Assessing different options for disposal of electronic waste

Student name: Ms Riddhima Sood
Guide: Prof Kanchan Chopra
Year of completion: 2015
Host Organisation: TERI University

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Abstract: The advancement of the technology sector has caused new demand for electronics all over the world. This has resulted in an increasing stream of waste called “E-Waste”. This waste should be properly managed in countries like India where the demand for electronic products is on a rise. Recycling of waste is evidently a disposal option. But is it privately and socially viable? This thesis conducts two case studies on e-waste recycling companies in NCR namely Exigo Recycling Pvt. Ltd. and Dataserv Apac Pvt. Ltd. which operate at different scales and recycle around 4,000 and 8,500 tonnes of e-waste annually. An assessment of private and social costs and benefits from recycling and its alternative, sanitary landfilling are done by considering two scenarios: 95% e-waste recycling + 5% sanitary landfilling and 100% sanitary landfilling in the absence of these companies. A series of sensitivity analysis using Cost-Benefit Analysis (both private and social) assess both the disposal options of e-waste. Net Present Value (NPV) / Internal Rate of Return (IRR) are used as decision criterions with different rates of discount. It is found that the NPV in the first scenario is positive, both for the private and social cost-benefit. The social cost-benefit values water, a very important input into the recycling process at its shadow price which is much higher than the market price paid by the firms. However, the recycling option benefits society due to reduction in greenhouse gases. This gain includes both net social benefit of recycling and the averted cost of sanitary landfilling. On the other hand, sanitary landfill uses land, a very scarce factor, with a high market price. Further, the IRR for social cost-benefit analysis is greater than the private IRR, which makes the recycling project attractive from the viewpoint of society. Keywords: E-waste, disposal options, recycling v/s sanitary landfilling, cost-benefit analysis