Just handing over obsolete and outdated electronics to ewaste companies does not put an end to our responsibilities. We are answerable to the coming generations that will be taking our place in this world. Now that e-waste management regulations have become even tighter in several countries of Asia and Africa, it is becoming increasingly difficult for developed countries to get rid of their electronic waste like that. Such waste can no longer be moved to other regions / developing countries across the world and this is creating a wave of panic among millions of users. According to an independent study, several developing countries still lack the proper infrastructure and policies that are necessary to manage and remove e-waste from their environment. They do not have any plants or factories established to put that e-waste to reuse in any capacity. In order to ensure the safe disposal and prevention of any hazardous waste from seeping into their environment, these countries will need a lot of investment both in terms of skill, finance and resource capital.
Ewaste And Several Health Problems That It May Cause
According to the leading electronic recycling service providers in the city, electronic waste has been linked to a lot of health problems. They are present both in developed as well as developing countries. Diseases / issues such as:
Cancer
Neurological deformities
Respiratory disorders
Birth defects
Environmental pollution
Exposure to hazardous and toxic chemicals
And many more are some of the risks that are associated with unsuccessful e-waste management and disposal
Remember, the fight against e-waste and the way it is piling up is going to become endless if we do not act now. The biggest problem are the outdated regulations and rules that do not say anything about management of hazardous and toxic substances and chemical compounds present in the e-waste that we produce every year in tons. This is a very big hurdle that we still have to cross before we even get to the first steps of efficient e-waste management. Moreover, several regulations that we already have in place simply fail to address the disposal and management of e-waste in a way that no more harm comes to the environment in the process. Should we say that the process of getting rid of e-waste is going to create other environmental hazards? It seems so.
Developing Countries And Their Highly Ineffective Infrastructure For E Waste Management
Every developed country is a bit of a culprit in varying capacities but they all can play a role in the management and disposal of electronic waste produced on a yearly basis. A well-established system of e-waste management comprises separating, sorting, storing, collecting, transporting and disposing of e-waste.
Many of these countries do not have any of these processes automated. They still use manual labor to pick and sort, separate and segregate, store and transport hazardous used electronic components to recycling facilities and manufacturing units that are capable of putting them to reuse. Electronic waste components such as circuit boards, chips and wires, processors and conductors and many other complicated parts need to be disposed of very carefully and strategically. These countries lack the proper infrastructure to perform these processes effectively and efficiently. It is high time that we understood our responsibility and took steps to curb the production of electronic waste right at the source or come up with ways to reduce it before it is too late.
