What is E-waste?

Any broken or unwanted electrical or electronic appliance is being referred to as E-waste. E-waste is currently the most rapidly growing waste problem in the world.

What are some of the effects of E-waste?

E-waste is very damaging to  health because of the materials used in the making of electronics such as lead and beryllium. Some of the effects of being to close to the e waste landfills are: birth defects, brain damage, heart damage, lung damage, spleen damage, kidney damage, nervous system damage, and skeletal system damage. E-waste is also damaging to the eco-system affecting the quality of water, soil and air.

Where is all this E-waste happening?

Many people ask “Where is all of this happening?”. The sad truth is that it is happening in many different places around the world but mostly in the  welthier countries like the USA where there is so much electronic garbage that they don’t know what to do with it, so they dump it on the countries with poverty like many places in Ghana and China and India. For example Guiyu in China is known as the e-waste capital of the world.

What is the actual problem with E-waste?

The use of electric and electronic equipment is multiplying fast around the world but mostly in the wealthier countries. This creates a fast growing problem. The wealthier countries get the benefit of getting the e-waste out of their country as the less developed country want the money they can get from the gold and copper used in many electronics. The problem is that the e waste covers large landfills which are burned to extract the metals from circuits, wires and cables causing pollution to the planet and harming the nearby population - particularly children who are most voulnerable.

What are some actions taken against E-waste?

• In 2004 Zero Waste international Alliance was created, promoting the concept of recycling all resources and putting no waste in landfills. Read more here
• In March 2012 UN Agreed on Priority Actions for Managing E-Waste in Africa. Read more here
• In Canada EHF (Environmental Handling Fees) became mandatory in 2013 to all stores selling electronic equipment in Canada. Read more here.
• Currently an increasing number of stores like Best Buy, The Source and Staples have electronics recycling programs. Best Buy for example allows consumers to give back their used or broken electronics to safely and properly recycle used electronic products. Read more here
• In Mississauga Sims Recycling Solutions officially opens its 287,000-sq.-ft. e waste facility in 2011 on Tomken Rd., at Courtneypark Dr. E   Read more here.

How can you help?

• Re-use. You can donate your functioning electronics that you don’t use anymore to places that can distribute them to others in need (e.g.. schools)
• Recycle correctly. Check here for the place close to you where you can recycle your electronics.
• Support organizations who research and advocate about e waste.
• Inform those who don’t know about this topic.
• Come up with some good ideas or inventions to better resolve this issue in the world.