E-Waste Essay – 500 Words
With the rapid developments and upgrades in technology the old outdated systems are dumped or scraped away this results in E-Waste, usually the waste of tech related products or software programs. These unwanted, non working or old tech products which have become of no use are discarded as e- waste. These included electronic products like laptops, palm tops, computer desktops, mobile phones, televisions, refrigerators etc.
Treatment of E-Waste.
The developed countries produce loads of e-waste every year. Thus do not have suitable recycling or dumping grounds for this e-waste. Therefore the e-waste is illegally exported to the other developing and under developed nations like China, Malaysia, Nigeria, India and Pakistan. Since the cost of treatment plants of e-waste is very high in the developed countries.
In the developing countries, this waste is dumped in local scrapyards and the local residents, factory owners, and the workers are allowed to freely collect the valuable items from this waste as per their needs. Some of them collect these e-waste refurbish the products and sell them in the black markets. The essential parts of the e-waste products are collected to restore some electronics products and resell them in the market.
Harmful effects of E -Waste.
The dumping of e-waste in open grounds can cause serious health issues to the e-waste collectors and surrounding region. The e-waste kept in open can release harmful toxins. These toxins can also affect the environment and the soil, thereby affect the lives of humans and animals. These toxic chemicals can also penetrate into ground water and cause serious water pollution issues.
These toxins can cause defects in the kidney, liver, heart and skin and bone damage. They are also known to have a seriouseffects on the nervous and reproductive systems of the human body.
The burning of computer boards and cells can produce very harmful toxins which can lead to cancerous disease.
Measures to reduce e-waste
A lot of e-waste can be reused, certain parts and components of e-waste which includes copper, aluminium, lead, iron, silicon and be reused to save the environment from detrimental effects of e-waste.
E-wasteist not be dumped in open spaces or grounds which can cause severe health issues and pollution to the environment. These e-waste must be treated carefully and disposed in closed space. Specially treatment plants for e-waste must incorporated.
Many companies like Dell, Apple, Microsoft and HP have started the concept of rebuying and recycling e-waste, which they can further use to manufacture or refurbish their products. This will help in rampant dumping of e-waste and reduce the overall e-waste within a country.
Some companies like Amazon and Flipkart have started exchange of old products while upgrading to a new product. So if one wants to purchase a new mobile phone he can do so by exchanging his old phone and avail a certain discount on the overall price of the new phone purchase. This process has also helped in reducing and recycling of e-waste.
Conclusion
E-waste is rapidly growing with new technology and upgrade or products day by day. However one must take responsibility and understand the use of these products and the harmful effects of recklessly dumping e-waste. Certain principles should be laid down for dumping e-waste. Just like garbage collection, there should be separate e-waste collect drive or resale of old products which will help users in reducing e-waste within the country and reduce its harsh effects consistently.
FAQs
- What is e-waste?
Ans. E-waste is the waste of obsolete, old, unwanted tech or electronic products which have been outdated and are no more of any use.
- What are the effects of e-waste?
Ans. Can cause serious health issues, like damage to liver, heart, skin, bone ,as well as brain. Causes toxic pollution to the environment.
- Which countries have the highest e-waste?
Ans. USA, Russia, Canada, Japan.
For more update follow net explanations page