electronic Products on your own
• Do not throw electronics in bins having a "Do not Dispose" sign.
• Do not give e-waste to informal and unorganized sectors like Local Scrap dealers/ Rag Pickers.
• Do not dispose of your product in garbage bins along with municipal waste that ultimately reaches landfills.

Black Box for creating promising awareness throughout the country will do the following:

1. General Awareness through various media.
2. Digital awareness.
3. Awareness through trade partners.
4. Awareness through Advertisements
5. Awareness through training and conducting regular workshops.

• Through Booklets /leaflets- Products manuals /products catalog shall contain a booklet /leaflet endeavouring to make the user aware of the E-waste and its handling, and manner of disposal (do’s and don'ts).The information covers the under mentioned things;
• Hazardous constituents in electrical and electronics equipment.
• Impacts of importers handling/dumping OR disposal/accidental breakage/ recycling of e-waste.
• Handling of e-waste (Do's & Don'ts).
• Symbol on products & Booklet mentioning prevention of dumping of E-waste in garbage bins.
• Mechanism available to consumers for disposal of their e- waste directly to recyclers’ data and take back systems.

Through Invoices

The Company shall print on its invoices a one line information of its toll free numbers for disposal of e- waste.

Through Logos/Slogans On Products Which State That Recycling Is Necessity

This step will help the customers to get knowledge and encouragement for proper disposal through recycling of the products.

Through Social Networks sites: Black Box through its various social networking platforms (Facebook, twitter, instagram) undertakes to post monthly to educate its customers about electronic waste.

By Installing banners /standers/ poster /at its dealers to the put on the prominent places in theirs premise in orders to educate customers /create awareness about what is electronics waste its hazardous impacts and the contact details of our authorized recyclers /dismantler to facilitate the customers for the safe disposal of their electronics waste.

Black Box shall spread e-waste awareness by doing advertisements in the following manners.

Online Advertisements Video us on YouTube channel/YouTube commercial.

Outdoor Advertisements.

The company shall also advertise in educating its customers in various company sponsored events (awarded functions, contents, seminars, exhibitions etc.) via posters, standees and videos informing and sensitizing the customers about electronics waste, how not to dispose off electronic waste in garbage bins but safe disposal of electronics waste.

Black Box will initiate training programs for RAWS, school, colleges etc. for creating awareness amongst the public. Black Box will do this activity twice every month covering two states/UT totalling at least 24 such activities in a calendar year that covers 24 sates/UT.

The Company shall educate all existing employees by conducting quarterly training /worker shops on e-waste and a presentation on electronics waste shall mandatorily be made a part of the induction program for all new employees of the company.

The company shall provide training to Shop Owners/ retailers demonstrating the various aspects of electronics waste, safe, disposal, collection centers and hazardous impacts of electronics waste which shall be passed on to the customers visiting the various dealers/retailers. This will be done on a PAN India basis.

Black Box has partnered with E-Waste Recyclers India (EWRI) to comply with the new India E-Waste Management and Handling rules in providing drop-of centers and environmentally sound management of end of life electronics.

EWRI has obtained authorizations from the appropriate governmental agency for its processing facilities. EWRI will receive and recycle customer returned equipment, including all the e-waste.

Customers can drop their e-waste in the drop-box provided at various collection centres of EWRI. A list of collection centers along with the address is mentioned below.

The customers can also call on the following toll free number (1800-102-5679) from Monday to Friday between 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM to get details about the collection centers.