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. 2015 Dec 21;5(9):3-11.
doi: 10.5696/2156-9614-5-9.3. eCollection 2015 Dec.

E-waste: A Challenge for Sustainable Development

Md Sahadat Hossain  1 , Sulala M Z F Al-Hamadani  2 , Md Toufiqur Rahman  3
Affiliations

E-waste: A Challenge for Sustainable Development

Md Sahadat Hossain et al. J Health Pollut. .

Abstract

Background: E-waste has been identified as the fastest growing waste stream in the world at present. Rapid socio-economic development and technological advancement are the main drivers of this trend. The hazardous chemical components of e-waste have potential adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health if not managed properly. This represents an imminent challenge to achieving sustainable development goals. Although technologically developed countries are the main source of e-product production and e-waste generation, the generated volume has also been increasing in developing countries and those in transition due to transport and transfer from e-waste source countries. Consequently, developing countries are in a vulnerable situation due to their lack of inventory data, waste management policies and advanced technology for environmentally sound management.

Objectives: This study aims to demonstrate that the present global e-waste scenarios and health hazards could prolong the achievement of sustainable development targets. This study illustrates scenarios from different perspectives and raises concerns about e-waste, identifies information gaps, and provides a basis for knowledge and awareness building and technological improvement to facilitate global long-term sustainable development.

Discussion: Total and per capita global e-waste generation has been increased along with socio-economic development. These products present a significant global challenge due to the hazardous chemicals they contain, their highly technical recycling requirements and the high overhead and costs of environmentally sound management, as well as their adverse impacts to human health. Although high-income countries are the main sources of this waste, low-income countries are experiencing an increase in e-waste due to the shifting process of both recently produced and used electric and electronic equipment (UEEE), as well as cheap management overhead costs. Consequently, they bear the greatest burden of adverse health hazards and ecosystem degradation, prolonging their achievement of sustainable development goals.

Conclusions: Sustainability is being prioritized for all development activities by integrating societal, economic, environmental, technological, cultural, and gender perspectives. Considering the adverse potential eco-toxicological impacts and diverse health effects of e-waste, an urgent global multilateral agreement is needed addressing its management (i.e., handling, storage, transportation, recycling, and final disposal), whether by land filling or incineration. Due to the global nature of the issue and the difficulty of establishing sustainable and environmentally sound processing of e-waste in low-income countries, multinational negotiation and collaboration is the only realistic solution. Furthermore, comprehensive global e-waste management and policies could help to off-set the hazards of e-waste and are the best approach for achieving sustainable development.

Keywords: E-waste; developing countries; e-waste handling; e-waste transportation; hazardous waste; health impact; management; production and generation; sustainability.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proportion of different E-wastes' types in its global physical composition (Mario and Casey 2008; Schwarzer et al. 2005)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage of chemical constitutes in the total weight of E-waste (Sodhi and Reimer 2001; Sum 1991)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Total and per capita e-waste generation by region in 2012
Figure 4
Figure 4
Total e-waste generation in South Asian countries in 2012
Figure 5
Figure 5
Per capita e-waste generation in South Asian countries in 2012
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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