Every year millions of electrical and electronic devices are discarded as products break or become obsolete and are thrown away. These discarded devices are considered e-waste and can become a threat to the environment and to human health if they are not treated, disposed of, and recycled appropriately.

Threats it is posing to our planet

1. Toxic Components

• Many electronic devices contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants. When e-waste is improperly disposed of, these toxic substances can leach into the soil and groundwater, causing serious environmental and health issues.

2. Environmental Pollution

• Soil and Water Contamination: Toxic chemicals from e-waste can contaminate soil and water sources. This contamination can affect local ecosystems, harming plants, animals, and potentially entering the human food chain.
• Air Pollution: When e-waste is incinerated, it releases harmful chemicals into the air. Burning plastics and other materials found in electronics can produce toxic fumes, including dioxins, which are harmful to both humans and the environment.

3. Resource Depletion

• Loss of Precious Metals: E-waste contains valuable metals like gold, silver, and copper. Improper disposal means these resources are lost rather than being recovered and reused, contributing to the depletion of finite natural resources.
• Energy Waste: Manufacturing new electronic devices requires significant amounts of energy. By not recycling e-waste, we miss the opportunity to conserve energy that would otherwise be used to mine and process raw materials.

4. Health Risks

• Direct Exposure: People who handle e-waste, often in developing countries where regulations may be lax, can be directly exposed to harmful chemicals. This exposure can lead to serious health problems, including respiratory issues, neurological damage, and cancer.
• Indirect Exposure: Contaminants from e-waste can enter the food chain, posing health risks to broader populations who consume contaminated food and water.

5. Inefficient Recycling Systems

• Low Recycling Rates: A significant portion of e-waste is not properly recycled. According to some estimates, only about 20% of global e-waste is formally recycled. The rest is often discarded in landfills or processed in informal recycling operations with inadequate safety measures.
• Informal Sector: In many developing countries, e-waste is processed informally, often by untrained workers using primitive techniques. This not only exposes workers to hazardous conditions but also leads to inefficient recovery of valuable materials.

6. Growing Volume

• Increased Consumption: The rapid pace of technological advancement and the constant demand for new electronic devices mean that the volume of e-waste is growing rapidly. Many electronic devices have short lifespans, leading to frequent replacements and a steady increase in e-waste.
• Global Impact: The problem of e-waste is global, affecting both developed and developing countries. However, much of the world's e-waste is shipped to developing countries, where it is often processed in unsafe and environmentally damaging ways.