BLOG OF iECYCLE

Source: flickr

The use of electrical and electronic devices worldwide has been rapidly increasing. People tend to buy latest electronic products and discard their used  items. The compound growth of electronic devices has created a serious problem – e-waste. Discarded electronic devices such as personal computers, printers, mobile phones, televisions and refrigerators are considered electronic waste or e-waste. The United States is the major e-waste producer with 3 million tons per year, followed by China that produces 2.3 million tons per year.

The e-waste is considred more dangerous due to the hazardous elements involved in manufacturing of electronic devices. These elements could be harmful to the environment and public health after such devices are discarded. In addition, the use of precious metals such as copper, palladium, gold, and silver in the manufacturing of these devices causes depletion of useful natural resources. Due to the inappropriate recycling infrastructure to handle e-waste, valuable resources are lost. This issue is often overlooked.

Most of the e-waste generated in developed countries such as United States ends up in developing countries like China and India. The lack of awareness about handing e-waste and legislation in developing countries put people in these countries at significant risks. According to the recent report released by United Nations Environment Programme, if appropriate actions are not taken immediately, many developing countries will face the danger of hazardous “e-waste mountains” with serious consequences for the environment and public health. “This report gives new urgency to establishing ambitious, formal and regulated processes for collecting and managing e-waste via the setting up of large, efficient facilities in China,” says UN Under-Secretary-General Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP. “China is not alone in facing a serious challenge. India, Brazil, Mexico and others may also face rising environmental damage and health problems if e-waste recycling is left to the vagaries of the informal sector.”

The report titled “Recycling – from E-Waste to Resources,”compiled data from 11 developing countries to estimate current and future e-waste generation. The report focused on old and dilapidated desk and laptop computers, printers, mobile phones, pagers, digital photo and music devices, refrigerators, toys and televisions. The report projects that e-waste from old computers in South Africa and China will have jumped by 200 to 400 percent from 2007 levels, and by 500% in India. E-waste from discarded mobile phones will be about 7 times higher than 2007 levels in China and, in India, it is project to be 18 times higher.

Below is e-waste statistics from the UN report:

• Global e-waste generation is growing by about 40 million tons a year
• Manufacturing mobile phones and personal computers consumes 3 per cent of the gold and silver mined worldwide each year; 13 per cent of the palladium and 15 per cent of cobalt
• Modern electronics contain up to 60 different elements – many valuable, some hazardous, and some both
• Carbon dioxide emissions from the mining and production of copper and precious and rare metals used in electrical and electronic equipment are estimated at over 23 million tonnes – 0.1 percent of global emissions (not including emissions linked to steel, nickel or aluminum, nor those linked to manufacturing the devices)
• In the US, more than 150 million mobiles and pagers were sold in 2008, up from 90 million five years before
• Globally, more than 1 billion mobile phones were sold in 2007, up from 896 million in 2006
• Countries like Senegal and Uganda can expect e-waste flows from PCs alone to increase 4 to 8-fold by 2020.
• Given the infrastructure expense and technology skills required to create proper facilities for efficient and environmentally sound metal recovery, the report suggests facilitating exports of critical e-scrap fractions like circuit boards or betteries from smaller countries to OECD-level, certified end-processors.

The report encourages to turn e-waste into resources through sustainable e-waste recycling technologies. The innovative technologies must take care of hazardous/toxic substances contained in e-waste in an environmentally sound manner while preventing secondary and tertiary emissions. The technology should also help recover valuable materials as effectively as possible. Finally, create economically and environmentally sustainable businesses.

The report was timed with the UNEP’s Governing Council meeting in Bali, Indonesia occurring from February 24 – 26. To view the full UNEP’s e-waste report, visit UNEP Report