Recycling and its impacts?
Every electronic product has a certain shelf life and becomes unwanted, non-working or obsolete, once they reach the end of their useful life. They contain valuable metals and components that can be reused in other manufacturing processes.
It is estimated that out of the 80% of electronic waste generated, only around 20% is recycled using the correct methods. Around 300 million computers and 1 BILLION cell phones are put into production each year. BCC Research indicates that the generation of waste is expected to continue growing at 8% per year, indefinitely.
The main issue does not lie in the quantity or volumes of the e-waste generated. The concern is the presence of toxic materials in electronic products that would lead to harmful effects on health and the environment if not disposed of using the relevant methods.
In many developing countries, most of the E-waste generated lands up in the informal sector where it is recycled without any consideration to health and the environment.
The unregulated practices of disposal also release hazardous materials in the air, water and soil thereby endangering the environment.
China, for instance, deals with 500,000 tonnes of refrigerators, 1.3 million tonnes of Television sets and 300,000 tonnes of personal computers a year, out of which only a few are handled in advanced factories
In the United States, it is estimated that 4 million tonnes of e-waste get dumped in landfills every year, based on the reports by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).