Accumulation of Electronic Waste Internationally

At the international level, the effect of e-waste generation depends on the extent of economic development and infrastructure in the nation. China generates the highest e-waste in the world, with over 10 million tons being produced annually. However, the country has been making great strides towards implementing a circular economy, for instance, developing a national e-waste recycling infrastructure network. Conversely, the United States has also been blamed for bad legislation and enforcement, with the result that there is little accountability in the management of e-waste. In different societies, people believe differently about e-waste. In developed countries, people have a greater perception of the issue and most of them are acting to reduce their e-waste impact through techniques such as repairing and recycling. But in developing countries, where they lack recycling and disposal facilities as well as materials, the issue is generally overlooked. I believe strongly that a circular economy must be promoted in efforts to reduce the generation of e-waste and retard its devastating impact on the environment as well as public health.

According to a report by the United Nations University, e-waste generation is projected to reach 74 million tons in 2030, a 17% increase from 2014. According to the same report, Asia generates the largest amount of e-waste at 24.9 million tons in 2014. All this is due to rapidly developing technology, increased use of electronic devices and ineffective e-waste management systems. Therefore, harmful chemicals like lead, cadmium and mercury emitted from e-waste cause serious harm to the environment as well as to human health. For instance, exposure to lead can harm the nervous system, brain and kidneys, whereas cadmium exposure results in kidney damage and cancer. But when disposed of in a proper manner, e-waste can result in beneficial effects like the generation of employment opportunities in the recycling industry and the harvesting of precious resources.

India generates an estimated 3 million tons of e-waste annually and it is estimated that this amount will increase to 5.2 million tons in 2021. Unfortunately, 20% of India's e-waste is recycled, with the rest being disposed of in landfill sites or incinerated, causing pollution and health damage. A recent Indian study has documented that e-waste exposure resulted in respiratory and neurological problems among the workers involved in dismantling and recycling. However, measures such as the E-Waste Management Rules, 2016, have been taken for its mitigation. As per these laws, the producers are required to be responsible for e-waste disposal and collection centers have been set up to dispose of e-waste. E-waste disposal can lead to the recovery of precious metals such as gold, silver and copper, and create jobs for the recycling sector.

The impact of e-waste is not localized to any nation or region but has global repercussions. However, different countries contribute to e-waste production and management to different degrees. China and the United States, for example, are the second and third largest e-waste producers in the world, respectively. But they possess better e-waste management policies than other developing countries, such as India. Culturally, people in different regions of the world also differ in their attitudes towards e-waste management. For example, in some regions e-waste is viewed as a precious commodity that can be resold or reused, while in others it is disposed of. Such differences in attitudes among different cultures can greatly affect e-waste management across the world.

Sources:

Global E-waste Statistics Partnership. (2020). The global e-waste monitor 2020. United Nations University

Zhang, L. (2021). The e-waste dilemma: How China took the lead in developing a circular economy. Environmental Science & Technology, 55(7), 3786-3788.

United Nations University. (2020). Global e-waste surging: up 21% in 5 years.

Asnani & Priyanka, (2020). Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, 2016