Everything you need to know about e-waste recycling
E-waste refers to electronic appliances that have reached the end of their life, such as washing machines, cell phones, refrigerators, computers, TVs, and microwaves. Electronics consists of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, glass, circuit boards, wood, plastic, rubber, ceramics etc.
The main components of e-waste are steel and iron (about 50%), non-ferrous metals (about 13%) such as aluminum, copper, plastic (about 21%), and precious metals, such as gold, silver, palladium, platinum, etc. Electronic waste (e-waste) is a rapidly growing waste that is increasingly becoming a major environmental problem around the world.
Health hazards of e-waste
Illegal dumping and landfilling of e-waste contribute to toxic chemicals to the environment. Some of the techniques used to recycle e-waste include acid dissolution and burning, often with little protection for the environment and human health.
Consumers and workers are often exposed to chemicals present in electronics throughout their life cycle, workers involved in unprotected e-waste management are exposed to health problems through inhalation and skin contact. These workers are often found to have high levels of flame retardants in their blood, which results from exposure to polluted air.
E-waste management
E-waste contains various toxic elements like mercury, lead, selenium, arsenic and chromium. Unlike industrial and municipal waste, e-waste requires special handling techniques due to the presence of toxic, expensive and valuable materials.
Proper management of e-waste calls for effective efforts to recover base and recyclable materials, especially precious metals and copper. However, due to insufficient facilities for recycling, strict environmental regulations and high labor costs, many countries resort to exports or landfills to dispose of e-waste.
Millions of e-wastes are generated annually with a significant fraction ending up in landfills and dumpsites. According to research findings, only 15% to 20% of e-waste is recycled, while the rest is dumped in developing countries.
E-waste recycling facility
E-waste recycling offers a better alternative to electronic waste disposal. The benefits of e-cycling are many. First and foremost, it helps conserve natural resources. Electronics contain valuable materials such as aluminum, copper, and gold that can be recycled to create new products, conserving natural resources. Second, recycling helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Generally, using recycled materials helps to consume less energy than using virgin materials, and when less energy is used, fewer greenhouse gasses are emitted. Third, e-cycling helps protect the environment and our health. Small amounts of toxins in electronics released into water, air and soil can prove dangerous. Therefore, e-cycling helps protect the environment and our health by keeping these toxic materials out of landfills.
Check out more information, if you are looking for an e-waste recycling company.