What is E-Waste
E-waste management is important for survival. E waste refers to discarded electric devices. that is then thoroughly tested and after whole refurbishing process it sent to the market for resale. These discarded electric items returned to manufacturer or certified refurbisher for refurbishing process. Which includes Laptop, PC, mobile, TV, refrigerator, battery, circuit kitchen appliances like coffee machine, microwave etc.
All these discarded electronic devices contain valuable material like, cooper and other rare earth mentals apart from that there might be extremely hazardous materials like lead, cadmium, mercury etc. Such dangerous material can cause too much damage to soil, and groundwater in long term. Apart from environment even humans and animals can get affected by such electric devices dumped components.
That is why it’s very important to take care of e waste management for environmental and human life and sustainable environment.
Growing Issue of E-Waste
In 2025 the world is estimated 347 million metric tons of unrecycled e-waste has produced.
Multiple factors that affect and increase e waste:
1. Short lifespan of product: nowadays manufacturers produce inferior quality of goods for profitability. As customer will purchase another new model when the old one won’t work due to short life term and low quality of raw materials.
2. Lack of Awareness: many consumers change their device to enjoy latest and advanced features of new models. Which is not right for environment to just use electric device for 1 to 2 years and purchasing new device for latest features that can cause more trouble in terms of e waste pollution.
Environment and health hazards
1. Soil and Waste Pollution: toxic heavy material and harmful chemicals damage earth soil and water. This contamination also affects crops, animals, nature, and ultimately human life.
2. Air pollution: in many developing countries even today, they burn e-waste in open air which then spread all over the place and releases harmful toxic Dioxins and furans in the air. Which can cause disease like cancer.
E-Waste Management: What Can Be Done to reduce E-Waste
1. (3Rs) reduce, reuse, recycle:
Reduce: buy high quality electric devices and use them for longer period of time. Don’t dump or buy new one unless and until your current device is too old and unable to work any further.
Reuse: buy refurbished electric devices for environmental safety. You can buy refurbish electric items with cheap price also.
Recycle: take your absolute device to certified recycle centre and wherein materials are safely extracted and reused.
2. Producers Responsibility (EPR):
Extended producers’ responsibility is a regular SOP where in manufacturer are accountable for entire product life cycle including takeback, recycling, final disposal of product etc. manufacturer should also try to make durable or good quality of products so customer wont change his or her device frequently.
3. Establishment of formal recycling centre: governments should must establish formal committee on e – waste issue. And the committee handle the e waste system and recycling procedures.
4. Public Awareness Campaign: Government and NGOs should initiate e-waste awareness using social media platforms. As people with unite efforts can make big change in e waste reduction. Government should run various campaigns to spread the awareness about what is e waste, what are disadvantages of e waste if the situation gets more unfavourable, how we can prevent or reduce e waste.
Case Studies: E-Waste Management
1. Sweden: global leader in recycling including e-waste. Country has extensive network of recycle canter. also, country reward its citizen for returning used electric device. The country is also recycling its 50 percentages of electric product.
2. India: Known for 3 number in the world for producing e waste. Considering such criticism from the world, country introduced E-Waste Management rule in 2016 and revised in 2022 enforce as EPR.
What you can do as consumers
Avoid impulse buying, only buy new gadgets when it’s really needed
Try to repair electric device if possible
Purchase from brand with recycle policy and take back
Use refurbished electric gadgets if possible
Don’t buy frequently electric device for latest features
The circular economy vision
The ultimate goal is of effective e waste management to transition from linear economy to circular disposable, (3R).
So, e-waste is inevitable and humans can’t live without electric devices, gadgets and its art of digital era of our world. But we can be responsible for our nature and protect by unite together in this e-waste management. We can collectively work towards good and environmentally healthy earth.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there any permanent solution for e-waste?
Well, currently there is not permanent solution for such problems. But people can show unity by following guide lines 3R reduce, reuse, recycle. By following we can decrease e waste problem in environment.
2. Refurbished products is great way to prevent e-waste don’t you think?
Yes, it is indeed so powerful and effective way to reduce e-waste.
3. Are there any other refurbished electronics items available?
Yes, there are many electric refurbished items you can purchase.