Despite legislation and growing public awareness, global levels of dangerous electronic waste are skyrocketing. E-waste, which is basically any electronic item that gets thrown in the garbage, often contains toxic substances like lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium. An ever-increasing rate of technological innovation combined with growing hyper-consumerism result in more and more purchasing of high-tech goods to replace the old. Older tablets, mobile phones, computers and televisions – seen as obsolete – often end up on the rubbish heap.
It doesn’t end there, however. There is a huge growing business in recycling e-waste – much of it illegal. For example, Interpol agents recently checked shipping containers leaving the European Union and found that nearly one in three housed illegal e-waste. The UN expects a surge in illegal e-waste destined for developing countries after the holiday season. That’s right – Santa has a special sack of your old junk for the poor kids to root through this year, ready to be re-smelted and breathed in as toxic smoke. Tis the season, eh?
Pic: Curtis Palmer (Flickr CC)
A study by the UN’s StEP initiative (Solving the E-Waste Problem), predicts that the amount of global e-waste will grow by 33% over the next 5 years to 65.4 million tons, equalling the weight of 200 Empire State Buildings or 8 great Egyptian pyramids, but not nearly as nice as either.
From the Guardian:
China generated 11.1m tonnes last year, followed by the US with 10m tonnes, though there was significant difference per capita. For example, on average each American generated 29.5kg, compared to less than 5kg per person in China.
In Europe, Germany discards the most e-waste in total, but Norway and Liechtenstein throw away more per person. Britain is now the world’s seventh most prolific producer, discarding 1.37m tonnes, or about 21kg per person.
As the world’s largest country and a technological powerhouse which just put a spaceship on the moon, it should come as no surprise that China is not only producing the most electronic goods, but also creating and importing e-waste in immense quantities.
Check out the StEP interactive map of countries, showing how much e-waste each generates and the regulatory instruments they have for dealing with e-waste.