Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, is the fastest growing component of municipal waste worldwide with 20-50 million tonnes generated annually. In the United States alone, 14-20 million PCs are thrown out each year. Finding new methods and locations to dispose of this waste is becoming problematic. E-waste is laden with toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium that can leach into water, soils and the atmosphere, posing significant environmental and human health risks.

Exporting E-Waste to Developing Countries

The high toxicity of electronic waste makes its safe disposal expensive, especially in countries with strict environmental regulations. Industrialized countries often circumvent these high costs by selling electronic waste to developing countries where environmental standards are low or nonexistent and working conditions are poor. However, most developing countries lack the waste removal infrastructure and technical capacities necessary to ensure the safe disposal of hazardous waste. As a result, e-waste has been linked to a variety of health problems in developing countries, including cancer, neurological and respiratory disorders, and birth defects.

http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/mobile_phones_per_1000_people

http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/personal_computers_per_1000_people

Map Designer: Philippe Rekacewicz, UNEP/GRID-Arendal

E-Waste Disposal Options

There are four ways in which e-waste is disposed of:

Landfills may be problematic due to the potential for toxic chemicals to leach into surrounding soils and water. Although there is disagreement regarding the reality of this concern, many European countries have already outlawed the practice. The problem remains acute in developing countries, however, where people are more likely to live in close proximity to a landfill.

Incineration releases heavy metals and highly toxic fumes into the air, which cause respiratory and skin problems to those exposed. In developing countries where organized trash collection is often absent, it is typical for people to burn garbage in their backyards or neighborhoods.

Reuse is common in developing countries where there is high demand for inexpensive, second-hand electronics. However, 25 to 75 percent of used electronics shipped to developing countries are obsolete.

Recycling electronics for valuable raw materials is a profitable endeavor in developing countries where the costs of recycling are lowest. Most recycling is done by hand in scrap yards, however, exposing workers and neighboring communities to significant health risks.

The Basel Convention: Regulating the E-Waste Trade

The 1992 Basel Convention is an international treaty signed by 169 countries to regulate the international trade of hazardous waste. The Convention's central goal is "environmentally sound management" (ESM), which involves controlling hazardous waste from its production to its storage, transport, reuse, recycling, and final disposal. In addition, the Basel Ban Amendment was adopted in 1995 to outlaw the transfer of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries. The Amendment has not yet entered into force, but several countries have already implemented the ban, including the European Union and China. However, illegal trading is pervasive and those who benefit from the waste trade continue to strongly oppose a global ban.

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_of_waste_among_parties_to_the_basel_convention

Map Designer: Philippe Rekacewicz, UNEP/GRID-Arendal

Potential Solutions

A major driver of the growing e-waste problem is the short lifespan of most electronics--less than two years for computers and cell phones. Some believe that if electronics manufacturers had to take back their products at the end of their life cycle (known as extended producer responsibility), they would create less toxic and longer-lasting electronics that are easier to disassemble and recycle. The Basel Convention has initiated a four-year partnership with 12 mobile phone manufacturers, including Nokia, Motorola, and Samsung, to develop recycling and re-use strategies.

RELATED LINKS:

Basel Action Network

World Forum on E-Waste

US Environmental Protection Agency, Information on e-cycling

EarthTrends

Toxic Trade: The Real Cost of Electronics Waste Exports from the United States

Data on mobile phone, personal computer, and television use