Hidden dilemma in household e-waste management

摘要

E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in developing, emerging and developed regions. E-waste covers all items of electrical and electronic equipment and its parts that have been discarded by the consumers. It is also referred to as WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) or electronic waste, and includes almost any household or business item with circuits or electrical components using power or battery supply. In response, waste management practitioners seek new technologies and approaches for handling e-wastes. Recently published figures in the Global E-waste Monitor 2014, compiled by the United Nations Universityoffers a wealth of information about the sources and composition of e-waste. For instance, in 2014, an estimated 41.8million metric tonnes of e-waste was discarded in the world - mostly end-of-life kitchen, laundry and bathroom equipment like microwave ovens, washing machines and dishwashers. This figure is estimated to jump by 19.6% to 50 million metric tonnes in 2018. Interestingly, only 7% of e-waste generated in 2014 was made up of mobile phones, personal computers and printers.