What Is E-waste?

Lay Koon Ng
Jan 26, 2021
3 min read

Updated: Feb 28, 2021

Course: ID Application 2

Week: 1

Title: Research about e-waste

E-Waste / Electronic Waste

Broken, non-working, or old/ obsolete electric electronic appliance
E-waste or electronic waste is created when an electronic product is discarded after the end of its useful life
E-waste is considered the ‘fastest-growing waste stream in the world’ with 44.7 million tonnes generated in 2016

Type Of E-waste

Problem caused by non-proper management of E-waste

E-waste contains a laundry list of chemicals that are harmful to people and the environment, like mercury, lead, beryllium, brominated flame retardant, and cadmium…
When electronics are mishandled during disposal, these chemicals end up in our soil, water, and air

Projection of household e-waste in Malaysia

Based on a published project report on inventory of E-waste in Malaysia funded by the Ministry of Environment Japan (MOEJ), the projection of the total amount of discarded E-waste will be increased by an average of 14% annually in Malaysia, and by the year 2020, a total of 1.17 billion units or 21.38 million tons of E-waste will be generated. Televisions and mobile phones are among the largest contributors of E-waste in terms of volume and units.

Non-proper management of household e-waste

The impact from improper management of household e-waste

Electronic waste is filled with a veritable of toxic materials. When this e-waste is not recycled and simply thrown out with the garbage, ultimately ending up in landfills, it means both human health and the environment are at risk. The following are reported affects from toxic materials found in e-waste >

LEAD

A well-documented history of negative health affects including brain damage.
The introduction of lead to the food chain and atmosphere (through lead combustion) are the primary causes of health problems in humans.
Lead in the environment disrupts the natural functions of water and soil systems.

MERCURY

Has a toxic affect on both human and environmental health.
A small amount now exists in every household light-bulb (the new energy-efficient CFLs), crushed light-bulb can transfer elemental form of mercury easily into local environments.
Once combined with organics, anaerobic breakdown takes place leading to the production of highly toxic methyl-mercury

CADMIUM

Cadmium is cancer-causing to humans.
Within environmental systems it rapidly degrades soil health causing flow-on effects to local ecosystems; it is also released to the atmosphere if burnt.

BROMINATED (BFR)

When e-waste is oxidized during smelting, bromine will be released.
The released bromine may then recombine with un-oxidized carbon under certain conditions in smelter emissions in the form of Brominated dioxins and furans.

BERYLLIUM

Inhalation of beryllium or beryllium-containing dust, mist or fume, may cause a chronic lung disorder called berylliosis in susceptible persons, and beryllium is a probable human carcinogen.

PVC

Hazardous chemical additives (like phthalates) can leach when Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) components of electronic products are sent to landfill.

ARSENIC

Arsenic is a known carcinogen in the skin, lung, bladder, liver, and kidney, with evidence suggesting lung cancer.
The highly affected arsenic on the environment may include death, inhibition of growth, photosynthesis, and reproduction, and behavioral effects of the certain organisms of flora/fauna.