The Impact of Managing Electronic Waste to Ensure Green Computing
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The primary objective of the study is as follows
- To examine what electronic and computing waste is all about
- To examine the impact of electronic waste on the environment
- To find out the effect of electronic waste on the health of a person
- To proffer solution to the issue of electronic waste.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literatures that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
Precisely, the chapter will be considered in three sub-headings:
- Conceptual Framework
- Theoretical Framework
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
e-Waste
E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. In developed countries it, on an average, equals 1% of the total solid waste. The increasing “market penetration” in developing countries, “replacement market” in developed countries and “high obsolescence rate”, make e-waste one of the fastest waste streams. It includes items such as televisions (TV), computers, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), plasmapanels, printing-scanning devices, mobile phones as well as a wide range of household, medical and industrial equipments which are simply discarded as new technologies become available. Huge quantities of these wastes are discarded every year and since these wastes contain toxic and carcinogenic compounds can pose high risk to the environment. In computer lead and cadmium are used in circuit boards, lead oxide and cadmium in cathode ray tube monitors, mercury in switches and flat screen monitors, cadmium in computer, polychlorinated biphenyls in older capacitors, transformers and batteries. At present, Indians use about 14 million PCs, 16 million mobile phones and 80 million televisions. So, there is a pressing need to address e-waste management particularly in developing countries like ours. The presence of valuable recyclable components, in electronic wastes, attracts informal and unorganised sectors towards it but the unsafe and environmentally risky practices adopted by them pose great risks to health and environmentThe electronic industry is the world’s largest and fastest growing manufacturing industry (Radha, 2002; DIT, 2003). During the last decade, it has assumed the role of providing a forceful leverage to the socio – economic and technological growth of a developing society. The consequence of its consumer oriented growth combined with rapid product obsolescence and technological advances are a new environmental challenge – the growing menace of “Electronics Waste” or “e waste” that consists of obsolete electronic devices. It is an emerging problem as well as a business opportunity of increasing significance, given the volumes of e-waste being generated and the content of both toxic and valuable materials in them. The fraction including iron, copper, aluminum, gold and other metals in e-waste is over 60%, while plastics account for about 30% and the hazardous pollutants comprise only about 2.70% (Widmer et al., 2005). Solid waste management, which is already a critical task in India, is becoming more complicated by the invasion of ewaste, particularly computer waste. E-waste from developed countries find an easy way into developing countries in the name of free trade (Toxics Link, 2004) is further complicating the problems associated with waste management. The paper highlights the associated issues and strategies to address this emerging problem, in the light of initiatives in India.Industrial revolution followed by the advances in information technology during the last century has radically changed people’s lifestyle. Although this development has helped the human race, miss-management has led to new problems of contamination and pollution. The technical prowess acquired during the last century has posed a new challenge in the management of wastes.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out to examine the impact of managing electronic waste to ensure green computing in Oshodi local government area. Lagos state. Selected residents of Oshodi, Lagos state form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
In this study, our focus was to examine the impact of managing electronic waste to ensure green computing using resident of Oshodi as a case study. The study specifically was aimed at highlighting what electronic and computing waste is all about. And also the impact of electronic waste on the environment. Furthermore,To find out the effect of electronic waste on the health of a person. And finally, To proffer solution to the issue of electronic waste The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 77 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are drawn from resident of Oshodi.
CONCLUSION
Based on the finding of this study, the following conclusions were made:
- E-waste is electronic products that are unwanted
- Electronic products nearing the end of their “useful life
- E-waste describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Used electronics which are destined for refurbishment
RECOMMENDATION
Based on the responses obtained, the researcher proffers the following recommendations:
- That waste management agency should educate the populace on the impact of e-waste on the environment and health generally
- That there should be a proper channel to dispose e-waste materials
- That manufacturers should produce electronic gadget that has low power consumption
REFERENCES
- B.K. Sharma, Environmental Chemistry, Goel publication Meerut, India
- CII, “E-waste management,” Green Business Opportunities, vol. 12, no. 1, Confederation of Indian Industry, Delhi 2006.
- Devi B.S, Shobha S. V, Kamble R. K. E-Waste: The Hidden harm of Technological Revolution, Journal IAEM, Vol.31, pp.196-205. 2004
- Electronic Waste Recycling Facts & Statistics.” Electronic Waste [ E Waste ] Recycling, Disposal & Management. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. http://www.ewastecenter.com/ewaste-facts
- Energy Star Program (2010) Retrieved from http://www.energystar.gov/
- facility in GhanJ Health Pollution, pp. 11-22, April 2013. 7-A.
- http://www.theglobalwarmingstatistics.org/globalwarming-essays
- IBM Global Technology Services January 2007 report.
- Caravanos, E.E. Clarke, C.S. Osei, Y. Amoyaw-OseiExploratory health assessment of chemical exposures at e-waste recycling and scrapyard.