Abandoned electronics, including phones, computers, televisions, refrigerators etc, are called e-waste. Electronic items contain unique harmful chemicals that, if not correctly disposed of, cause serious health and environmental issues.
The number of electronics produced is growing in number, which is pushing the global electronic waste management market to new heights. Valued at $54.4 billion in 2021, BCC Research expects the market to reach $108 billion by 2027, with growth at a CAGR of 12.6% from 2022 to 2027.
Diverse tactics are being adopted to reduce electronic waste's adverse environmental effects. These methods include recycling, reuse, repair, and appropriate disposal. Reusing and refurbishing electronic devices involves fixing or modernizing current models, which is a great way to increase a product’s life-cycle and lower the amount of e-waste produced. Plus, it helps foster local economies and job opportunities.
Another efficient method of handling e-waste is recycling. Valuable materials like gold, silver, copper, and other metals can be recovered by disassembling electronic devices. New electronic goods can be produced using these materials instead of raw materials and natural resources. Recycling lessens the amount of trash dumped in landfills, which can take a very long time to degrade.
The increasing amount of global electronic waste generated strongly impacts the environment and human health. Electronic waste management has become crucial for current societies and economies. However, land availability is becoming scarce, which poses a significant issue to waste management.
The difficulty of electronic waste management has driven the development of new technologies that consider energy production and materials recycling.