Recycling & e-Waste
E-wastes are the short term for electronic waste materials. Electronic waste materials can also be called e-scrap or even electronic disposal and it includes wastes which are associated with electronic devices that are no longer in use or outdated. With the world of technology coming up with very high rate, there has been increased dumping of discarded computers, office electronics and other gadgets like mobile phones, television sets and entertainment devices of varied sizes and types. Most of the countries are yet to come up with clear policies regarding disposal, dumping and recycling of e-wastes. It is evident that some countries like Japan and the United States are the leading countries as far as e-wastes and dumping are concerned but in the recent past Japan has been on its heels in trying to design a recycling plan that begins from collection, transportation and storage of wastes at the designated areas. Over a million tons of e-wastes are being recycled every year in both countries with the aim of reducing hazards that might be associated with the irresponsible dumping of these types of wastes, Hester & Harrison (2009)
Electronic devices are manufactured using different types of elements and the idea of discarding the in landfills and incinerators will lead to release of a mixture of toxic substances into the atmosphere which will be hazardous for human health and dangerous for human existences. Over 70 to 80 percent of the e-wastes are discarded using the later method but environmentalist have argued that it is not the right way to dispose the as far as health is concerned. It is sad that it is only 12 percent of the world’s e-wastes that is currently being recycled and this is a comparatively a small percentage given the fact that millions of tons of e-wastes are produced for every a half a year all over the world. Recycling these wastes will help reduce the impacts and effects that it creates on human health and existence, Zhang ET AL, (2011)
On the other hand, e-wastes specifically electronics like the cell phones and computer chips usually contain large amounts of precious metals like gold and silver and on dumping them without recycling is a waste of large amounts of carats of gold and silver which we might consider a waste of precious and highly valuable metals. On the other hand some of the e-wastes contain large amounts of lead which when dumped recklessly can cause disorders of the peripheral and central human nervous system, the kidneys and even blood cells. The solution behind reducing the wastage of these precious metals is through recycling, Zhang ET AL, (2011)
In America, according to concerned environmentalist, e-wastes is one of the fastest growing municipal wastes and it is sad that what is termed as e-waste is no actually a part of electronic device but rather the whole electronic equipment. When a thousand of such equipments are heaped up they form huge mountains that are beyond the control of the municipal councils. It should be considered a waste of resource to throw or dump a computer since in manufacturing one single computer; we require around 500 pounds of petroleum or fossil fuel, 38 pounds of chemical material and approximately one tone of water. This is a real and an irresponsible waste of resources. To avoid waste of resources as such, recycling is the best solution that countries all over the world are aiming at; World Resource Foundation, (1996).
It will take another twenty years for developing countries to completely manage e-wastes through recycling effectively and it will require commitments of all the nations of the world on agreeing on how to engage in genuine trade that will limit the rates of electronic dumping in those countries that are considered less developed. Less developed countries are still safe from e-waste menace due to the fact that they deal with small numbers of electronic devices and in which most of them are not dumped but repaired and reused again, Zhang ET AL, (2011)
World Resource Foundation. (1996). Electrical & electronic wastes. Tonbridge, Kent: World Resource Foundation.
Recycling of Electronic Waste, Zhang, L., Krumdick, G. K., & Minerals, Metals and Materials Society. (2011). recycling of electronic waste II: Proceedings of the second symposium. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons.
