We find ourselves at ease while living in an electronic world but has anyone ever thought of the hazardous effect of improper disposal of e-waste? In a disquieting revelation, Achim Steiner, head of the UN’s Environment Programme (UNEP) said in Nairobi that the world’s richest nations are dumping hazardous electronic waste on poor African countries and the swiftly mounting consumerism is accounting for a “growing mountain of e-waste“. He further stated that the improper dumping of 50-million tones of waste from discarded electronic commodities on annual basis is discharging harmful chemicals into the environment.
Perilous waste found in electronic goods:
Some of the components of the electronic goods that can release hazardous waster into the environment are mentioned below.
•Lead-found in cathode ray tubes
•Arsenic-found in older cathode ray tubes
•Selenium-used in circuit boards
•Cadmium-found in circuit boards and conductors
•Chromium-used as a corrosion protective in steel
•Mercury-used in switches, batteries, and housing
When these electronic goods are disposed off in an improper way, they release hazardous chemicals into the surroundings. The potential dangers are obvious. It could pose danger to both the central and nervous system, lead to seizures, retardation, high blood pressure, harm the kidneys, liver, and badly affect the child development.
What is the reason behind improper disposal of e-waste?
Technology is moving ahead at a swift pace and the electronic goods we buy today go out of date in a short span of time. Moreover, the declining cost of electronic goods is adding to more and more disposal of electronic commodities. While a large portion of the waste was dumped into the Asian countries earlier but stringent regulations has made Africa a place for dumping of e-waste now. A recent study by the Basel Action Network propounded the fact that almost 100,000 computers are landing in the Nigerian port of Lagos monthly. After that, the same old technique of burning this e-waste is used that ends up with the release of toxic fumes and hazardous chemicals into the environment.
What are the plans of the International force?
Sachiko, Basel Convention Executive Secretary said:
We need to shine a brighter light on hazardous wastes - where they come from and where they end up.
The conference will evaluate modifications to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal which will tauten controls on shipments and discarding of e-waste. The convention will deal with the regulations of waste in all of its forms, including e-waste. It has been signed by more than 160 countries at the moment. Recently, toxic fumes produced by the disposed waste on Ivory Coast lead to the killing of 10 people and over 70,000 were affected adversely. Achim Steiner further said:
I sincerely hope that the tragedy in Cote D’Ivoire and the challenges of e-waste will serve as a wake up call to the Parties of the Basel Convention and other related treaties.
If the improper disposal of electronic goods continues in the same manner, the day is not far when we will be witnessing a mountain of e-waste and landfill overseas. Well, I think proper recycling of electronic goods can really help protect the earth from this disaster. Moreover, it will be a colossal waste if we can not repossess a bunch of things for reuse.
Via: news.bbc
