Electronic waste or e-waste, a 21st century phenomena, refers to the broken or obsolete computers, printers, televisions, stereos, and telephones that have now entered the world’s waste stream. Greenpeace International estimates that globally more than 20-50 million tons of e-waste is generated each year. Discarded electronics now take up as much space in landfills as plastic packaging. By 2008, more than 2 billion personal computers will have been sold around the globe. Unfortunately, most electronic goods now have a shelf life of only 2 years.
More than 20-50 million tons of e-waste is generated each year.
Basel Convention
In the mid-1980s, toxic traders started shipping hazardous e-waste to developing countries to avoid tighter environmental regulations in industrialized countries. After incidents of illegal e-waste dumping made headlines around the globe, the Basel Convention, an international treaty comprised of 170 countries, was set up in 1992 to limit the shipment of e-waste to developing countries. However, hazardous e-waste continues to find its way into landfills and oceans around the world.
Environmental Hazards
Most electronic waste includes toxic substances like lead, cadmium brominated flame-retardants, phosphorous coatings, mercury and PVC plastics that create dioxins when burned. Environment Canada explains the need to properly dispose of e-waste with; ‘These heavy metals and other substances found in electronic products can pose elevated risks to human health and the environment if they are not properly managed.’
What You Can Do
Think carefully before you buy more electronic goods. If you decide to proceed with an electronic purchase, contact the companies and find out their policies on returning discarded or broken items and how much of the product will be recycled.
Recycle any used electronic goods. Many countries are now offering electronic waste reclamation and/or recycling programs. Always do a bit of homework to ensure the recycling programs are legitimate and the electronic waste will not be shipped to another country for disposal.
Resources
The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is a global environmental agreement on hazardous and other wastes: http://www.basel.int/
Basel Action Network (BAN) works to change the global environmental injustice and economic inefficiency of toxic trade (toxic wastes, products and technologies): http://www.ban.org/
Visit Greenpeace International’s E-waste Hall of Shame and find out how electronic companies rank for their green practices.
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