What is E-Waste? The Terrible Truth of E-Wastes

20-50 million tons of electronic waste is produced on our planet every year. However, the use of adequately arranged e-waste recycling facilities is expensive. What is e-waste, and how should it be collected?

 

What is E-Waste?

Electronic waste or e-waste is a term for electronic products that are unwanted, inoperable, or obsolete and have reached the end of their life. Since the technology is moving at such a high speed, many electronic devices, unfortunately, become waste after several years of use. Products that fall into the category of e-waste are computers, televisions, monitors, mobile phones, PDAs, VCRs, CD players, fax machines, printers, and so on.

 

Most electronic waste contains toxic substances such as chlorinated solvents, brominated flame retardants, PVC, heavy metals, plastics and gases, lead, beryllium, mercury, and cadmium. These materials can be trace elements, but when contaminated with any material, they pose a threat to the environment.

 

In addition to adding harmful elements to the environment, improper disposal of e-waste leads to a missed opportunity for recycling. Almost all electronic waste contains some recyclable material, including plastics, glass, and metals. For example, a PC screen containing a CRT tube is known to contain about 4-6% by weight of lead. Their impact on human health and the re-use of precious metals contained in recycling require sustainable recycling of e-waste. Therefore, collecting these wastes with professional teams and separating them first and then recycling them is an essential process for the environment.

 

E-Waste in the World

Storage areas in the world are also rapidly filling. Although more than 100 million computers are disposed of in the US alone, less than 20% of the waste is recyclable.

 

Many companies have sent waste to poorly managed cities and illegal e-waste sites in developing countries, creating a cheaper alternative to the e-waste recycling facilities that need to be implemented. The remaining e-waste is taken up by scrapers, disposed of in various ways, or reacts with another scrap, resulting in a significant loss of value in terms of conductivity.

 

How to Solve the E-Waste Problem?

The solution to the problem of e-waste starts with training and changes in habits as a result of knowledge of what is e-waste. Most people are trained to recycle a newspaper, bottle, and canister. In nature, electronic waste can also be recycled correctly with an effort.

 

Some municipalities have transfer stations that accept e-waste. It is crucial to follow documented procedures for the safe disposal of any e-waste processor and the safe disposal of electronic waste.

 

It is more important than ever to ensure that we dispose of reputable companies and computers and mobile phones to prevent illegal e-waste recycling that affects many people. Companies are considering checking certified programs for e-waste disposal.