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eWaste: Trash or Trap – A Brief Commentary on Electronic Wastes

Author presses the need to address issues concerning exporting eWaste to developing/underdeveloped countries. Commentary by Madhu Kempaiah

In today’s world, every city dweller in every city in this world has one major weakness when it comes to possessions, that is, consumer electronics. The reason may be recent innovations in the electronics field, which has made life more comfortable in terms of easy access to entertainment, information, knowledge or just to be cool. It is estimated that consumer electronics industry has seen a much higher growth than pharmaceuticals or even food industry in the last two decades. According to recent survey by ABC News, Americans bought an estimated $125 billion worth of consumer electronics. That’s a lot of money and a lot of computers with desktop monitors, television sets, and cell phones and not to forget the revolutionary iPods.

Now, possessing these items of technology is not viewed as problematic, but more and more consumers are concerned about what happens when these products are discarded. According to Basel Action Network (BAN), a global network of organizations trying to prevent toxic trades, 80 percent of all eWaste collected for recycling and reuse are exported to developing countries starting with India, China, Pakistan and the African countries of Nigeria, Botswana, Uganda, Namibia and others. These countries use unconventional and often dangerous methods to recycle something which cannot be, in other words, worthless products. It is estimated that almost 95 percent of these wastes are not recyclable and definitely not reusable. As we all know there is nothing called 100 percent recyclable. There is always some form of waste. It is estimated that each desktop monitor contains at least 5 pounds of lead and significant amounts of cadmium and mercury which are all carcinogenic metals. Cell phones are hazardous even without their batteries because of the printed circuit boards which contain lead again. It is estimated that in the United States alone, 130 million cell phones will be discarded by 2005 resulting in 65,000 tons of cell phone wastes.

Unfortunately the US and Canada are the only two developed countries which have failed to control the export of hazardous electronics waste to developing countries. Though both these countries have convinced their electronic manufacturers to take responsibility for end-of-life of their products, the response has been either slow or dead. Europe and Japan have already passed legislation for End Products Responsibility (EPR) which requires manufacturers to take financial responsibility for taking back their products at end-of-life. They are also required to use more efficient and less toxic design of their products and are allowed to roll up the extra costs into price of their products. Doesn’t this seem like a much better idea?

So do we still buy these consumer electronics or just keep away from them since they can degrade the environment. How can one enjoy these marvels of the modern world without feeling guilty of creating a toxic pool somewhere else? Should we let companies re-label discarded laptops and such as recyclable or reusable and send it to a poor country? This is just trapping an ignorant society into accepting a ticking time bomb.

One solution for a concerned consumer might be to identify recycling agencies in your state recognized by BAN and take your old consumer electronics to be disposed off safely. These recyclers are aware of the problems of exporting eWaste and have pledged for doing the right thing and not the cheap thing. They will use efficient recycling technologies and not victimize the poor countries with toxic substance. And lastly pray to almighty lord for manufacturers to come up with cleaner and greener designs so that I can enjoy my digital possessions which I can’t seem to live without.

Posted by Moderator on January 15th, 2006 filed in comment Discuss now »