EFFECT OF E-WASTE ON ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT
INTRODUCTION
E-waste is highly hazardous and the impact of its accumulation is not limited to the environment or the health of individuals in the areas alone. The impact of e-waste is also seen on the economic front as well as in developing countries where they are sent for disposal due to the lack of space. E-waste is generated when newer technology makes a device redundant or obsolete. For instance, PDAs became redundant with the introduction of smartphones and tablets. Similarly, newer technology tends to make older models of mobile phones obsolete, thus adding to the e-waste. Unfortunately, the electronic waste contains several harmful materials like lead, cadmium and so on that can destroy the environment. Similarly, the cost of disposal of the e-waste is also significant since landfills within the country are unable to cope up with the huge quantity of material to be disposed and hence need to be shipped to developing countries in Africa or Asia.
BACKGROUND
E-waste or electronic waste includes not only all discarded electronic goods at businesses or households, but also all such items that contain electrical components or circuitry. Thus the list of e-waste would include toasters, electric kettles, toys, remotes, washing machines, copiers, mobile phones, EPBAX systems and even the ever so humble adapters! Interestingly while all items listed as e-waste have been discarded by their owners without any intention of re-use; most of them can be recycled with the replacement or repair of minor components. Thus while the items listed as e-waste may have neared the end of their useful life or may have become redundant for the owners, there are still several ways in which their use can be prolonged. These obsolete or redundant items can easily find a new home and several more years of life at the very least (Dosomething.org, 2016).
THESIS STATEMENT
Effective disposal of e-waste is a major problem being faced by all countries and posing a major environmental threat to the world at large. The need for effective management of e-waste is a matter of grave concern and needs to be dealt with on a war footing to ensure the environmental safety of this planet. The economic repercussions of e-waste are equally damaging when they can be easily recycled and used by persons who would appreciate it.
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH E-WASTE DISPOSAL
While accumulating e-waste is easy, disposing it is a painful process plagued with several problems including overflowing landfills, the economic impact of e-waste disposal, and hazardous e-waste accumulating in the environment (Bostonelectronicwaste.com, 2016). While it is easy to say that electronic goods must be used as long as possible and recycled after use, the general tendency is to throw off all items that are redundant, obsolete or difficult to repair. Statistics show that almost 75 percent of all computers that are sold in the US end up accumulating dust while waiting to be recycled, reused, or disposed. The same situation is reflected all over the world.
OVERFLOWING LANDFILLS
An overwhelming 60 percent of e-waste makes its way to landfills. Unfortunately, most of these items still have a useful life left in them and can be reused after minor repairs or even in the ‘as is where is’ condition. For instance, DVD players that have become obsolete following the introduction of blu-ray technology can still be reused in countries where DVDs are considered a luxury. Similarly, mobile phones supporting 2G and 3G networks are still popular in several countries in Africa and Asia where the service providers are yet to upgrade to 4G services. Many of the items entering landfills are in need of minor repairs after which they can be passed off to the less privileged within the country itself. These e-waste emit harmful toxins that leech into the land and environment causing long term harm (Greenpeace International, 2016). Unfortunately, despite recycling almost 30 percent of all electronic waste is irrecoverably lost (Ifixit.org, 2016). The increase of e-waste are being fueled by the shift from analogue to digital technology, advances in mobile communication technology, a global preference for flat screen monitors and Televisions, and so on. The global economies of scale created post globalization have also create a consumerist society that has a huge demand for newer electronic goods that tend to make the present set of products redundant (Step-initiative.org, 2016). While several countries have initiated steps to ensure that e-waste is not disposed in landfills, it still continues in several other countries. The landfills in most developed countries are now unable to take in more e-waste as the decomposition period for these items is long and the product does not decompose completely. Many developed countries have taken t exporting e-waste to developing countries like China, India, Africa and the middle-east in a bid to overcome the situation in their home country.
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF E-WASTE DISPOSAL
The economic impact of e-waste disposal is huge. While refurbishing electronic items that have a useful life is an excellent option, often times the decision to scrape an item arises due to the difficulty in repairing it. Furthermore, the consumerist society of today prefers to go for a new item with the latest technology instead of trying to prolong the life of the older item. The e-waste thus accumulated tends to be items that are either redundant or obsolete as well as those needing minor repairs (Greenpeace International, 2016). When these items are disposed in landfills, the cost of preparing new landfills is huge as are the costs of moving the wastes from various locations to the disposal site. For items that can be recycles, the cost of building a recycle plant is considerable huge. While the cost would be recovered over time, the initial investment would be a considerable rain on the economic resources of the country. If steps for the disposal of these items are taken and the items shipped to developing counties, the cost of disposal tends to be higher as the shipping cost also needs to be factored in. It is a better option to try and donate the items in usable or repairable condition to these very same countries! While it would save a considerable amount on disposal costs, the shipment charges could be shared with the country receiving the donation, thus helping reduce the economic impact of disposal of e–waste while giving the poorer countries access to the e-waste (Ifixit.org, 2016). Similarly, if the disposal plant were to be set up in the countries that take up the disposal process, the investment would be significantly reduced since the labor costs are lower in these countries than developed countries.
HAZARDOUS E-WASTE ACCUMULATING IN THE ENVIRONMENT
E-waste is known to contain items of value as well as hazardous toxins. For instance mobile phones contain lead and cadmium in batteries that tend to leech into the soil in landfills post their disposal of owners who no longer need those items. Incineration releases metals like mercury, cadmium and lead into the atmosphere, which along with ashes creates air and food pollution. Plastic material if burnt releases furans and dioxins, both highly toxic byproducts Outsourcing the disposal of E-waste is also highly dangerous since the scrape yards in developing countries use cheap labor, usually children, to handle the disposal process; which increases the hazards of pollution besides causing harm to the children themselves (Greenpeace International, 2016). It is an accepted fact that the developing countries are not equipped with the requisite recycler plants to handle all the e-waste coming out of developed countries (Ifixit.org, 2016). The primary reason for which developing countries are ready to undertake the recycling of e-waste is for the scrape value that is generated. For example, recycling mobile phones helps recover metals like gold, silver and copper (Ewasteguide.info, 2016). Electronic waste that is classified as hazardous includes computer monitors and televisions containing cathode ray tubes; plasma Televisions; LCD televisions, desktop monitors and portable DVD players with LCD monitors (Dosomething.org, 2016). The simplest solution for the problem of e-waste management is to fix and reuse electronic items as long as possible. Recycling should necessarily be the last option and only recommended after the last useful life f the product is over (Ifixit.org, 2016). By adopting this measure, the concerns over processing of e-waste in places that do not have the facilities to manage the resources efficiently are addressed in the simplest and easiest manner (Step-initiative.org, 2016).
CONCLUSION
The magic formula on use of electronic goods is reduce, reuse and recycle. Reduce refer to the reduction in e-waste generation through smart purchasing and good maintenance of all electronic goods. Reuse refers to either selling or donating useable electronic discards. This includes all electronic equipment that can be used with minor repairs as well as those that can be used in their present condition. Recycle refers to taking out all useable components from those electronic goods that cannot be repaired. By using these 3 Rs effectively, it is possible to contain the harm caused by e-wastes to both environment and economy (Calrecycle.ca.gov, 2016).
REFERENCES
Bostonelectronicwaste.com. (2016). What is e-Waste?. [online] Available at: http://www.bostonelectronicwaste.com/go-green/what-is-ewaste [Accessed 8 Dec. 2016].
Calrecycle.ca.gov. (2016). What Is E-Waste?. [online] Available at: http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Electronics/WhatisEwaste/ [Accessed 8 Dec. 2016].
Dosomething.org. (2016). 11 facts About E-Waste | DoSomething.org | Volunteer for Social Change. [online] Available at: https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-e-waste [Accessed 8 Dec. 2016].
Ewasteguide.info. (2016). e-Waste Definition | ewasteguide.info. [online] Available at: http://ewasteguide.info/introduction/e-waste [Accessed 8 Dec. 2016].
Greenpeace International. (2016). Where does e-waste end up?. [online] Available at: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/detox/electronics/the-e-waste-problem/where-does-e-waste-end-up/ [Accessed 8 Dec. 2016].
Ifixit.org. (2016). The Problem with E-Waste - iFixit. [online] Available at: http://ifixit.org/ewaste [Accessed 8 Dec. 2016].
Step-initiative.org. (2016). What is e-waste? - Step 2014. [online] Available at: http://www.step-initiative.org/what-is-ewaste.html [Accessed 8 Dec. 2016].
