The electronic waste (e-waste) or technological , as its name indicates, is that from electronic materials. It is also known by the acronym RAEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Devices).
With the advancement of technology in the modern world, there is an excess of electronic waste which can cause several negative impacts on the environment.
Electronic Junk Examples
- Computers
- Tablets
- Monitors
- Keyboards
- Printers
- Photo Cameras
- Sound system
- Electronic Lamps
- Televisions
- Fridge
- Cooker
- Microwave
- Radios
- Phones
- Cell phones
- Chargers
- Batteries
- Stacks
- Wires
Electronic Waste and the Environment
Electronic waste is produced by materials of inorganic origin, for example, copper, aluminum, heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, beryllium and lead).
They can compromise the environment since they are made up of very polluting elements which are absorbed by the soil and groundwater, compromising the ecological balance.
In addition to polluting the environment, contact with these products can lead to various diseases for animals and humans.
Electronic Waste Recycling
Statistics show that around 50 million tons of electronic waste are produced annually worldwide, with 10 million being recycled in China.
However, it is worth noting that this process can be carried out by exploiting people, even children and the elderly.
A notable example of this exploitation as well as the excess of electronic waste produced in the world is the city of Guiyu, in China, where thousands of people work separating this waste.
This process can be highly dangerous for the human beings who perform it, given the elements present in this type of waste, that is, heavy and radioactive metals. Studies show that the region’s soil and water courses are already contaminated by electronic products.
With the increase in globalization and technology, new electronic devices are launched in a short time, which leads people to change their devices even though they are still working.
To better illustrate, data indicate that in the United States, about 300 million electronic devices are discarded annually, with six out of ten still in perfect working condition.
In such a way, what may seem like a simple act of consumption, this type of action has a great impact on the environment, such as soil, water and air pollution.
It is worth remembering that the companies that manufacture these products use a technique called “programmed obsolescence”, that is, they offer an expiration time for these products, which leads consumers to consume more and more.
Thus, given the amount of electronic waste produced in the world, the best alternative is the recycling of these products.
Electronic Waste Collection and Disposal
Currently, many companies that manufacture and are responsible for much of the pollution from electronic products are betting on sustainability actions and, therefore, offer appropriate places for the disposal of these devices.
In the meantime, the company itself recycles these materials, generating new ones. There are still cases where people take their used devices and exchange for a new one, upon payment of the difference.
An important fact is that about 80% of all electronic waste produced by developed countries, is transported to poor countries, mainly from Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Electronic Waste in Brazil
In Brazil, the increase in the sale of electronic products in recent decades has created major environmental problems such as pollution of the environment. Among the underdeveloped countries, Brazil is the country that generates the most electronic waste in the world.
State Law No. 13,576, of July 6, 2009, establishes rules and procedures for recycling, management and final disposal of technological waste:
“Article 1 – The products and electronic components considered technological waste must receive an appropriate final destination that does not cause damage or negative impacts to the environment and to society.
Sole paragraph – The responsibility for the final destination is jointly and severally between companies that produce, sell or import electronic products and components. ”
Data from UNEP (UN Environment Program) indicate that Brazil annually discards about 97 thousand metric tons of computers; 2.2 thousand tons of cell phones; and 17,200 tons of printers.
In 2014, the UN (United Nations) declared that Brazil produced 1.4 million tons of electronic waste.
These values are frightening and, therefore, we must be aware of their damage and start to have an ethical and responsible attitude with the correct disposal of electronic products, whether manufacturers or consumers.
Awareness campaigns need to be promoted in order to alert the world population of the importance of separating these and other types of waste with the correct disposal.
Although not all cities in Brazil collect and recycle electronic waste, currently around 720 cities have this service. However, the country is still far from being able to collect these materials on a large scale.
Consequences and Possible Solutions
Given the negative consequences that this type of waste can cause in the environment, the best solution is the correct disposal in companies or cooperatives that receive these materials and take them for recycling.
This simple act ensures that the environment is not polluted and also favors the economy by reusing materials that can be recycled.
In addition to disposal in appropriate places, donations of functioning devices to social entities can help to reduce this problem.