A WEEE problem

When it comes to devices such as smartphones, tablets and computers, rapid technological advances over the last decade or two has meant cheaper and more powerful gadgets being made readily available at our fingertips. However, this rapid pace of evolution has raised the rate of device obsolescence, meaning the frequency at which devices are being upgraded and replaced has also increased. Website www.ifixit.org states that the average American keeps their mobile phone for a mere 18 months.

This has led to the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) becoming a major issue – with around 750,000 tonnes of EU WEEE simply being thrown in the bin every year, with only a third of e-waste ending up in official collection and recycling programmes. Indeed, www.ifixit.org has also stated that a single year’s worth of US e-waste would outweigh all the blue whales currently alive today!

Some of the substances employed in the manufacture of electronics can be highly toxic and as such, can present a very real hazard to both the environment and health if they are not disposed of correctly. These elements include asbestos, batteries, printed circuit boards and printer toner cartridges, and if these toxic elements are dumped in landfill sites and subsequently escape into the water table for example, then the potential consequences could be huge. In addition, other substances such as gold, lead, nickel, silver, tin and zinc are extremely valuable which has in turn, led to theft of components and materials from e-waste.

In developing countries, organised recycling schemes have emerged where the collection and recycling of e-waste is funded by the manufacturers, importers and distributors. This is represented in the EU as the WEEE Directive which has introduced tough restrictions on illegal waste export. However, despite these tighter controls, there is still an issue in developing countries (where a lot of e-waste is shipped) and this is leading to environmental and health problems being created by the open burning of plastics, widespread general dumping, and malpractices associated with improper dismantling and treatment of e-waste. Obviously this e-waste can’t degrade in these heavily populated digital dumps, and so accumulate, contaminating the soil and groundwater.

Despite the environmental and health cost of e-waste, there is also the financial consequences to be considered. As mentioned, modern electrical and electronic products often contain precious, useful and sometimes critical raw materials that are in short supply. This represents billions of pounds worth of resources that are potentially reusable.

As the global population increases, the amount of electronics we consume and discard will also rise. Therefore, the requirement for proper laws, regulations and procedures governing e-waste is vital.