Dealing with e-waste

Discarded electronic appliances such as mobile phones, computers, and televisions are considered e-waste. Be that as it may, innumerable other things fall under the e-waste classification. Any electrical and electronic goods that have completed its life circle can be considered electronic waste.

In Western countries, replacing old electronic equipment frequently is very common. Given this trend, countries like Bangladesh have long been a popular destination for the rich world’s unwanted trash. Many people around the world may be unaware of the fact that their old computers and televisions are shipped to different developing countries like Bangladesh for ‘recycling’ purposes.

Importing and recycling e-waste remains illegal under the Basel Convention, to which Bangladesh is a party, but it is going on without any check. The convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal bans the exchange of hazardous waste, including e-waste, between developed and developing countries. Unfortunately, as Bangladesh is yet to frame any particular rules to regulate e-waste, the importers keep benefiting from loopholes in the system. The e-waste is imported from developed countries as “secondhand goods” and then recycled for reuse or extraction of metals. Under Articles 4 and 5 of the convention, Bangladesh is bound to take “appropriate and legal” measures and to establish a competent authority to manage and regulate e-waste.

As per Guidelines for E-waste Management in Bangladesh, a report prepared by Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO; Bangladesh is one of the hubs of e-waste generation countries. Bangladesh generates (2.7 MMT) approximately one-tenth of the total (20-30 MMT) waste generation in the world. Even though this number is alarming, it does not surprise the writer. That is because we are coming across news of how heavy toxic metal is found in fish, meat and dairy products that we are consuming. One does not need to be a rocket scientist to understand the connection between e-waste and the toxic substances found in our food.

The media indeed has a bigger role to play to portray the importance of the matter to the authorities concerned. E-waste and climate change are intertwined. Electronics goods contain materials like copper, aluminium, and iron and when burned these metals accumulate in the air. The manufacture of electronics also releases large amounts of CO2.

E-waste disposal contributes to climate change as different toxic chemicals are being released when it is burned or washed away. Subsequently, these chemicals find their way into our water system. And all living organisms in the world need water.

Bangladesh has already been reported as one of the worst affected countries in terms of the rise in temperature caused by global warming. Not to forget that we recently have been ranked quite high for the most contaminated air quality. A recent report published in this newspaper, quoting a BUET survey, stated that Bangladesh, one of top 10 e-scraps producing country in the world, generates three million metric tonnes of e-waste every year. The annual growth of e-waste generation is 30 per cent in the country.

It is high time we start following the guidelines that the Government of Bangladesh has approved regarding the Hazardous Waste (e-waste) Management Rules, 2021 under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995.

When it comes to e-waste, most of the people who are associated with e-waste recycling or management do not have any idea about the harmful side effects. Most ordinary people also do not know what kind of harm e-waste may cause. 

Workers and the environment affected by the e-waste industry need protection. A special fund should be set up by rich countries to educate workers in the industry about the dangers and for law enforcement. If this happens, the dangers faced by workers can significantly decrease.