Tackling e waste pollution is an essential and pressing issue for human and environmental health. If the disposal of electronic waste isn't controlled, it has a cascade effect on human health, the environment and even the Earth's natural rhythms.

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A large amount of waste is generated by humans throughout the world. It can range from residential to commercial waste, as well as municipal waste, animal waste, industrial waste, radioactive waste, hazardous waste, and so on. As a result, the waste has to be managed through reusing, recycling, storing, treating, or disposing of it. There are many landfills scattered throughout the country, so most of it is disposed of in these landfills.

There are some types of waste that people may not be familiar with, such as electronic waste, which is sometimes referred to as e-waste. E-waste is becoming a bigger issue as our dependency on technology increases. In order to understand what e-waste is and how it is causing a growing amount of e-waste pollution, we will need to look at e-waste, how big an issue e-waste is, and the impact that it is having on the environment.

What Is E Waste and How Does It Affect the Environment?

E-waste refers to discarded electronic devices that owners no longer want, no longer work or are outdated when compared to new technological advances. There are many different types of e-waste, including old DVD players, remote controls, laptops, desktop computers, cellphones, hard drives, and televisions.

Considering the average American household has eleven devices connected to the Internet, if any of those devices were to stop working, or if these households were to upgrade to a new device, then there would be a lot to consider.

In some cases, older devices are in excellent shape, while in others, they have reached their infancy. The rest wind up collecting dust in the junk drawer, never to be seen again. E-waste is often misunderstood by many people, and some people simply dispose of old devices as trash when they can be recycled or repaired. Many people are unaware of how to dispose of e-waste properly.

In the end, these are discarded inappropriately in nearby open spaces, resulting in potentially damaging and degrading natural habitats by ending up in already packed landfills or may be improperly disposed of in landfills.

E-waste pollution is on the rise as a result of the growing amount of electronics

In the minds of many people looking to live more sustainably and reduce their carbon footprint, the proper disposal of electronic waste is a hot topic. In addition to the amount of e-waste generated by more and more devices that come out each year, it also increases the amount of e-waste that is generated. Take into account the fact that Apple, Huawei, Samsung, Google, and other companies release several different phone models every year. Older models become obsolete as time passes and need to be disposed of appropriately.

It has been estimated that there will be around 54 million metric tons of e-waste generated globally in 2019, according to Statista. It is estimated that by 2030, e-waste will increase by 30% and become the fastest-growing waste stream worldwide because of increased spending power and the wide availability of electronics. 

Due to the fact that small electronic devices are frequently thrown away alongside other trash, these figures make sense. The majority of people are unaware that there are ways to recycle electronics, that there are environmental benefits to recycling electronic waste, and that there are ways to sell it and make a great deal of money.

What are the harmful effects of electronic waste on the environment and our health?

There are several reasons why e-waste is becoming a more prevalent problem worldwide. Most electronic waste contains hazardous chemicals, as well as potentially hazardous manufacturing processes that may also negatively affect the environment.

There has been a growing concern that e-waste end up in landfills, which have been identified as a potential threat to human and marine life. This is due to toxic substances such as mercury, cadmium, beryllium, and lead entering the soil, waterways and air, which can lead to polluted environments and negatively impact human and marine life.

In cases where people are exposed to toxic chemicals from natural wells or animals are exposed to excess amounts of toxic chemicals in bodies of water, their health could be adversely affected.

Furthermore, when high volumes of electronic waste enter landfills, it is imperative for device manufacturers to mine a greater amount of materials to manufacture new devices. As a result of the increased demand for electronic devices, it is becoming increasingly difficult to mine these precious metals, such as gold, silver, and palladium, among other critical components of smartphones and other electronics.

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Air pollution is caused by e-waste when it is not properly disposed of

According to a journal article from Environmental Research Letters, researchers collected air samples from a large e-waste disposal site in China and discovered that the products in those landfills were detrimental to the health of human lung cells due to the contaminants present.

It has been reported that there are a number of adverse health effects associated with exposure to e-waste according to the World Health Organization (WHO):

• Adverse outcomes, such as preterm birth or stillbirth, for pregnant women
• Higher incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in kids
• Changes to lung capacity
• Damage to DNA
• Breathing problems
• Impairment of thyroid functionality
• Increase in the risk of cancer and other chronic conditions

According to the WHO, it is also important for the environment, as well as human health, to recover and recycle e-waste in an appropriate manner.

As a result of the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP), 18% of e-waste collected appropriately reduced the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by as much as 15 million tons, according to the study. It is clear that e-waste is an issue that is much larger than it appears to be because of the high levels of carbon dioxide that enters the environment and contributes to global warming.

The act of throwing away old electronics in the trash may seem like the easiest way to dispose of them, but in reality it affects the environment and actually harms the human body.

It is beneficial to the environment and to humans to recycle electronic waste

To reduce the negative impact that e-waste has on humans and the environment, more state and federal action is needed. A number of states and the district of Columbia have already passed legislation to establish an e-waste recycling program. There are also some manufacturers that offer a return program, which includes the hosting or sponsoring of recycling events for consumers, in addition to offering some type of electronic return program. 

In an attempt to prevent outdated products from ending up in landfills, many manufacturers have adopted more sustainable business practices, but this can be a challenge since new features and designs typically encourage users to upgrade to the latest technology. 

As part of their efforts to improve the ability of consumers to repair their devices, from their cars to refrigerators to smartphones, Republicans and Democrats are pursuing legislation that would make it easier for consumers to repair their devices. It is becoming increasingly common for manufacturers to limit the availability of parts or to limit who can perform repairs on a wide range of products. This movement is being referred to as the Right to Repair movement. 

As a result of the movement, manufacturers will be prohibited from taking these measures in the future, so this can directly reduce how much e-waste is entering landfills in the first place. This could result in consumers being able to repair their own devices, save money, and save the environment by not throwing out obsolete products. 

It is no secret that electronic waste is a growing problem worldwide, and it would be helpful if we put more emphasis on recycling electronics. Recycling has many benefits over its disadvantages. Governments, consumers, and manufacturers need to come up with viable solutions to this prevalent problem. There is still a great deal to be done to mitigate the negative effects caused by e-waste, whether it is contaminated soil entering waterways or toxic chemicals released into the atmosphere.

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