Electronic waste (e-waste) contains various hazardous materials, including radioactive materials, heavy metals, halogenated compounds, and dust nanoparticles. All of these must be adequately handled during disposal, storage, and recycling.
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The production of e-waste has recently increased due to the growing global population and fast urbanization. Its inadequate management and inappropriate disposal pose a global threat to public health and the environment. Although e-waste contains valuable resources that may be recovered, such as rare earth elements and precious metals, it also poses environmental risks. Therefore, recycling e-waste has advantages for the environment and the economy.
The Scale of the E-Waste Problem
Modern lifestyles, technological development, and global economic expansion have resulted in an ever-growing amount of e-waste, which is a serious threat to the environment and public health.
Global waste production is estimated to be over two billion metric tons, of which 53.6 million are e-waste. Since 83% of the world's e-waste is undocumented, it is likely burned openly or illegally disposed of, endangering human health and the environment.
Electronic devices ranging from large household appliances, lighting devices, mechanical dispensers, medical devices, control and monitoring devices, and consumer electronics like toys, computers, mobile phones, leisure and sports equipment, and electrical and electronic devices are all considered forms of e-waste.
Pollutants found in e-waste include polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), chlorinated biphenyls, mercury, lead, tin, nickel, and cadmium. Burning e-waste can also produce harmful substances to human health, such as furans, dioxins, aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and hydrogen chloride.
The most significant aspect of managing e-waste is recycling and recovering it, which has advantages for the environment, economy, and human health. E-waste is considered a resource only when valuable elements are recovered and repurposed.
Challenges in E-Waste Recycling
Recycling e-waste is a crucial source of raw materials since it contains various resources, including metals, glass, and polymers. Despite this, collection and recycling are so challenging that only 17.4% of the world's e-waste is collected and recycled.
Substances that contain these dangerous chemicals could harm the environment if they are not disposed of properly. To reduce the hazards to human health and the environment, proper waste management practices and the safe disposal of e-waste have gained international attention.
Recovery of valuable, rare earth, and beneficial elements while handling hazardous pollutants is a significant challenge in e-waste management. Physical handling of heavy goods, electrical safety, danger of cuts and abrasions, and explosions are among the challenges associated with e-waste recycling.
Chemical products, including dioxins, furans, and heavy metals, can be produced during e-waste recycling procedures such as incineration, acid baths, open burning, and metallic acid stripping.
Although recovering resources from e-waste might lead to job and business opportunities, insufficient infrastructure and effective scientific technologies can hinder the process. Consequently, one of the most significant worldwide concerns of the 21st century appears to be recycling e-waste.
Despite the growing volume of e-waste, only a few official e-waste collection processes are in place. A considerable amount of e-waste is inappropriately combined with domestic waste and makes its way into landfills or unofficial organizations like scrap merchants, cooperatives, and garbage collectors.
Government-approved large-scale recycling plants are scarce. Recycling e-waste is also not economically feasible; thus, long-term viability requires careful planning from the beginning and technical advancement.
Innovative Solutions and Technologies
E-waste contains toxic elements that can have a substantial negative impact. Several advancements in e-waste recycling have emerged in recent years to reduce the negative environmental effects of e-waste. Some of the technological innovations are:
- Automated Sorting and Dismantling
E-waste recycling has always included challenging sorting and dismantling. This procedure is expensive, time-consuming, and harmful to workers' health. Automated devices for sorting and disassembling have been developed to boost productivity and lower the possibility of exposure to dangerous substances. These devices securely and effectively sort and disassemble e-waste using cutting-edge technology like robotics and artificial intelligence.
Chemical recycling is the technique of using chemical processes to transform e-waste into valuable raw materials. Through this process, e-waste can be broken into parts, such as plastics and metals, which can be recycled into new products.
Chemical recycling is becoming increasingly popular since it uses less raw resources and less garbage in landfills.
- Electronic Waste Collection and Recycling Kiosks
Kiosks for collecting and recycling electronic waste are convenient places where people can drop it off. Kiosks are usually found in public areas like shopping malls or community centers. After collecting, the e-waste is delivered to facilities dedicated to recycling, where it is professionally processed.
- Biotechnological Approaches
Researchers are investigating using microbes to extract valuable metals from electronic waste. Metals like copper, gold, and silver can be effectively extracted using these biological leaching and precipitation procedures, which reduces the need for hazardous chemical treatments.
Companies Thriving in the E-Waste Recycling Industry
The Royal Mint, well-known for minting coins for the UK and over 30 other countries, has developed a novel method to recover gold and other rare metal resources from abandoned electronic gadgets. They have developed a patented method in collaboration with the Canadian start-up Excir. They can extract 99% of the gold stored on printed circuit boards found inside computers, mobile phones, and other gadgets. Ingots made from the recovered gold are melted and used in Royal Mint products.
An Egyptian firm introduced the E-Tadweer smartphone application, which utilizes technology to address the nation's expanding e-waste problem. Through the app, customers can bring their unwanted appliances to designated delivery locations to swap them for vouchers that can be used to buy new electronics from participating retailers. Properly recycling electrical gadgets helps keep potentially dangerous substances like lead or mercury out of the land and streams.
Opportunities in E-Waste Recycling
Electronic waste offers tremendous possibilities and opportunities if effectively recycled. Valuable metals can be extracted from e-waste using an urban e-waste mining process. One metric ton of circuit boards may yield up to 1.5 kg of gold and 220 kg of copper, typical examples of this type of urban mining. Extracting these valuable metals can result in large profits if appropriate business concepts are used. According to estimates, the financial worth of the elements included in e-waste produced globally is greater than the GDP of several nations and three times greater than the whole economic value of silver mining worldwide.
Another potential advantage of managing e-waste is human and environmental health benefits. E-waste disposal has never been taken seriously in poorer nations, which has hurt the surrounding environment and public health. However, enacting and implementing e-waste management laws, policies, and strategies may significantly improve these circumstances.
Conclusion
Metal accounts for around 40% of e-waste, followed by plastic polymers (30%) and metal oxides (30%). Precious materials, base materials, hazardous materials, plastics, glass, ceramics, and other halogens are all present in e-waste. Unfortunately, 83% of the electronic waste produced worldwide is unregistered, implying that it is illegally dumped or burned in the open, endangering human health and the environment. A coordinated effort by national and international agencies, including public awareness, is necessary to manage e-waste, which will play a significant part in the circular economy.
References and Further Reading
Shahabuddin, M., Uddin, M. N., Chowdhury, J. I., Ahmed, S. F., Uddin, M. N., Mofijur, M., & Uddin, M. A. (2023). A review of the recent developments, challenges, and opportunities of electronic waste (e-waste). International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 20(4), 4513-4520. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13762-022-04274-w
Liu, K., Tan, Q., Yu, J., & Wang, M. (2023). A global perspective on e-waste recycling. Circular Economy, 2(1), 100028. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773167723000055
Dhivya, K., & Premalatha, G. (2024). E‐Waste Challenges & Solutions. Sustainable Management of Electronic Waste, 255-275. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781394166923.ch13
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