Journal of Electronic Design Technology Volume 4, Issue 2, ISSN: 2229-6980 __________________________________________________________________________________________ JoEDT (2013) 1-11 © STM Journals 2013. All Rights Reserved Page 1 Electronics Engineering with Green Features Subhash C. Arya*, Fidalizia Pyrtuh, Jaydeep Swarnkar Department of Electronics & Communication, School of Technology, NEHU, Shillong, Meghalaya, India Abstract The present paper reviewed about the concept of green technology and its various aspects. It also gives the bird’s eye view on recent survey of green electronics carried out by the Greenpeace International, the Netherlands. The dominant electronic waste i.e. Printed Circuit Board in electronics field has been discussed and its recycling methods are reviewed to mitigate the harmful impact on environment. Keywords: Green technology, green electronics, electronic waste, PCB recycling *Author for Correspondence E-mail: aryasubh@yahoo.co.in; fidalizia@gmail.com INTRODUCTION Recent development has been seen the explosive growth of green technology. Tremendous research and development work are going on across the world to make the current age as green age of technology. A technology which is environmental friendly may be termed as Green Technology. Hence, the basic aim of Green Technology (GT) is to suggest, monitor and produce methods, ways and techniques which do not harm the natural resources. The Earth’s natural environment can be recovered by using GT intelligently. GT may be a watch dog and a safeguard against environmental pollution. The present expectations from GT are to bring innovations and changes in day-to-day life. Presently, GT encompasses mostly energy sector, building construction, environmental friendly purchasing, chemical technology with reduction and to eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances which is collectively known as Green Chemistry. There is an evolution of new discipline i.e. Green Nanotechnology, which embedded Green Chemistry and Green Engineering principles. Herris and Andrews reported that “In 2004, the University of Sydney offered an elective course in ‘green engineering’ for the first time in Australia, during which students were introduced to cutting edge examples of sustainable technologies relevant to chemical and bimolecular engineering”. Green Engineering is the optimization of product and process efficiency, minimize the waste and reduction in the factors which tends to harm to the environment [1]. Recently, “Green Electronics” also finds space and relevancy as there is tremendous use of electronic devices and gadgets in every sphere of life. Green Electronics (GE) is the science of producing electronics materials, products and processes as environmentally benign as possible. GE encompasses Design for Environment (DFE), Lifecycle Analysis (LCA) – a methodology to quantify the total environmental impact of a product or process over its entire lifecycle and Sustainable Development. Our living surrounding and environment need rescue from pollution. The UN reported that about 20–50 million tons of electronic waste (e-waste) are generated annually worldwide [2]. In present paper, efforts are made to recycle the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) which is an e-waste and potential threat to the environment. However, if these wastes could be aptly disposed, recovered metal material and by-product will bring sufficient profits [3]. In first section of this article, a bird’s eye view has given on the green electronic survey done by the Greenpeace International [4, 5], the Netherlands in year 2011. Second section depicted on the PCB materials and its recycling methods.