Handling e-waste in developed and developing countries: initiatives, practices, and consequences
Suthipong Sthiannopkao1, Ming Hung Wong
1Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Dong-A University, 37 Nakdong-Daero 550 beon-gil Saha-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea.
The Science of the Total Environment
|August 4, 2012
Summary
Electronic waste (e-waste) disposal regulations are often circumvented due to costs, leading to toxic materials being illegally shipped to developing nations. This results in hazardous informal processing, harming environments and people.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
- Waste Management
Background:
- Discarded electronics contain toxic materials necessitating specialized disposal protocols.
- Developed nations implement regulations like extended producer responsibility for e-waste management.
- Economic disincentives often undermine compliance with e-waste disposal laws.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the global e-waste trade and its environmental and health implications.
- To analyze the challenges in enforcing e-waste regulations and extended producer responsibility.
- To highlight the hazardous informal processing of e-waste in developing countries.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of international e-waste trade flows, often obscured by intermediaries and misclassified shipments.
- Examination of disposal practices in developing countries, contrasting with regulatory intentions.
- Assessment of environmental and health risks associated with informal e-waste processing.
Main Results:
- Significant volumes of e-waste are exported from developed to developing countries due to disposal costs.
- E-waste is frequently treated as general refuse or processed using crude methods (burning, acid baths) in recipient countries.
- Release of dioxins, furans, and heavy metals during informal processing causes substantial environmental and health damage.
Conclusions:
- Current e-waste management strategies face challenges in ensuring compliance and preventing illegal exports.
- The informal e-waste processing sector in developing nations, though economically active, poses severe health and environmental hazards.
- The escalating generation of e-waste in developing regions necessitates urgent global attention and improved regulatory frameworks.
Related Concept Videos
01:43Sustainable Development
As the human population continues to grow and use resources, we must be mindful of our planet’s natural limits. Sustainable development provides a pathway to maintain and improve human life now while also ensuring that future generations will have the resources that they need. The long-term success of sustainability efforts rests on understanding the interplay between human actions and ecological systems.
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
01:28International Nursing Organizations II
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Geneva. The WHO has many initiatives that center around health. Primarily, they lead global efforts to expand universal health coverage using science-based policies and programs. They are also responsible for shaping health research agendas and developing norms and standards.
The WHO provides expert team support, including funding, vaccines, testing, and treatment tools at the country level to fight...
The WHO provides expert team support, including funding, vaccines, testing, and treatment tools at the country level to fight...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:28Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...