E-Waste: A Growing Problem
What is E-Waste?
E-Waste is a term assigned to electronics which are at the end of their useful life. Forced obsolescence, an increase in affordability and the continued integration of technology into everyday life has led to a noticeable excess of E-Waste generated by society. From 2014 to 2019, the volume of E-waste rose by 21% and as a result, has led to environmental damage, as well as increased risks to human health. In response to the growing problem, there is new interest in ensuring proper management of electronics through their lifecycles and further plans to see that they are disposed of safely.
The Impacts of Trashed E-Waste
Electronic devices contain toxic heavy metals and hazardous chemicals including lead, mercury and flame retardants -- when improperly discarded in landfills, these materials can leak into the environment and damage the surrounding ecosystem. In 2019, only 17.4% of E-waste was found to have been recycled properly, while the remaining waste had been illegally dumped in low or middle income countries. Beyond environmental impact, the materials listed above can have significant impacts on individuals as well. When e-waste is dumped illegally, it is often still recycled by informal workers who do not have the tools to safely extract the recyclable material from the devices. This then causes the workers to be exposed to the negative effects of the hazardous materials, including reproductive issues, birth defects and decreased lung function.
Lastly, improperly discarded technology can lead to personal financial information being stolen. As informal recycling is not subject to the same oversight as formal recyclers, there is no policy for wiping devices of their information -- as such, this has led to instances of individuals searching e-waste to access credit card numbers and other personal information.
Reusable E-Waste
While not all elements of E-waste are recyclable, valuable materials such as gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, lithium and cobalt can be found in electronic devices. In 2016, it was estimated that the value of recoverable materials in e-waste totaled $64.6 billion, but just 20% of that was actually recycled to enable material recovery. With the majority discarded, there is now a shortage of these necessary materials for manufacturers. As demand for such materials grows, action has been taken to expand recycling capacities through the implementation of accreditation programs for recyclers, and the introduction of financial incentives to informal recyclers in order to divert e-waste to formal facilities.
While recycling is an important aspect of decreasing E-waste, guaranteeing the right to repair can further lower the amounts generated. If a device is subject to copyright, then the consumer is not allowed to make repairs to the device and cannot take it to an unauthorized repair facility. In addition, it is often less expensive for a consumer to simply replace the device outright, instead of making repairs. Expanding access to the tools and materials necessary to make repairs to devices and permitting consumers to make their own repairs will lengthen the life of electronics, therefore preventing excess waste.
What Can You Do About E-Waste?
Be mindful of the electronics you purchase and how you care for them; evaluate their necessity and prevent battery overcharge.
Look for environmentally friendly devices; consider those with Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool certification and / or with an Energy Star Label.
Campaign for the right to repair; assist with the movement to give consumers greater control over their devices. Ifixit.org is currently working towards this, in addition to creating repair logs to guide individuals.
At the end of the day, when we all act, one small action can truly make a difference. If you enjoyed learning about E-Waste and would like to learn more about other sustainability topics, check out our collection of blog posts here.
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