Managing E-Waste: An Ocean of Opportunities or a Threat to Survival

Abstract

E-waste is used to describe old, end-of-life or discarded appliances using electricity which include old and dilapidated desktop and laptop, computers, mobile phones, printers, pagers, digital cameras, music devices, refrigerators, toys, televisions etc. According to UNEP’s (United Nations Environmental Programme) recent report “Recycling from E-Waste to Resources”, sales of electronic products in countries like China, India and also in Africa and Latin America are set to increase sharply in the next 10 years. Unless drastic action is taken for proper collection and recycling of materials, many developing countries face the specter of hazardous e-waste mountains resulting in serious issues for public health and the environment. Modern electronics contain up to 60 different elements-many valuable, some hazardous. Manufacturing mobile phones and personal computers only consume 3 per cent of the gold and silver mined worldwide each year; 13 per cent of the palladium and 15 per cent of cobalt. The electronics manufacturing leads to global e-waste generation by about 40 million tons a year. The e-waste generation is a necessary evil of societal progress which cannot be stopped. It creates depletion of natural resources, health hazards, environmental pollution and threat to sustainability. However, it has all the possibilities of creation of wealth from these sources of e-waste. An efficient recovery and retrieval system can make e-waste an ocean of opportunities rather than a threat to survival. E-waste recycling in developing countries can have the potential to generate decent employment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve sustainability and recover a wide range of precious metals. By planning now and acting forward, many countries can turn an e-challenge into an e-opportunity.