E-WASTE

E- waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams on the planet. We produced something like 50
million tons of it each year.

What is e-waste?
e-waste, also called electronic waste, are discarded electronic products that are no longer
working. E-waste includes almost any household or business item containing circuitry or
electrical components with power or battery supply. E-waste is particularly dangerous due to
toxic chemicals that naturally leach from metals inside when buried.

EXAMPLES OF E-WASTE
Large appliances

- Refrigerators
- Washing machines
- Cookers
- Microwaves
- Electric fans
- Air conditioners

Small appliances

- Irons
- Toasters
- Coffee machines
- Hair dryers
- Watches
 IT, telecommunications and TV equipment
- Computers
- Laptops
- Printers
- Mobile phones
- Televisions
- Remote controls

Other e-waste
- Medical devices
- Automatic dispensers
- Thermostats

Lighting equipment

- Fluorescent lamps
- High intensity
- Discharge lamps
- Compact fluorescent lamps
- LEDs

Electrical and electronic tools

- Drills
- Saws
- Sewing machines
- Lawn mowers
- Batteries

Toys, leisure and sports equipment

- Electric trains and racing cars

- Hand-held video games
- Consoles
- Amplifiers
- Musical instruments
- Radios

Problem of E-waste in the world

According to a UN report, the world generated 48.5 million tons of electronic waste in 2018. The
volume of e-waste produced worldwide and bad recycling management present a danger to the
environment. Improper handling of these electronic wastes could bring serious risk to human
health and the environment.
E-waste Hides Toxic Material
While above ground, modern electronics are safe to use and be around. However, most
electronics contain some form of toxic materials, including beryllium, cadmium, mercury, and
lead, which pose serious environmental risks to our soil, water, air, and wildlife.

When E-waste gets buried at a landfill, it can dissolve in microscopic traces into the gross sludge
that permeates at the landfill. Eventually, these traces of toxic materials pool into the ground
below the landfill. This is known as leaching.

The more E-waste and metals at the landfill, the more of these trace toxic materials show up in
the groundwater.

Leeching Poisons Nearby Water

The problem is that there is so, so much E-waste that the trace amounts have ballooned over
the years. That toxic water under the landfill doesn’t stop below the landfill. It continues to the
groundwater and the sources to all the freshwater in the surrounding area.

Not only is this bad for anyone using a natural well, but it hurts the nearby wildlife. That, in turn,
causes the wildlife to get sick from lead, arsenic, cadmium, and other metal poisonings due to
the high concentration of these minerals.

What can we do to reduce Technological Garbage?

The recycling of e-waste serves a lot of useful purposes. For instance, include protecting human
and environmental health by keeping those devices out of landfills. By being more mindful
about where your e-waste ends up, you can limit how much you produce and the impact it has
on the environment.
 Reduce: The easiest way to solve the e-waste crisis is to produce less e-waste. Instead of buying
new gadgets, stick to what you’ve got. Also, by taking care of your electronics you can ensure
that they last longer. When you don’t have to replace then as often, you end up saving money.

Reuse: The experts in electronic recycling recommend that friends or family inherit devices that still
work, or that they be offered on the second hand market. There is also the possibility of donating them
to specialised charities.

Repair: People often throw out and replace broken electronics instead of getting them repaired. True,
repairs can be expensive, but for those who aren’t afraid of a DIY project, it’s a cheap fix.

Recycle: When the item no longer works and there is no chance of it being used by someone close,
recycling should be the option. One option for the consumer is to hand the old device in to the shop
where the new one is being purchased, or to some company that specializes in electronic refurbishment.

THE BENEFITS OF RECYCLING TECHNOLOGICAL WASTE

According to a report published in 2019 by the magazine Environmental Science & Technology it is 13
times more costly to extract minerals from natural deposits than it is to recover them from technological
waste for the manufacture of new devices. Obtaining minerals like platinum, copper and palladium does
not just involve digging them up and processing them, it also requires the use of huge quantities of
water and energy. This is where the concept of the circular economy comes in, based on the use of
materials from recycled items and less dependence on the virgin resources extraction.

Recycling electronic gadgets doesn't just improve the quality of the environment, it also brings other
benefits. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reckons that these items, correctly recycled,
could generate opportunities worth over $62.5 billion annually and create millions of new jobs
worldwide. With this in mind, both this organization and the UN have set themselves a target to
increase global recycling to 30% and to reach 50% in countries with legislation on e-waste.