Abstract

The production of electronic waste (e-waste) has reached alarming levels globally, posing significant environmental, economic, and health risks. This review paper comprehensively analyzes the challenges, impacts, and potential solutions associated with e-waste management in developing nations. It highlights the urgent need for proper regulations, infrastructure development, and public awareness to address the growing problem of e-waste. The paper identifies gaps in current research, such as the lack of concrete recommendations and practical solutions, and aims to provide a foundation for future studies to propose strategies for improving e-waste management practices. The findings emphasize the environmental effects of e-waste and the negative consequences on disadvantaged communities, particularly in underdeveloped regions. Furthermore, the review highlights the importance of transitioning to a circular economy and the economic opportunities presented by e-waste, which contains valuable metals that can be recovered and recycled. The paper calls for the formulation of specific policies focusing on the 3Rs (Reduction, Reuse, and Recycle) and the implementation of provisions such as pollution taxes to reduce e-waste and promote responsible consumption. By addressing these challenges and offering sustainable solutions, effective e-waste management can mitigate environmental risks, protect human health, and contribute to a circular economy.

Keywords

Circular economy, E-waste management, Infrastructure, Recycling, Regulations,

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

  1. M. Ikhlayel, Environmental impacts and benefits of state-of-the-art technologies for E-waste management. Waste Management, 68 (2017) 458-474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2017.06.038
  2. R. Widmer, H. Oswald-Krapf, D. Sinha-Khetriwal, M. Schnellmann, H. Böni, Global perspectives on e-waste. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 25(5), (2005) 436–458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2005.04.001
  3. B.N. Patel, B. Viswanathan, (2015). E Waste Problems -An Analysis. International Journal of Advanced Research in Management and Social Sciences, 4 (2015) 60-71.
  4. X. Chi, M. Streicher-Porte, M. Wang, M.A. Reuter, Informal electronic waste recycling: A sector review with special focus on China. Waste Management, 31 (2011) 731–742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2010.11.006
  5. B. Jaeger, A. Upadhyay, Understanding barriers to circular economy: cases from the manufacturing industry. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 33(4), (2020) 729–745. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-02-2019-0047
  6. S. Ritzén, G.O. Sandström, Barriers to the Circular Economy – Integration of Perspectives and Domains. Procedia CIRP, 64 (2017) 7–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2017.03.005
  7. N. Ferronato, A. Maalouf, A. Mertenat, A. Khanal, B. Copertaro, D. Yeo, H. Jalalipour, J. R. Veuthey, L. M.Ulloa-Murillo, M. Sebastian Thottathil, N. Aizat bin Shuaib, R. Caplin, V. Jaisree Mohandas, A review of plastic waste circular actions in seven developing countries to achieve sustainable development goals. Waste Management & Research, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X231188664
  8. B.B. Khatri, (2019). E- Waste Management: An Emerging Challenge in Nepal. NUTA Journal, 6(1-2), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.3126/nutaj.v6i1-2.23218
  9. J.A. Noor, (2019). Impacts of E-Waste in the Environment.
  10. K. Parajuly, K.B. Thapa, C. Cimpan, H. Wenzel, Electronic waste and informal recycling in Kathmandu, Nepal: challenges and opportunities. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 20 (2018) 656–666. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-017-0610-8
  11. P. Mishra, (2022) E-waste management in Nepal : Its challenges and way forward. Prashasan. https://www.prasashan.com/2022/02/17/299228/
  12. Basel Convention. (2011) Overview. Basel Convention. http://www.basel.int/Implementation/Ewaste/Overview/tabid/4063/Default.aspx
  13. R. Cayumil, R. Khanna, R. Rajarao, M. Ikram-ul-Haq, P.S. Mukherjee, V. Sahajwalla, (2016) Environmental Impact of Processing Electronic Waste – Key Issues and Challenges. InTech, https://doi.org/10.5772/64139
  14. S. Sivaramanan, E-Waste Management, Disposal and Its Impacts on the Environment. Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology, and Food Technology, 3(5), (2013) 531-537.
  15. O. Osibanjo, I.C. Nnorom, The challenge of electronic waste (e-waste) management in developing countries. Waste Management & Research, 25(6), (2007) 489-501. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X07082028
  16. U.K. Rizvee, E-Waste Management in India: Current Practices and Challenges. International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology, 8(7), (2020) 289-293.
  17. A.F. Ahmad-Faisal Alias, M.B. Ishak, S.N.A.M. Zulkifli, R.A. Jalil, E-waste management: An emerging global crisis and the Malaysian scenario. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 4(4), (2014) 444-457.
  18. I. Otieno, E. Omwenga. E-Waste Management in Kenya: Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences, 6(12), (2015) 661-666.
  19. S.K. Adanu, S.F. Gbedemah, M.K. Attah, (2020). Challenges of adopting sustainable technologies in e-waste management at Agbogbloshie, Ghana. Heliyon open access, 6, E04548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04548
  20. W.W. Ranasinghe, B.C.L. Athapattu, Challenges in E-waste management in Sri Lanka. In Handbook of electronic waste management, (2020) 283-322. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817030-4.00011-5
  21. M.N. Islam, E-waste Management of Bangladesh. International Journal of Innovative Human Ecology and Nature Studies, 4(2), (2016) 1-12.
  22. A. Maharjan, S. Khatri, B. Thapa, S. Pant, S. Pathak, S. Bhatta, K. Rijal, B. Bishwakarma, Solid waste management: Challenges and practices in the Nepalese context. Himalayan Biodiversity, 7 (2013) 71-76. https://doi.org/10.3126/hebids.v7i1.40185
  23. M. Subedi, S. Pandey, A. Khanal, Integrated Solid Waste Management for the Circular Economy: Challenges and Opportunities for Nepal. Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Advancements, 1 (2023) 21–26. https://doi.org/10.3126/jomra.v1i1.55100
  24. A. Khanal, Survey on usage of single use plastic bags in Nepal. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1057 (2022) 012008. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1057/1/012008
  25. A. Khanal, (2023a). Forecasting municipal solid waste generation using linear regression analysis: A case of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 5 (2023) e2023019. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2023019
  26. A. Khanal, S. Giri, P. Mainali, the Practices of At-Source Segregation of Household Solid Waste by the Youths in Nepal. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, (2023) 5044295. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5044295
  27. A. Khanal, D.A. Sondhi, S. Giri, Use of personal protective equipment among waste workers of Sisdol landfill site of Nepal. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 11(3), (2021) 158–164. https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v11i3.39768
  28. A. Khanal, COVID-19 related symptoms and vaccination usage among informal waste workers of Kathmandu, Nepal. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 13(2), (2023) 155–162. https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v13i2.43929
  29. A. Khatiwada, R. Jariyaboon, K. Techato, E-Waste Management in Nepal: A Case Study Overcoming Challenges and Opportunities. E-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy, 4 (2023) 100155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prime.2023.100155
  30. D. Tiwari, N.G. Dhawan, E-waste management: An emerging challenge to manage and recover valuable resources. International Journal of Environmental Research and Development, 4(3), (2014) 253-260.
  31. R.K. Henry, Z. Yongsheng, D. Jun, (2005). Country report Municipal solid waste management challenges in developing countries - Kenyan case study. Waste Management, 26 (2006) 92-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2005.03.007
  32. L. Lines, B. Garside, R. Sinha, I. Fedorenko, (2016) Clean and inclusive? Recycling e-waste in China and India. International Institute for Environment and Development Report.
  33. İ. Ozbay, N.A. Gokceviz, towards zero-waste airports: a case study of Istanbul Airport. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 24, (2022) 134–142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-021-01308-2
  34. R.A. Miner, I.T. Rampedi, A.P. Ifegbesan, & R.L. Machete, (2020) Survey on Household Awareness and Willingness to Participate in E-Waste Management in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Sustainability, 12(3), (2020) 1047. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12031047
  35. O.C. Sylvester, A.A. Orowhigho, Study of Waste Management in Solid Waste Collection and Evacuation in Delta State of Nigeria. International Journal of Research in Social Science and Humanities (IJRSS), 3(11), (2022) 27-33. https://doi.org/10.47505/IJRSS.2022.V3.11.3
  36. S. Khan, M.L. Loureiro, Formal and informal actors in Addis Ababa’s solid waste management system. IDS Bulletin, 48(2), (2017) 53-70. https://doi.org/10.19088/1968-2017.116
  37. I. Rangeti, B. Dzwairo, (2021) Guide for organizing a community clean-up campaign. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94515
  38. K. Shimamoto, Determining factors of waste management in Japan. Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, 14(3), (2019) 62-76.
  39. J. Cui, J. He, (2023) Study on the influence of social norms and public orientation on domestic waste classification behavior-taking Beijing's garbage classification as an example. Advances in Management & Applied Economics, 13(2), (2023) 47-63. https://doi.org/10.47260/amae/1323
  40. G. Davis, S. Herat, Opportunities and constraints for developing a sustainable E-waste management system at local government level in Australia. National Library of Medical Science, 28(8), (2010) 705-713. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X09343008
  41. S. Riaz, Z. Iqbal, G. Rasool, S. Parveen, S. Kalsoom, Knowledge of community members of Ali Raza Abad regarding the role of government authorities and non-government organization in solid waste management. Knowledge about solid waste management. NURSEARCHER (Journal of Nursing & Midwifery Sciences), 2(2), (2022) 12-16. https://doi.org/10.54393/nrs.v2i02.12