A. E-waste can cause health risks and damage to environment if the E-waste is opened-up and
attempts are made for retrieval of useful components or material in an un-scientific manner
or if the material is disposed in open. The electronic and electrical equipment after their useful
life may not cause any harm if stored safely in households/stores.
The electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) have valuable materials and hazardous/toxics
substances in their components.
E-waste can be considered as a resource that contains useful material of economic benefit
for recovery of plastics, iron, glass, aluminum, copper and precious metals such as silver,
gold, platinum, and palladium and lead, cadmium, mercury etc. However, at the same time presence of heavy metals (As, Cd, Hg, Pb etc.) and other toxic substances such as
polychlorinated bi-phenyls (PCBs), etched chemicals, etc. may pose risk to health and
environment during handling and recovery operations.
