E waste

E-waste describes electronic products and equipment that have reached the end of their life cycle or have lost value to their current owners. When not properly disposed of or recycled, e-waste can emit pollutants and become a serious environmental problem. The increasing rate of e-waste is also concerning, especially in developing nations where the waste is shipped as a cheaper alternative for processing, often resulting in unsafe disposal methods. In 2019, a United Nations-backed report found that a record 53.6 million tons of electronic waste were thrown away worldwide; that number is expected to increase to 74.7 million tons by 2030. This amount of e-waste generated could fill more than 100 Empire State buildings. The report also found that in 2019 only 17.4% of that e-waste was collected and recycled, which means 82.6% of e-waste was not formally collected or managed in an environmentally friendly manner. Electronic Waste Definition Electronic waste is usually described as the result of end-of-life electric and electronic equipment (EEE) and is also known in the European Union as WEEE, which stands for waste from electrical and electronic equipment. These terms allow us to broaden what may be considered waste. Generated waste can usually be separated into different categories: large household appliances (washer and dryer units, refrigerators), IT equipment (personal laptops or computers), and consumer electronics (cell phones and televisions). Outside of these categori...

License and Republishing World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

How to properly recycle electronics Data Liability and security How to Prepare your Business Electronics for Recycling What is e-waste? And E-waste is electronic products that are unwanted, not working, and nearing or at the end of their “useful life.” Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are everyday electronic products. The ongoing challenge of how best to dispose of used and unwanted electronics isn’t a new one and dates back at least to the 1970s. But a lot has changed since then, particularly the number of electronics being discarded today. We E-waste Defined 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. List of Common E-waste Items: Home Appliances • Microwaves • Home Entertainment Devices • Electric cookers • Heaters • Fans Communications and Information Technology Devices • Cell phones • Smartphones • Desktop Computers • Computer Monitors • Laptops • Circuit boards • Hard Drives Home Entertainment Devices • DVDs • Blu Ray Players • Stereos • Televisions • Video Game Systems • Fax machines • Copiers • Printers Electronic Utilities • Massage Chairs • Heating Pads • Remote Controls • Television Remotes • Electrical Cor...

Contents • 1 Definition • 2 Quantity • 2.1 E-waste data 2016 • 2.2 E-waste data 2019 • 2.3 E-waste data 2021 • 2.4 E-waste data 2022 • 3 E-waste legislative frameworks • 3.1 Solving the e-waste Problem (StEP) initiative • 3.2 Waste electrical and electronic equipment • 3.3 European Commission legislation on batteries and accumulators (Batteries Directive) • 3.4 European Union directives on e-waste • 3.5 International agreements • 4 Global trade issues • 4.1 Trade • 4.2 Guiyu • 4.3 Other informal e-waste recycling sites • 4.4 Cryptocurrency e-waste • 5 Environmental impact • 6 Research • 7 Information security • 8 Recycling • 8.1 Consumer awareness efforts • 8.2 Processing techniques • 8.3 Benefits of recycling • 9 Repair as waste reduction method • 10 Electronic waste classification • 11 Electronic waste substances • 11.1 Hazardous • 11.2 Generally non-hazardous • 12 Human health and safety • 12.1 Residents living near recycling sites • 12.1.1 Prenatal exposure and neonates' health • 12.1.2 Children • 12.2 E-waste recycling workers • 12.2.1 Informal and formal industries • 12.2.2 Hazard controls • 13 See also • 14 References • 15 Further reading • 16 External links • Large household appliances, including cooling and freezing appliances • Small household appliances • IT equipment, including monitors • Consumer electronics, including televisions • Lamps and luminaires • Toys • Tools • Medical devices • Monitoring and control instruments and • Automatic dispensers These inclu...

E-waste [i] , also known as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world,according to the tsunami of e-waste , by the UN. Immediate action is required in order to protect human health and the environment from the consequences of inadequate handling and disposal of our discarded devices. Along with its clear challenges however, if treated through appropriate recycling methods, e-waste could offer economic returns worth over 62.5 billion dollars per year . ITU has a broad portfolio of activities in the area of e-waste and strives to tackle the challenges faced by this waste stream at the global, regional and national level. It focusses on a number of priorities in the area of e-waste, from conducting life-cycle analysis of products and processes, helping shift current economic models to a green and circular economy for ICT equipment, supporting policy and regulatory development, producing standards, improving and collecting worldwide e-waste data and helping raise awareness, globally, in order to make encourage accountability. ​​ ​​ National Po​licy and Regulatory Development​​ ​​ It is estimated that 39% of all countries are covered by e-waste (WEEE) policy, legislation or regulation. To assist Member States to balance their economic and social development with their environmental management, ITU provides a programme dedicated to policy and regulatory development. The programme is guided by ITU’s high-level targe...

Prof Richard Herrington, Head of Earth Sciences at the Museum, shares some tips for how to dispose of unwanted electronics and tells us about an innovative urban mining project. What is e-waste? E-waste (electronic waste) includes anything with plugs, cords and electronic components. Common sources of e-waste include televisions, computers, mobile phones and any type of home appliance, from air conditioners to children's toys. Current e-waste recycling solutions are just exporting the problem Recycling is a preferable option to sending valuable componentry to landfill, but it comes with its own ethical considerations. Processes are slow and inefficient, and nations are exporting the challenge to countries where labour laws and safety don't protect those doing the meticulous and dangerous work of processing e-waste for metal and mineral extraction. 'Whole computers are sent to China, Africa or India, where entire villages including children just sort components,' says Richard. 'What we need is to be manufacturing products here and keeping a better handle on where materials are within particular products. We should be designing them so they are more readily recyclable - better labelling and construction would allow componentry to be more readily reused and precious minerals, rescued from landfill.' How to recycle mobile phones, computers and other electronics Trying to work out what to do with unwanted or broken electronics? Take these four steps to give them a new lease on ...

Prof Richard Herrington, Head of Earth Sciences at the Museum, shares some tips for how to dispose of unwanted electronics and tells us about an innovative urban mining project. What is e-waste? E-waste (electronic waste) includes anything with plugs, cords and electronic components. Common sources of e-waste include televisions, computers, mobile phones and any type of home appliance, from air conditioners to children's toys. Current e-waste recycling solutions are just exporting the problem Recycling is a preferable option to sending valuable componentry to landfill, but it comes with its own ethical considerations. Processes are slow and inefficient, and nations are exporting the challenge to countries where labour laws and safety don't protect those doing the meticulous and dangerous work of processing e-waste for metal and mineral extraction. 'Whole computers are sent to China, Africa or India, where entire villages including children just sort components,' says Richard. 'What we need is to be manufacturing products here and keeping a better handle on where materials are within particular products. We should be designing them so they are more readily recyclable - better labelling and construction would allow componentry to be more readily reused and precious minerals, rescued from landfill.' How to recycle mobile phones, computers and other electronics Trying to work out what to do with unwanted or broken electronics? Take these four steps to give them a new lease on ...

How to properly recycle electronics Data Liability and security How to Prepare your Business Electronics for Recycling What is e-waste? And E-waste is electronic products that are unwanted, not working, and nearing or at the end of their “useful life.” Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are everyday electronic products. The ongoing challenge of how best to dispose of used and unwanted electronics isn’t a new one and dates back at least to the 1970s. But a lot has changed since then, particularly the number of electronics being discarded today. We E-waste Defined 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. List of Common E-waste Items: Home Appliances • Microwaves • Home Entertainment Devices • Electric cookers • Heaters • Fans Communications and Information Technology Devices • Cell phones • Smartphones • Desktop Computers • Computer Monitors • Laptops • Circuit boards • Hard Drives Home Entertainment Devices • DVDs • Blu Ray Players • Stereos • Televisions • Video Game Systems • Fax machines • Copiers • Printers Electronic Utilities • Massage Chairs • Heating Pads • Remote Controls • Television Remotes • Electrical Cor...

E-waste describes electronic products and equipment that have reached the end of their life cycle or have lost value to their current owners. When not properly disposed of or recycled, e-waste can emit pollutants and become a serious environmental problem. The increasing rate of e-waste is also concerning, especially in developing nations where the waste is shipped as a cheaper alternative for processing, often resulting in unsafe disposal methods. In 2019, a United Nations-backed report found that a record 53.6 million tons of electronic waste were thrown away worldwide; that number is expected to increase to 74.7 million tons by 2030. This amount of e-waste generated could fill more than 100 Empire State buildings. The report also found that in 2019 only 17.4% of that e-waste was collected and recycled, which means 82.6% of e-waste was not formally collected or managed in an environmentally friendly manner. Electronic Waste Definition Electronic waste is usually described as the result of end-of-life electric and electronic equipment (EEE) and is also known in the European Union as WEEE, which stands for waste from electrical and electronic equipment. These terms allow us to broaden what may be considered waste. Generated waste can usually be separated into different categories: large household appliances (washer and dryer units, refrigerators), IT equipment (personal laptops or computers), and consumer electronics (cell phones and televisions). Outside of these categori...

Contents • 1 Definition • 2 Quantity • 2.1 E-waste data 2016 • 2.2 E-waste data 2019 • 2.3 E-waste data 2021 • 2.4 E-waste data 2022 • 3 E-waste legislative frameworks • 3.1 Solving the e-waste Problem (StEP) initiative • 3.2 Waste electrical and electronic equipment • 3.3 European Commission legislation on batteries and accumulators (Batteries Directive) • 3.4 European Union directives on e-waste • 3.5 International agreements • 4 Global trade issues • 4.1 Trade • 4.2 Guiyu • 4.3 Other informal e-waste recycling sites • 4.4 Cryptocurrency e-waste • 5 Environmental impact • 6 Research • 7 Information security • 8 Recycling • 8.1 Consumer awareness efforts • 8.2 Processing techniques • 8.3 Benefits of recycling • 9 Repair as waste reduction method • 10 Electronic waste classification • 11 Electronic waste substances • 11.1 Hazardous • 11.2 Generally non-hazardous • 12 Human health and safety • 12.1 Residents living near recycling sites • 12.1.1 Prenatal exposure and neonates' health • 12.1.2 Children • 12.2 E-waste recycling workers • 12.2.1 Informal and formal industries • 12.2.2 Hazard controls • 13 See also • 14 References • 15 Further reading • 16 External links • Large household appliances, including cooling and freezing appliances • Small household appliances • IT equipment, including monitors • Consumer electronics, including televisions • Lamps and luminaires • Toys • Tools • Medical devices • Monitoring and control instruments and • Automatic dispensers These inclu...