Awareness that May Diminish the Effects of E Waste Facts & Figures

Posted by mariabender on June 14th, 2013

E-waste facts s and figures have received a great deal of attention the past few years as numbers have increase exponentially within the last decade. The term “e waste” refers to electronic waste or discarded electronic devices. Waste devices like old computers and electronic parts are ending up in landfills and posing a threat to the environment. These devices need to be recycled properly and many devices can even be striped for parts and used in refurbished devices to minimize waste.

Problems that arise from e-waste

The Waste Electrical and Electronic (WEEE) Directive was established to ensure that the large majority of electronic devices be properly collected, recycled, and recovered. This steamed from the grand problem that e-waste has been causing to the earth and those who live and especially those who work with it. Still now, many developed countries face a vital problem with pollution that is causing serious health problems such as asthma and more due to the improper processing of this type of waste. It is high time that all countries take the necessary steps against e-waste and even look at workers who spend a prolonged period of time on a regular basis with the exposure of heavy metals, for instance lead, cadmium, beryllium or brominated flame retardants.

Processing techniques for recycling e-waste

Though computer recycling exists for processing working and reusable laptops, desktops and RAM, Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs), this is the only and the hardest way to recycle. There are few stages to follow in processing technique done in developed countries. First step involves dismantling the equipment whatever may it is into various parts often by hand or by automated shredding equipment. Recycling of raw materials from end-of-life electronics becomes the most effective solution to the growing e-waste problem.

Benefits of recycling e-waste

Most electronic devices contain various metals that can be recovered for future purposes. This recovering of e-waste is necessary as it can even save life against environmental threat. By providing reuse facilities, intact natural resources are conserved and air and water pollution caused out of hazardous materials can be avoided. Additionally, recycling methods help to reduce the amount of emissions of greenhouse gas as a result of the manufacturing of new products. As the world is becoming more scientifically and technologically advanced, people prefer to dispose of obsolete equipment in favor of buying updated products. In Europe a whooping nearly 100 million mobiles are disposed annually, 300 million computers and 1 billion cell phones are undergoing for production every year. According to BCC research this global mountain of waste has been expected to grow continuously to 8% per year. Responsible processing of waste ensure best management practices of the electronic waste being recycled and above all it should cooperate with worker’s health and safety and consideration of environmental factors in every locality in around the world.