E- Waste Management
Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the fastest-growing pollution evils worldwide. It has been proved that neglecting meticulous management of disposal protocols of toxic substances having the potential to contaminate the environment and threaten human health.
E-waste is any electrical or electronic equipment that’s been discarded. This includes working and broken items that are thrown in the garbage or donated to a charity reseller like Goodwill. Often, if the item goes unsold in the store, it will be thrown away. E-waste is particularly dangerous due to toxic chemicals that naturally leach from the metals inside when buried.
E-waste is growing exponentially simply because the markets in which these products are produced are also growing rapidly as many parts of the world cross over to the other side of the digital Divide'.
Rapid product innovations and replacement, especially in ICT and office equipment, combined with the migration from analog to digital technologies and to flat-screen TVs and monitors, for example, are fuelling the increase. Additionally, economies of scale have given way to lower prices for many electrical goods, which has increased global demand for many products that eventually end up as e-waste.
In summary, one can clearly grasp and understand the e-waste problem is of global concern because of the nature of production and disposal of waste in a globalized world. Although it is difficult to quantify global e-waste amounts, we do know that large amounts are ending up in places where processing occurs at a very rudimentary level. This raises concerns about resource efficiency and also the immediate concerns of the dangers to humans and the environment.
There is a long and often complicated chain of events in the e-waste problem, beginning from an idea that someone has for a new product and then its production, ending in its purchase and eventual disposal by the end-user. Solving the e-waste problem starts with education and habit changes as a result of knowledge.
Always look for information on the catalogue with your product for end-of-life equipment handling.
•Ensure that only Authorized Recyclers repair and handle your electronic products.
•Always call our E-waste Authorized Collection Centres/points to dispose of products that have reached end-of-life.
•Always drop your used electronic products, batteries or any accessories when they reach the end of their life at your nearest Authorized E-Waste Collection Centres/Points.
•Always disconnect the battery from product and ensure any glass surface is protected against breakage.
Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reduce your generation of e-waste through smart procurement and good maintenance. Reuse still functioning electronic equipment by donating or selling it to someone. Recycle those components that cannot be repaired. Most electronic devices contain a variety of materials, including metals, that can be recycled.
Because of its complex composition of valuable and hazardous substances, specialized, often "high-tech" methods are required to process e-waste in ways that maximize resource recovery and minimize potential harm to humans or the environment. Unfortunately, the use of these specialized methods is rare, with much of the world's e-waste traveling great distances, mostly to developing countries, where crude techniques are often used to extract precious materials or recycle parts for further use. These "backyard" techniques pose dangers to poorly protected workers and their local natural environment.
E-waste contains many valuable, recoverable materials such as aluminum, copper, gold, silver, plastics, and ferrous metals. In order to conserve natural resources and the energy needed to produce new electronic equipment from virgin resources, electronic equipment can be refurbished, reused, and recycled instead of being landfilled.
•E-waste also contains toxic and hazardous materials including mercury, lead, cadmium, beryllium, chromium, and chemical flame retardants, which have the potential to leach into our soil and water.
•Protects your surroundings- Safe recycling of outdated electronics promotes sound management of toxic chemicals such as lead and mercury.
•Conserves natural resources- Recycling recovers valuable materials from old electronics that can be used to make new products. As a result, we save energy, reduce pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save resources by extracting fewer raw materials from the earth.
•Helps others - Donating your used electronics benefits your community by passing on ready-to-use or refurbished equipment to those who need it.
•Saves landfill space - E-waste is a growing waste stream. By recycling these items, landfill space is conserved.
Do not dismantle your electronic Products on your own.
•Do not throw electronics in bins having a “Do not Dispose of” sign.
•Do not give e-waste to informal (Kabbadi) and unorganized sectors like Local Scrap Dealer/ Rag Pickers.
•Do not dispose of your product in garbage bins along with municipal waste that ultimately reaches landfills.