Management of e-waste

Today we use different types of electronic devices in our everyday life. From mobile phones to remote controls, we use various kinds of electrical devices from morning till we fall asleep. After a certain period, a lot of those electrical products end up as e-waste. According to experts, 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.

Many countries are in the process of implementing laws that mandate switching from analogue to digital television broadcasting, further accelerating the rate at which people dispose of their old televisions. In addition, because of rapid advancements in technology, many consumers frequently replace mobile phones and computers. Because of this, the generation of electronic waste, or e-waste, is growing rapidly. A report titled “Recycling - From E-waste to Resources” prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme says e-waste has become a huge problem in the modern world.

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.

There are many solutions to the e-waste problem.

Let us take a look at the history of e-waste. The world has been dealing with e-waste since the mid-1970s.

With fresh innovations and advancements in technology, the use of electrical and electronic appliances has turned out to be ever so popular. For instance, from the early 1990s, Bangladesh has seen a boom in the use of computers and mobile phones and many other electrical accessories. During those early days, a computer or mobile phone would cost one a fortune. That is why only the rich opted to buy them.

Nowadays, our purchasing capacity and attraction towards modern electronic devices is at an all-time high. Also, electrical and electronic commodities are comparatively inexpensive these days.

Have we ever given any thought to what happens to so much 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.

Not to shy away from the topic of e-waste but the bad air quality further illustrates why we need to wear a mask.

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. The maximum damage comes from batteries as they contain different types of metals, like nickel and cadmium, which are very toxic for humans, as well as the environment. LCD monitors, for example, contain poisonous mercury. Most of the time, e-wastes are handled by children who do not wear any sort of protective gear. As per different online reports, only 12 per cent of the world’s e-waste is been recycled. One cannot emphasise enough how we need to create more awareness among the people regarding e-waste. We urge the authorities concerned to take the necessary steps to tackle this grave situation. On the Department of Environment official website, there is a list that states which companies have been blacklisted for polluting the environment. However, the sad news is that list is not updated since last year. We sincerely hope that the agencies concerned will take adequate action against companies who are violating the e-waste safety rules.

Although e-waste is a curse for the environment, it can be transformed into a profitable venture through recycling and management. There is huge scope for business regarding e-waste management. Allied Recently Market Research published a report, titled, “E-Waste Management Market by Application. According to the report, the global e-waste management industry generated $49.88 billion in 2020 and is expected to generate $143.87 billion by 2028, witnessing a CAGR of 14.3 per cent from 2021 to 2028. These figures should be good enough to motivate the government and private business entities of our country to invest in the e-waste management business.

Today there are several big electrical companies, both local and foreign, who are investing in the country. Some of them have already started exporting to more than 30 countries in the world. That means we will eventually have more e-waste to deal with. Thus, there are plenty of opportunities, and it is high time more big companies come forward and invest in this sector.

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.

The writer is Editorial Assistant at The Business Post