A
Every year, people around the world throw away millions of old computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices. These discarded items are called electronic waste, or e-waste for short. E-waste includes any electrical product that no longer works or that people do not want anymore. Examples include old televisions, printers, cameras, and kitchen appliances like microwaves. As technology develops quickly, people buy new devices more often, and the amount of e-waste grows rapidly each year.
B
E-waste creates serious problems for the environment. Many electronic devices contain dangerous materials inside them. For example, old computers and phones often have small amounts of lead, mercury, and other harmful metals. When people throw these items into regular rubbish bins, they end up in landfills, which are large areas where waste is buried in the ground. Rain can wash these dangerous materials out of the devices, and they can then move into the soil and water supplies. This pollution can harm plants, animals, and people who live nearby.
C
However, e-waste also contains valuable materials that can be used again. Most electronic devices are made with metals like copper, gold, and silver. A typical mobile phone contains about 0.034 grams of gold and 0.34 grams of silver. These amounts seem very small, but millions of phones are thrown away every year. If these metals are collected and used again, they do not need to be dug out of the ground in mines. Mining for new metals uses a lot of energy and can damage natural areas.
D
Electronic recycling is the process of collecting old devices and taking them apart to recover useful materials. Special recycling centres receive e-waste from people and businesses. Workers at these centres first separate different types of devices. Then they remove dangerous materials carefully and store them safely. After this, they break down the devices into basic materials like plastic, glass, and metal. These materials can then be sold to companies that make new products.
E
Many countries now have laws about e-waste recycling. Some governments require electronics companies to take back old products from customers. Other countries ban people from putting e-waste in normal rubbish bins. In some places, shops that sell new electronic devices must accept old ones for recycling when customers buy replacements. These laws help increase the amount of e-waste that gets recycled instead of being thrown away. As a result, less pollution enters the environment.
F
Despite these efforts, most e-waste still does not get recycled properly. Only about 17 percent of all e-waste worldwide was collected and recycled in 2019. The rest was either thrown in regular bins, stored in homes, or sent to poor countries. Some rich nations ship their e-waste to developing countries in Africa and Asia. Workers in these places often take apart devices by hand without protective equipment. They are exposed to dangerous chemicals, which can cause serious health problems.
G
People can help reduce e-waste problems in several ways. First, they can use their electronic devices for longer before replacing them. Many phones and computers can work well for five years or more if they are looked after properly. Second, people can repair broken devices instead of buying new ones. Third, when devices are too old to use, people should take them to proper recycling centres rather than throwing them away. These simple actions can reduce the amount of e-waste and help protect the environment.