Waste , Electronic, Electrical and Technical devices need to be recycled properly, otherwise toxins are released into the soil, water, air and human tissue which raises the concentration of lead and other harmful compounds. Managing E-Waste in a eco-friendly way is a huge task considering the generation is as high as 40% of the new arrivals together with the accumulated lot and also expensive as the equipment for waste treatment plant, collection cost of E-waste, repairing and maintenance is costly. The primary step in reducing E-Waste is reducing E-consumption per se which is out of the race for the present day. Rapid product development and forced obsolescence are two key factors and this is encouraged by unbridled consumption of today. In 2023, the consumer electronics industry is expected to generate $75.77 bn in revenue with telephones occupying a share of 58% at $ 44.34 bn. And the craze for annual model change happens in phones. Globally, 53.6 MMT of electronic trash were produced in 2019 and the figure is expected to reach 74MMT by 2030, according to the Global E-Waste Monitor Report. India is he 3rd largest E-waste generator after China and the USA with 3.3 MMT E-Waste generation annually. India also faces the problem of importation/dumping from rich and industrialised countries. In India, E-Waste is covered by a number of environmental laws and rules, but penalties for non-compliance are insufficient and difficult to enforce which enhances the problem. The legislation in India dealing with E Waste is basically preventive and procedural in nature which does not provide any punitive measures for the manufacturer, importer, distributor and user of electronic device , as a result the violator continues to do so. This again is loaded further by electrical waste on all fronts.
In such a situation, we may recommend the following:
(a) Policy level interventions like creation of E-waste Regulation, Control of their Import and developing a process for item wise disposal/recycling. Ideally the process for disposal/recycling may be aligned to an institutional structure.
(b) Developing environmentally sound engineering methods for recycling , recovery and disposal with quality standards at each step.
(c) Align FDI and Private Investment in Solid Waste Management to E-Waste Management.
(d) Stringent monetary punishment for non-compliance with rewards for highlighting non-compliance.
"The California state government has passed a landmark law that obligates technology companies to provide parts and manuals for repairing smartphones for seven years after their market release.
Senate Bill 244 passed 65-0 in the Assembly, and 38-0 in the Senate, and made California, the seat of so much of American technological hardware and software, the third state in the union to pass this so-called “right to repair” legislation.
On a more granular level, the bill guarantees consumers’ rights to replacement parts for three years’ time in the case of devices costing between $50 and $99, and seven years in the case of devices costing more than $100, with the bill retroactively affecting devices made and sold in 2021.
Similar laws have been passed in Minnesota and New York, but none with such a long-term period as California.
“Accessible, affordable, widely available repair benefits everyone,” said Kyle Wiens, the CEO of advocacy group iFixit, in a statement. “We’re especially thrilled to see this bill pass in the state where iFixit is headquartered, which also happens to be Big Tech’s backyard. Since Right to Repair can pass here, expect it to be on its way to a backyard near you.” ...
One of the reasons Wiens is cheering this on is because large manufacturers, from John Deere to Apple, have previously lobbied heavily against right-to-repair legislation for two reasons. One, it allows them to corner the repair and maintenance markets, and two, it [allegedly] protects their intellectual property and trade secrets from knock-offs or competition.
However, a byproduct of the difficulty of repairing modern electronics is that most people just throw them away.
...Wien added in the statement that he believes the California bill is a watershed that will cause a landslide of this legislation to come in the near future."
Overwhelmed is an understatement. Crowdfunding by yourself with no social capital is nearly impossible. I even gave up for about two weeks. I was reignited by receiving my employers position statement. I haven’t read it, but I’m dreading it. I have no support. During this time in the investigation I’m supposed to have a lawyer advise me. I’m supposed to have a therapist console me. I am doing this all alone and it’s incredibly painful and triggering. I appreciate everyone who has been reblogging and liking. All I can ask is y’all continue to support me. Sharing my story and if you feel led please donate. I am on a strict timeline and must raise enough for a lawyer by August 16th. After my rebuttal the investigation will start to end and I will be issued a right to sue letter in which I have 90 days to find a lawyer to sue in federal court. Which means I will never get justice.
MAURIZIO CATTELAN / UNTITLED, 2001
Couple of elevators (scale 1:7,5), stainless steel, electronic components
35 x 59.5 x 26.3 cm | 23 1/2 x 33 3/4 x 18 inch