E-Waste-An important global Environmental and Health Issue Shuying Wu ITS 360

What is E-WASTE? Types Of E-WASTE E-Waste is an abbreviation of the term electronic waste. It is a waste of electronics/ electrical goods that have reached their end of life. Types Of E-WASTE Tele communication waste (Mobile phone/ PC and TV) Electrical waste (Switches/ Wires/ Relays) Electronic wastes (Printed circuit boards/ IC/ Socket connectors)

Case Overview Definition: E-waste describes discarded electronic and IT devices destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal. E- Waste direction: Between 50 percent and 80 percent of the world’s e-waste is shipped to sites in China, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) gives the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the authority to control hazardous waste, including the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of such waste. Introduced United States, the largest generator of e-waste worldwide, is the only industrialized nation that has not yet ratified the Basal Convention. Taking Dell as an example, which has became the first in the IT industry to ban the export of nonworking electronics and e-waste to developing countries by its employees and business partners. Dell have strong reputations for social and environmental responsibility

Problem Statement E- Waste is one of the fastest growing segments of our nation’s waste stream. It encompasses all broken, unusable, or outdated electronic devices, components, and materials. In addition, e-waste also encompasses items that can be e-cycled (electronics that are going to be reused, resold, salvaged, or recycled). Several methods have been proposed in order to combat this. Perhaps the most popular of these is the simplest recycle. E-cycling is reusing, of pieces of electronic equipment and their components at the end of their life cycle. General recycling is a practice that is of great global importance for a huge number of reasons but the importance of may have them all beat. However, the effects that are known have a very real global impact on the Earth’s air, water, and soil. Hence, as a part of the society, we have the responsibility to keep the Earth clean. We should take action on it.

E-Waste generated by different countries Country Total e-Waste Generated tones/year Categories of Appliances counted in e-waste Year Source Switzerland 66,042(*) Office & Telecommunications Equipment, Consumer Entertainment Electronics, Large and Small Domestic Appliances, 2003 8 Germany 1,100,000 Consumer Entertainment Electronics, Large and Small Domestic Appliances, Refrigerators, Fractions 2006 9 UK 915,000 Office & Telecommunications Equipment, Consumer Entertainment Electronics, Large and Small Domestic Appliances, Refrigerators, Fractions 1998 10 USA 2,124,400 Video Products, Audio Products, Computers and Telecommunications Equipment 2000 11 Taiwan 14,036 Computers, Home electrical appliances (TVs, Washing Machines, Air conditioners, Refrigerators) 12 Thailand 60,000 Refrigerator, Air Conditioners, Televisions, Washing Machines, Computers 13 Denmark 118,000 Electronic and Electrical Appliances including Refrigerators 1997 14 Cananda 67,000 Computer Equipment (computers, printers etc) & Consumer Electronics (TVs) 2005 15 E-Waste generated by different countries Source: E-Waste Management in India- Consumer Voice, April 2009

Solutions for E-Waste Reducing is the first step and is really quite basic: reduce the amount of technology you intake as well as what you are planning to outtake. Designing better products, which are safer, more durable, repairable and recyclable. The right to repair and be able to reuse the products. Better recycling

What Can We Do About the Growing E-waste Problem? To resist buying a new device until you really need it. Try to get your old product repaired if possible and if it can’t be fixed, resell or recycle it responsibly. Before you recycle your device, seal up any broken parts in separate containers so that hazardous chemicals don’t leak.  Find a responsible recycler that has E-Steward label, who has been certified to meet the cleanest and most responsible standards for e-waste recycling

Outcomes of the case Brings up the problem of E-Waste. States the importance about E-Waste as an important global environmental and health issue. Raises our attention about E-Waste and make us realize the severity of it. In term of pushing us to take action on reducing E-waste.

E-waste: How big of a problem is electronic waste? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyIpG7UJKyI

E-Waste is not only a problem in America, but globally E-Waste is not only a problem in America, but globally. Unwanted electronics from first world countries are often donated to third world countries in Africa and Asia. We might not noticed about the effects of E-Waste and not realize how seriously it is. However, its influences are global and serious. E-Waste around the World

Bibliography DIT. Environmental management for Information Technology industry in India, Department of Information Technology, Government of India, 122-124 (2003) “What Can We Do About the Growing E-Waste Problem?” State of the Planet, 27 Aug. 2018, http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2018/08/27/growing-e-waste-problem/. Reynolds, George Walter. Ethics in Information Technology. Cengage, 2019. “Case Study.” E, http://e-wastemanaging.weebly.com/case-study.html. N.A. "E-waste Recycling." E-Waste Recycling & Toner Recycling. SITA, n.d. Web. 13 June 2013. http://www.sita.com.au/commercial-solutions/resource-recovery-recycling/e-waste-recycling/. Australia. N.A. Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. LivingGreener.gov.au. By N.A. Australian Government, n.d. Web. 13 June 2013. http://www.livinggreener.gov.au/waste/reducing-waste/manage-e-waste. Mok, Kimberley. "E-waste In India: A Growing Industry & Environmental Threat."TreeHugger. TreeHugger, 9 Oct. 2007. Web. 13 June 2013. http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/e-waste-in-india-a-growing-industry- environmental-threat.html.

Reduce E-Waste. Live Your lives clean and green. Thank you! Reduce E-Waste. Live Your lives clean and green.