Where Is Your E-Waste Going??

All those old and broken cell phones, computers, and monitors need to end up somewhere. But what happens to it after it's thrown out? E-waste is becoming one of the most prominent disposal ending up in landfills both nationally and internationally. With the increase of electronic devices, it is evident and inevitable that the mass of e-waste is increasing drastically. Large producers of electrics, such the United State, Europe, Japan, outsource their e-waste to other countries that don't use proper handling and disposal of these hazardous materials.
Africa is one continent that ends up with much of the world's e-waste. City ports like Lagos, Nigeria, accumulate massive amounts of electronic waste as a means of disposal but they have also become dependent on the waste to drive some of the economy. Some of the scrap materials and metals are recovered and salvaged to make a profit, but Africa's standards on e-waste practices are immensely poor and dangerous.
"The vast majority of e-waste is taken to landfills where children will search for valuable materials amid the broken glass and chemicals. When the piles get too high, the waste is torched, releasing dangerous chemicals into the air and food supply, or, metals like copper and iron are extracted, then plastic is burned. And it’s not only the population who unaware of environmental effects – members of Parliament are just as unaware."
Standards and regulation, although they exist, are not enough enforced and implemented. Countries are not executing disposal of technology in an appropriate way through e-cycling, only a very small percentage are practicing recycling responsibly.




Check out this video on E-Waste in Africa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spL-z_rhb9U

source: http://www.oafrica.com/education/e-waste/

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