E-Waste E-Waste is short for Electronic-Waste and the term | UPSC Environment Ecology Prelims National Parks
E-Waste
E-Waste is short for Electronic-Waste and the term used to describe old, end-of-life or discarded electronic
appliances.
It is categorized into 21 types under two broad categories:
1. Information technology and communication equipment.
2. Consumer electrical and electronics.
3. E-waste includes their components, consumables, parts and spares.
It consists of toxic elements such as Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Chromium, Polybrominated biphenyls and
Polybrominated diphenyl.
E-waste consisting of gold, silver, copper, platinum and other high-value, recoverable materials was mostly dumped or burned rather than being collected for treatment and reuse.
It can cause some of the major health effects including serious illnesses such as lung cancer, respiratory problems, bronchitis, brain damages, etc. due to inhalation of toxic fumes, exposure to heavy metals and alike.
It is an environmental hazard causing groundwater pollution, acidification of soil and contamination of groundwater and air pollution due to the burning of plastic and other remnants.
Recent Developments - According to a recent United Nations University (UNU) report, global e-waste will increase by 38% in the decade between 2020 and 2030.
Asia generated the greatest volume (around 24.9 MT) followed by the Americas (13.1 MT) and Europe (12 MT). Africa and Oceania generated 2.9 MT and 0.7 MT respectively.
UNU is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organization headquartered in Japan.
UNU‘s mission is to resolve the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of the United Nations, its peoples and the member states.
