Electronic Waste: Generation and Management

Abstract

The electronics industry is one of the most important industries in the world. It has grown steadily in recent decades, generates a great number of jobs, promotes technological development and, at the same time, fuels a high demand for raw materials that are considered scarce or rare (e.g. precious metals and rare earths elements).This development affects the environment in two ways: first through the large and growing amount of equipment that is discarded annually and second through the extraction of natural raw materials to supply the demand of the new equipment industry. Both can be measured by the amount of equipment that is produced and discarded annually by many countries.The main manufacturers and generators of electronic waste are considered to be developed or developing countries. According to Robinson [1], most electronic waste is generated in Europe and the United States. However, China, the countries of Eastern Europe and Latin America are becoming large generators of electronic waste.Estimates indicate that about 40 million tonnes of this waste are generated each year, or approximately 5 % of all solid waste generated in the world [2]. Another study, from Greenpeace, estimated that globally 20-50 million tonnes of WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) are discarded annually, with Asian countries disposing up to 12 million tonnes [3].Robinson [1] also estimated that computers, mobile phones and television sets alone would correspond to 5

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