UN: Surge in E-Wastes Inevitable

Countries such as China and India should be aware of the impending rise in electronic wastes (e-wastes) that is on its way. As sales of mobile devices, cell phones, gadgets, computers, laptops and other electronic devices are increasing substantially, the governments in these nations should be aware that their countries are in for many wastes from these products being dumped on their territories. The developed world has become especially good at discarding its used products on the other side of the world, in poor African nations, and in poor regions of China and India.

These countries have developed a workforce specialized in handling these e-wastes, cooking them up literally and saving the gold and other precious elements they may contain. However, this is done without adequate protection, and mostly by children and seniors. These people are many times forced to spend at least ten to 15 hours each day inhaling the toxic fumes that are produced when high-tech components are being burned on improvised stoves. The United Nations says that instances in which this happens may become commonplace in the developing world unless measures aimed at properly collecting and recycling these materials are set in place.

“This report gives new urgency to establishing ambitious, formal and regulated processes for collecting and managing e-waste via the setting up of large, efficient facilities in China. China is not alone in facing a serious challenge. India, Brazil, Mexico and others may also face rising environmental damage and health problems if e-waste recycling is left to the vagaries of the informal sector,” the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program, UN Under-Secretary-General Achim Steiner, says. The official highlights that the Asian nation is still the main dumping ground of e-wastes from the developed world, in spite of having banned imports some time ago.

“One person's waste can be another's raw material. The challenge of dealing with e-waste represents an important step in the transition to a green economy. This report outlines smart new technologies and mechanisms which, combined with national and international policies, can transform waste into assets, creating new businesses with decent green jobs. In the process, countries can help cut pollution linked with mining and manufacturing, and with the disposal of old devices,” the Rector of the United Nations University, UN Under-Secretary General Konrad Osterwalder, adds.