From Guest Blogger Laura Williamson: Electronic Waste Disposal – Why You Need to Be Careful
In this TechEra, most of the people probably upgrade their electronics very often, they usually end up buying new phones or laptops. Most of all, companies and their marketing teams spend thousands of money just to make sure that people eagerly wait to buy their next iPad, Xbox or LED Tv. While all of us are busy buying new technology stuff, have you ever thought what happens to our old stuff?
Do you know in 2016 only 20% e-waste is disposed and properly recycled? According to the recent reports by United Nations electronic waste could rise by as much as 500% over the next decade.
Harmful Effects of Electronic Waste
When we do not dispose of gadgets or devices properly, these dangerous materials have a high risk of polluting the air, soil contamination, and leaching into water sources. Electronic waste includes hazardous chemicals like cadmium, lead, mercury, beryllium, and brominated flame retardants. These toxins have an adverse effect on human such as congenital disabilities, liver, kidney, brain, heart, and skeletal system damage. They also affect the nervous and reproductive systems of the human body.
Effects on Air
E-waste contributes to air pollution. Some of the electronic waste traffickers burn the electronic waste just to find the valuable commodity. For example- They burn computer wires to get the copper wires, which release toxins into the air causing air pollution. Proper Electronic recycling is hard to find these days and which is why E-Waste Management has become a significant concern.
Effects on Water
When electronic gadgets containing hazardous metals such as lead, mercury, lithium, barium etc. are disposed of improperly they leach through the soil to enter into the groundwater channels which ultimately end up floating at the water bodies. Contaminated water results in the death of animals and plants existing in water, sometimes it has seen that local communities often depend on these water bodies and intake of the contaminated water by humans and animals can result in the lead poisoning.
Effects on Soil
E-waste disposal when mishandled without any proper procedure and facilities can pollute soils near electronic waste by toxic organic compounds and heavy metals. These chemicals are non-biodegradable and enter the soil-crop-food-pathway which is one of common ways that toxic compounds enter the human body, plus they can persist in the environment for a longer period. Eventually, it directly impacts the health of human beings causing skeletal system damage, birth defects, heart, kidney and much more.
Information Security
The security threat is another risk that certainly no one wants to take. If storage devices are not appropriately formatted before it is thrown away, it can lead to a security risk to both businesses and individuals if falls into the wrong hands. Your financial data, credit card numbers or bank account information can all be obtained. There is an established crime ring in Ghana dedicated explicitly to search for data through discarded computer drives.
Conclusion- There are many ways to dispose of your e-waste or reuse it properly. You can also search for electronics retailers that offer opportunities to recycle your e-waste. You can also contact professional, experienced, environment-friendly e-waste recycling companies that are certified by Environment Agency for hazardous waste.
If you think we missed out on something or you have any tips or suggestions, then we would love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment box below.
